Rizal Hall, Malacañang
22 December 2015
President Benigno S. Aquino III signed the 2016 General Appropriations Act (GAA) at the Rizal Hall in Malacañang, Manila.
Amounting to P3.002 trillion, the 2016 GAA gained an increase of P395 billion (15.2%) from last year’s P2.606-trillion of the 2015 national budget, with social services receiving the biggest cut for 2016 amounting to P1.106 trillion (36.8%) of the national budget. Under the social services, education was allocated with P436.5 billion while health was allocated with P128.5 billion, both with increased budgetary allocations at 16% and 25%, respectively, from last year’s national budget. Other projects such as housing, livelihood and community-driven projects, received P1.106 trillion (36.8%) budget cut.
“Alam naman po natin, masusulit lang ang mga bumubukas na pagkakataon kung may sapat na kakayahan ang Pilipinong sagarin ang benepisyong dulot nito. Kaya patuloy ang pagbuhos natin ng pondo sa mga serbisyong panlipunan na nagbibigay lakas sa ating mga Boss,” the President said.
The President assured continued support for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) with P62.7 billion budget cut for next year. This includes P4.6 million family beneficiaries together with 218,000 families who were not included in the list for the years 2008-2009, particularly the indigenous peoples.
Under the economic services, P829.6 billion (27.6%) of the budget has been allocated to cover for infrastructure, agriculture, transport and communications.
On the other hand, the general public services have been allotted with P517.9-billion (17.3%), while the defense and security gets the smallest cut of P129.1-billion (4.3%) but is 11.5% higher compared to last year’s allocation.
Meanwhile, 14% of the budget will go to debt interest payment—the lowest-ever debt payment allocation the government has set aside in ten years.
“Ngayong patapos na ang ating termino, binibigyan naman natin ng kapasidad ang susunod na administrasyon na ipagpatuloy at higit pang maisulong ang pagbabagong nangyayari sa ating lipunan,” he said.
Considered another milestone for the Aquino administration, the passage of the 2016 GAA marks the 6th and final General Appropriations Act (GAA) submitted on time since his incumbency in 2010. President Aquino will end his term next year.
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