President Aquino signs 2012 national budget

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday signed into law the P1.816-trillion national budget for 2012. The budget, which is 10.4 percent higher than this year’s budget of P1.645 trillion, was the earliest approved since democracy was restored in 1986.

President Aquino described the budget as “results-focused budget” driven toward the delivery of direct and substantial benefits to the people, particularly the poorest and most marginalized.

He said the administration will ensure not just the immediate release of the funds but a transparent government spending.

The Department of Education (DepEd) continues to the biggest allocation this year with P238.8 billion – 15.2 percent higher than the 2011 budget of P207.3 billion.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is the second with P125.7 billion, followed by the Department of National Defense (DND) with P108.1 billion, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with P99.8 billion and the Department of Agriculture (DA) with P53.3 billion.

The DA will get the biggest budget increment (53.6 percent) to support various initiatives geared towards rice and food-self-sufficiency.

Also included in the top 10 agencies that will get the biggest bulk of the budget include: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with P48.9 billion, Department of Health (DOH) with P44.4 billion, Department of Transportation and Communications P34.7 billion, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) P18.3 billion and the judiciary with P15.7 billion.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said to jump-start economic growth next year, the government will spend P140 billion for infrastructure projects starting January 2012.

“In contrast to 2011 when infrastructure spending was delayed, we intend to begin 2012 on a very strong note. Various infrastructure projects amounting to around P140 billion can be implemented by departments and agencies as early as the first working day of January 2012,” he said.

“We earlier directed agencies to disaggregate their 2012 budgets into specific projects before the budget was submitted to Congress in July; and to already bid them out short of award, so that notices to proceed can be issue in January,” he added.

Present during the budget signing were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr, other lawmakers and Malacanang officials.

By Jill Beltran