THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) turned over on Monday, August 22, 2022, the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 to the House of the Representatives.The NEP contains the proposed budget for the said year amounting to P5.268 trillion, 4.9-percent higher than the FY 2022 budget and equivalent to 22.2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, who led the ceremonial turnover, said the NEP for 2023 is anchored on the theme “Agenda for Prosperity: Economic Transformation Towards Inclusivity and Sustainability.”She said it is responsive to the needs of the time and aligned with the priorities of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration.The priority sectors were education, infrastructure development, health, agriculture and social safety nets.A total of P852.8 billion was allocated for the education sector, P1.196 trillion for infrastructure programs, P296.3 billion for health and P184.1 billion for agriculture.EducationThe Department of Education will get P710.6 billion from the allotment or 8.2-percent higher than its budget for this year.Pangandaman reiterated Marcos’ commitment to investing in education to ensure the future of the younger generation.“As the President said during his first Sona (State of the Nation Address), we should not hold back on investing in education, as education is the only legacy we can leave our children that will never go to waste. This proves this administration’s commitment to invest in human capital development and youth empowerment,” she said.Infrastructure and healthThe Department of Public Works and Highways will receive a P718.4-billion budget in 2023, while the Department of Transportation will get P167.1 billion.Pangandaman said this is in support of Marcos’ promise to continue to implement infrastructure projects and refocus on Build, Better, More for the benefit of the Filipino people.Among the projects that will be funded are the North-South Commuter Railway, the Metro Manila Subway Phase 1, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension, and the PNR South Long Haul.The allotment for the health sector is inclusive of the budgets of the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the purchase of drugs, medicine and vaccines; salary and benefits of healthcare workers; enhancement of health facilities; acquisition of medical equipment; and rehabilitation and upgrading of barangay health stations, rural health units, polyclinics, local government hospitals, DOH hospital, and other various health facilities nationwide.Agriculture, social welfare, employmentThe Department of Agriculture (DA), to which Marcos serves as the secretary, as well as its attached agencies including the Department of Agrarian Reform, will have P184.1 billion for the 2023 budget, 39.2-percent higher than its 2022 allocation.Marcos decided to temporarily take the helm of the DA to immediately address the country’s looming problem of food security and food supply.The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), on the other hand, will get P197 billion for its 2023 budget. This will address the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable sector including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which provides monthly financial assistance to poor families in the country.The Department of Labor and Employment was allocated a P26.2-billion budget for 2023 and P240.7 billion for the Department of National Defense.The government also allocated P453.1 billion for climate change expenditures and P10 billion for the Support to the Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).Budget deliberationPangandaman said they will coordinate closely with the House of the Representatives during the budget deliberation.“We expect the budget to be signed by December or the General Appropriations Act will be forwarded to Malacañang by the first week or second week of December so we could all have a nice Christmas celebration,” she said.For his part, Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez said they aim to finish the deliberation and approve the 2023 budget on or before October 1 or before their first recess.“The House of the people will effectively respond to the needs of the people, especially in addressing the continued impact of the health crisis and to create more jobs and to ensure food security,” Romualdez said.“Every centavo of the national budget will be spent wisely to implement programs that will save lives, protect communities and make our economy strong,” he added.Meanwhile, Senate Finance Committee chairman Senator Sonny Angara said they are eyeing to start the national budget deliberations on September 12. (SunStar Philippines)