The proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 has been submitted to lawmakers for deliberations, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado confirmed on Tuesday.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the proposed P4.506-trillion expenditure plan for 2021 last month. Its main focus is to ensure food security and increase investments in public and digital infrastructure as the country tries to get back up from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed spending plan is 9.9 percent higher than the P4.1 trillion budget for 2020, and is equivalent to 21.8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, the DBM earlier said.
The proposed 2021 national budget will still abide by the government’s goal to help the Philippines recover quickly from the pandemic.
“Hence, the bulk of next year’s proposed budget will be provided to the social services sector amounting to P1.664 trillion, equivalent to 36.9 percent,” the DBM said.
“This includes funding support for programs related to health, social protection, and education. The economic services sector will receive the second highest allocation with P1.347 trillion or 29.9 percent of the proposed budget.”
