Press Release
December 18, 2009

2010 BUDGET APPROVED AT THE BICAMERAL LEVEL

The national budget for 2010 has been approved at the bicameral level, with significant appropriations in the areas of infrastructure, environment and climate change mitigation, science and technology, health, education, and pension and gratuity.

"The 2010 national budget is designed to pursue a green and sustainable growth. This entails capitalizing on our rich renewable energy resources and enriching our human resources, thereby creating green jobs and income opportunities," said Angara, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

The bicameral report recommends a higher spending level for education (DepEd, SUCs and CHED) at P185.5 B; infrastructure, P126.9 B; pension and gratuity, P79.9 B; land reform, P20.8 B; health, P30.4 B; transportation and communications, P16.6 B; and social welfare and development, P15.3 B.

"These are vital investments we have to make next year, otherwise our economy will shrink while the global economy is in the slow and difficult process of recovery from the financial crisis," said Angara.

He added "we are also putting resources into the implementation of the Clean Air Act and the Solid Waste Management Act which the Supreme Court itself has directed, upgrading of State Universities and Colleges, construction of school buildings in underserved areas, and the funding of industrial and renewable energy research and development through DOST."

Further, Congress is allocating more funds to expand the coverage of the national health insurance to indigent families, as well as to augment the pension and gratuity of the police and military as proposed by Senator Richard Gordon and Senator Ping Lacson.

The bicameral committee adopted the Senate version budget of P1.540600 trillion, which is P400 million lower than the President's proposed budget of P1.541 trillion. New appropriations are at P1.304 trillion, of which Unprogrammed Appropriation is P118.9 billion while Programmed Appropriations is P1.185 trillion.

Debt service was reduced from P340.8 billion to P276.2 billion.

A special provision was included for a special audit by an independent Manila-based audit team, whereby any amount that has not been audited or disallowed by the special team shall be deducted from subsequent releases.

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