NextGen Day

The contentious PHP150 million confidential fund for the Department of Education as well as the PHP10 billion financing for the government’s anti-communist task force were both reinstated on Monday by the bicameral conference committee.

After members of the body from the Senate and the House reconciled and approved House Bill No. 4488, or the proposed 2023 national budget amounting to PHP5.268 trillion, Senator Sonny Angara, who co-chairs the bicameral conference committee with Rep. Elizaldy Co of the Ako Bicol Party-list, confirmed this.

According to Angara, both panels have agreed to restore the PHP150 million confidential fund that the Senate had earlier realigned for DepEd.

“They require that budget, according to what they stated. Naturally, we respect the agency’s (DepEd) wishes; “Angara revealed to journalists in a surprise interview.

Other funding, however, that had previously been cut, was not reinstated.

“The one in the DepEd was reinstated, but the other agencies that were prohibited by the Senate were not restored,” Angara said. “‘Yung sa DepEd, naibalik po ‘yon, but ‘yong sa ibang agencies na tinapyas po ng Senado, ‘di na po naibalik.”

Co added that while they were willing to reinstate the secret money, they also encouraged Vice President Sara Duterte’s department to be more frugal with its spending.

“Because most of the natin kabataan are nare-recruit sa maling papuntang landas, it is the leadership of the House’s choice (to continue because our youth are being recruited that may lead them to the wrong path). Therefore, we want them to have a secure future with our children “Co clarified.

Duterte previously stated that her organization needs the money to assist the government in battling crimes that target both students and teachers.

As a result of this change, DepEd’s approved budget for 2023 has been increased from PHP677.230 billion to PHP678.317 billion.

Angara and the company also stated that they had reinstated the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s PHP10 billion funding (NTF-ELCAC).

The committee also resolved to increase funding for local government, the Supreme Court, infrastructure projects, state colleges and universities, the Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Local Government.

He said specific “ayuda” (help) projects from various organizations were also kept. The group also voted to increase funding for patients in need of assistance and the government’s subsidy to the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

According to Co, the Libreng Sakay program, which House Speaker Martin Romualdez had earlier committed to keeping in place for the upcoming year, was also authorized.

He continued by saying that the budget for the following year guaranteed the development of specialty hospitals, which is also an objective of the President.

“We shall see if the president keeps his pledge to develop larger hospitals with excellent social services all around the nation. Therefore, we’ll fund it over a number of years, “He added that PHP 10 billion had also been allocated by the bicam for the rehabilitation of bridges and schools that had been destroyed or damaged by disasters.

On Monday afternoon, HB 4488 is scheduled to be approved by the Senate and the House. Once approved, the legislation would be brought to Malacanang for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signature.

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