PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr., revealed that he is considering signing the proposed P5.768-T national budget for the fiscal year 2024 before Christmas.
In a recent media interview in Muntinlupa City, PBBM said he is waiting for the bicameral report of the proposed national budget.
Once the report reaches his office and is finalized, he will promptly affix his signature.
“But certainly, the minute it is finalized then we will immediately, of course, pass the budget. We have been going through the consultations through the whole of the year for that matter and I would be very surprised if there are other issues that will suddenly arise that we hadn’t anticipated or hadn’t resolved, put it that way. So, I don’t see any problem to that,” according to Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
On December 11, the bicameral conference committee approved the final version of the proposed national budget for the coming year.
The 2024 budget also aims to support farmers with subsidies for irrigation, free seeds, fertilizers, and other tools, and ensures continued provision of free healthcare, quality hospital services, and medication for those in need.
Furthermore, the budget highlights additional funding allocated to the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, mentioned that there is no allocation for confidential and intelligence funds for non-security agencies under the unified version of the 2024 General Appropriations Bill.
According to Angara, only P9-B or 0.02% of the total proposed budget is allocated for confidential and intelligence funds in the coming year.
