The Senate will start its hearing of the 2015 national budget on August 19, after it was presented before the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
In an interview with dzRH, Senate President Franklin Drilon said a huge chunk of the 2015 national budget has been allocated for social services as it benefit the poor.
“Sisimulan naming sa Agosto 19 ang pagdidinig sa Senado ng budget. Sa ngayon meron na kaming kopya ng General Appropriations Bill ng programa ng gobyerno,” he said on Friday.
“Napansin ko rito ang pinakamalaking budget ay para sa social services. Yung Department of Education, Department of Health, PhilHealth, DSWD. Yan ay umaabot ng halos kalahati ng budget natin,” he added.
Drilon said a total of P1 trillion has been allocated for the social services.
Here is the breakdown of the P2.606 trillion budget:
Social services – P967.9 billion up from P841.8 billion
Economic services – P700.2 billion, up from P593.1 billion
General public services – P423.1 billion up from P362.6 billion
Debt burden – P399.4 billion up from P377.6 billion
Defense – P115.5 billion up from P89.5 billion
The Department of Education got the huge share of the pie with P365.958 billion.
It is followed by:
Department of Public Works and Highways – P300.519 billion
National Defense – P144.036 billion
Interior and Local Government – P141.423 billion
Social Welfare and Development – P108.97 billion
Health – P102.178 billion
Agriculture -P88.818 billion
Transportation and Communication – P59.463 billion
Environment and Natural Resources – P21.290 billion
Judiciary – P20.285 billion
