MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III met with his Cabinet yesterday to discuss the 2014 budget.

They met for 10 hours to discuss outputs and outcomes.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was reported as saying the President is eyeing P2.268 trillion for 2014, 13.06% or P262 billion higher than this year’s budget allocation.  

But Abad said the final budget has yet to be determined. Many of the Cabinet secretaries have to “refine outputs and validate figures,” he said.

The Cabinet will meet again on Wednesday, July 10.

The said budget will focus on “increased investments in infrastructure, in good governance and anti-corruption, in building human capabilities especially of the poor, through quality education, public healthcare and housing, and in climate change adaptation measures – all fundamental requirements for the country’s competitiveness and development.”

Achievable budget

Justifying the budget increase, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview with DZRB that the government will be seeking ways to tighten government spending to prevent budget leaks.

The proposed budget, according to Valte, is achievable.

“Confident tayo na mapopondohan natin ‘yan. As with every budget we presented to Congress and approved by it, matagal ‘yang pinag-aralan,” Valte said.

(We are confident we will be able to fund it. As with every budget we presented to Congress and approved by it, we studied it for a long time.)

As the President submits the President’s Budget Message to Congress and the Senate on July 23, the budget legislation phase starts. 

Last year, the President allocated P2.006 trillion and called it an “empowerment budget.” – Rappler.com