Palace welcomes passage of 2012 national budget
Malacanang expressed elation over the passage 2012 by the House of Representatives Friday night saying this will mean better services to the people more especially the poor.
“Happy po tayo na naipasa na on second reading yung budget po natin. According to RG Cruz it was at 11: 29 p.m. when the vote was entered,” Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during an interview Saturday over government-run dzRB radio.
“I was also monitoring that and masaya po tayo that it was on-time. Nag-commit naman din po kasi ‘yung ating congressmen at talagang… Maganda kasi ang nangyari like last year, kung naaalala ninyo our budget was also passed on time so hindi po tayo nagre-reenact ng budget,” she added.
The lower house passed on second reading the proposed P1.816-trillion budget for the 2012 fiscal year that aims to continue to provide lifeline for the poor, and cut government expenditures for debt servicing.
Members of the House of Representatives approved House Bill 5023 or the General Appropriations Act of 2012 before midnight Friday following nine days of marathon plenary sessions.
According to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. the proposed 2012 budget anticipates the opportunities and threats that the economy might face in 2012 and at the same time support the reforms that promote transparency in government.
The lower house will finally approve the budget in October and then transmit it to the Senate. It is expected to be ratified in November and signed into law by President Aquino before the Christmas break.
The Department of Education (DepEd) got the biggest appropriation with P238.8 billion or 15.2 percent higher than its current budget. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) comes next with P125.5 billion, followed by the Department of National Defense (DND) with P107.9 billion.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) also got a big share with P101.4 billion, as well as the Department of Agriculture (DA) with P54.1 billion.
In terms of sectoral allocation, a bulk of the spending pie goes to social services with P575.8 billion or 31.7 percent, with economic services getting P438.9 billion or 24.2 percent. (PCOO)
Japan trip aimed at forging stronger ties, expressing solidarity, says President Aquino
President Benigno S. Aquino III said he’s visiting Japan late this month to strengthen relationships, discuss nuclear issues as well as things that interest both countries particularly the West Philippine Sea.
The President, who leaves for an official visit to Japan on September 24, told Japanese media on Friday in Malacanang that he wants to thank Japan for its continuing assistance to the Philippines. The President will return to Manila September 29.
“Japan has been very good to us… contributing the largest source of official development assistance. Japan has undergone a tremendous shock with both earthquake and tsunami and of course the continuing issue on radio activity,” the President said in an interview with the Japanese press.
“We would want to express solidarity with the Japanese people because in our culture there’s a phrase in Filipino called utang na loob (debt of gratitude)”
Japan has a new leader described by the President as “a good prime minister” and he said he wants to meet him to be able to continue the strong relationship between the two countries that have been allies for quite a long time.
“We are honored… and I understand that I’m the second head of state who will be talking to him. We want to appraise him on the things happening in the Philippines …and for him appraise us also on things happening in Japan,” he said.
In terms of being trading partners, Japan is in the top three trade partners of the Philippines, and any downturn in the economy of Japan would have a corresponding effect on the Philippines, the President said.
Asked if he’ll seize the opportunity to ensure employments of Filipinos in Japan as its economy expands, he said: “The sooner you recover redounds the benefit to the entire world, and our people has demonstrated time and again given the proper environment they can really excel in whichever company that does hire them.”
The President noted that in his last visit to the Filipino community in Japan, he found that more and more Filipinos are no longer in the entertainment sector but already in the professional sector.
The chief executive also mentioned the West Philippine Sea as an area of mutual interests for Japan and the Philippines. He said he will be raising the idea of unhampered trade and the freedom of navigation in this particular area so complimentary efforts could be done to ensure the safety of trade.
Another major agenda will be discussions on the use of nuclear energy because of the ongoing debates in the Philippines on the use of nuclear power.
“Their experiences undoubtedly will help us, will guide us on whether or not to do the same,” the President said noting the nuclear disaster Japan experienced recently.
The President also told the Japanese media that the Philippines is arranging another package of assistance for Japan after it sent food and clean water right after the disasters. There is a substantial amount allocated by the Philippine government to assist Japan, the President said.
Aside from the help already extended by the Philippines, President Aquino said the country also dispatched a medical team of psychiatrists and psychologists to assist those suffering from emotional distress after the disasters.
“To our mind it’s a significant expression of solidarity for the Japanese people,” he said. (PCOO)
