QUEZON City, Philippines (Eagle News) — The House of Representatives has approved the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018 on third and final reading.
House Bill 6215 or the 2018 General Appropriations Bill garnered 233 “yes” votes and nine “no” votes.
“We have considered at least two major factors in making our adjustments. One is urgency and another is capacity. We carved out budgets depending on the urgency of certain projects and programs that require allocation and depending on the capacity of implementing agencies to really put their funds to good use,” House Appropriations Committee chair and Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles said.
Included in the proposed national budget is the funding for the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program as well as the funds to be used for free higher education.
It also contained the P40 billion allocation for the government’s free tertiary education program.
“We have now made free public higher education for Filipinos a reality. This is indeed a legacy-defining moment for Congress,” Nograles said in a statement.
The 2018 budget is higher by 12.4% compared to the 2017 budget.
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