Castillo, Romel Joshua O. BA 118.

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THWX
2015-07075 17 Feb 2020
A Reaction on the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2020

A little more than a month ago, Congress passed what is to be the state’s budget for the
fiscal year 2020. The approved budget generally featured increases across the different
government agencies vying for a piece of the pie. Thus compared to the previous year’s budget
of Php 3.662 trillion, this year’s budget is much larger at Php 4.1 trillion. The top five sectors
with the biggest shares are education, public works and highways, the interior and local
government, national defense, and health.
The approved national budget tells a lot about this administration’s priorities for the year.
Education still remains the top priority which is always a welcome sight. The unprecedented
allotment increase in infrastructure expenditures is surely attributable to the administration’s
Build, Build, Build project. Much improvement in this sector as current facilities are not enough
for the millions that use roads and public works everyday. However, care should be taken that
financing such ambitious projects should not lead to onerous burdens to the Filipino people in
the long run. The next two sectors to receive the largest allotments do not surprise. Attached to
the Department of the Interior and Local Government is the Philippine National Police. The
National Defense Department meanwhile manages the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The
president, in particular has always been a vocal supporter of the two entities, which at times is
to the detriment of other agencies and stakeholders. Last on the top five biggest budgets list is
the health sector, whose increase in allotment is primarily for the implementation of a universal
healthcare program. Such investment in social welfare is always a welcome development given
the expensive nature of healthcare in the Philippines; however, the public still has to be weary of
how this pans out and make sure that the goal of accessible healthcare for regardless of social
standing is prioritized over private interests.
To conclude, the approved government budget was more or less predictable given the
current administration’s stance on certain matters. There are welcome increases as well as
problematic ones requiring further study and debate to substantiate their necessity. What’s
important in the end is transparency and accountability in the process of coming up and
executing the budget for the betterment of public interest. The Filipino people should be vigilant
of possible abuses of power in this process, especially in Congress’s instant approval of the
Office of the President’s Php 8.28-billion budget without the usual scrutiny afforded to other
Castillo, Romel Joshua O. BA 118.1
THWX
2015-07075 17 Feb 2020
government agencies. No matter how good a goal or a program may be, it will all be for naught
if such is muddled with corruption or malversation.