The Republic Act. 11639, also known as the 2022 national budget, had been signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last December 30, 2021. This year’s budget amounts to ₱5.024 trillion and is 11.5% higher than the 2021 national budget tied with the theme of “Sustaining the Legacy of Real Change for Future Generations" in which the government promised resiliency, recovery, and legacy through the increased budget for the Philippines.
The top 10 departments which will receive the biggest allocation on the 2022 national budget are the sector of Education with ₱788.5 billion, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with ₱786.6 billion, Department of Health (DOH), and PhilHealth with ₱268.4 billion, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with ₱251.3 billion and Department of National Defense (DND) with ₱220.9 billion.
Moreover, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will receive a budget of ₱205 billion for 2022 while the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Irrigation (NIA) will be granted ₱102.5 billion.
Lastly, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Judiciary are allotted ₱75.8 billion, ₱51.3, and ₱47 billion of budget respectively.
The Education sector comprises the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Although the initial proposed budget of DepEd was ₱1.37 trillion, it is ₱38.6 billion higher compared to the 2021 allocation.
Meanwhile, the increase in allotted budget is said to be vital in implementing programs of DepEd such as DepEd Computerization Program with ₱11.76 billion, Basic Education Facilities who shall get ₱5.94 billion, Learning Tools and & Equipment allocated with ₱2.72 billion while Last Miles Schools Programs will receive ₱1.51 billion, Madrasah Education Program will be funded with ₱356.83 million and Indigenous People’s Education with ₱144.3 million.
In a press release published by DOH on January 20, they announced the continuous implementation of Covid19 benefits to Health Care Workers (HCWs) as it was allotted ₱1.08 billion in the 2022 national budget.
Also, benefits that some health workers receive such as Active Hazard Duty Pay, allowance for meals, accommodation, and transportation, and the Special Risk Allowance will be combined in the new One Covid19 Allowance (OCA).
Unlike the previous version, this will be equally administered and accessible to all Covid19 involved health care workers.
Per the exposure classification on Covid19, high-risk exposed healthcare workers may receive ₱9,000 a month whereas those who are labeled as moderately exposed will get ₱6,000 and low-risk ₱3,000.
Covid19 exposure classification was assessed based on the type of health facility the workers are placed in, work nature, and setting.
Lastly, guidelines on the Covid19 Risk Exposure Classification will be published in Administrative Order 2022-0001 while for faster and easier issuance of the said benefits, DOH and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall release a Joint Administrative Order for guidelines.
On the other hand, the government appropriated fund amounted to ₱61.6 billion for the acquisition of Covid19 vaccines boosters for 2022.
If viewed by class allotment, Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures (MOOE) receives the highest allocation in the 2022 national budget amounting to ₱2.599 trillion.
MOOE covers the daily operating expenses of the different government agencies followed by Personal Services Expenditures or the expenses for government employees’ salaries and benefits that are allotted with ₱1.405 trillion.
The Capital Outlay or in simple terms, investment in the assets of the government, on the other hand, shall receive ₱1.019 trillion in 2022.
In an article published by Reuters on December 30, 2021, the ₱5.024 trillion 2022 national budget is the Philippines’ highest allocated budget ever.
This is due to the COVID-19 battle for almost 2 years, and facing its negative impacts on our economy.
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Written by: Kharen Mamplata
Layout and Design by: Simon Estanislao
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