Both chambers of Congress ratify proposed 2024 national budget

Transcript

00:00 With barely three weeks left to pass the next year's proposed budget, lawmakers from both

00:05 houses came to an agreement in a BICAM deal to absolutely eliminate all requests for confidential

00:12 and intelligence funds for agencies that do not engage in military, law enforcement,

00:18 or national security work. Still, the sectors for poverty alleviation, digitalization, food and

00:24 energy security, education, MSMEs, health and infrastructure development have been reassured

00:30 of adding funding as our Daniel Manalastas reports. Both houses of Congress have already ratified

00:40 the proposed 2024 national budget, which is now up for the signature of the president,

00:46 as the House and the Senate have separately ratified the Bicameral Conference Committee

00:51 report of the 2024 budget. Lawmakers agreed not to restore the controversial confidential funds

00:58 of some agencies, including of the office of the vice president and the Department of Education.

01:04 I think it's a budget for growth, to sustain our growth.

01:07 It's a budget that gives hope, hopefully, to our countrymen because

01:14 the times are uncertain. There are many wars, there are many things that happened in Marawi.

01:22 So hopefully, this will help our countrymen. We added, but not in the form of CIF,

01:29 you know, to combat for cybersecurity, et cetera. Lawmakers assured the 2024 proposed budget

01:37 is expected to address inflation and poverty. Lawmakers also assured to address the agriculture,

01:44 health, education as priority and more. The proposed national budget also aims to help

01:50 small businesses and strengthen the economy even more. We expect that this budget will help

01:56 to reach President Marcos' priority, the new Philippines that every Filipino dreams of.

02:02 We are confident that this budget will provide certainty and hope during these uncertain times.

02:07 Representative Elizalde Com, meanwhile, assured the budget for subsidy,

02:11 paving the way to help especially those in need.

02:14 And in the new programs, the AKAPO, the aid to the Kapos Nakita Program, under AKAP,

02:25 will be able to provide aid to the so-called near poor who are earning P23,000 or less.

02:32 That is the new program of our administration, Speaker Martin Romaldes.

02:38 However, some lawmakers stood up and voiced their opinions

02:41 regarding some programs which seem to have insufficient funding.

02:45 It is alarming to see that the protections we are proposing for the drivers in the PUV

02:55 the nation.