Congress approves 2017 national budget on second reading

by Rita Salonga via RH News

MANILA - Congress has approved on its second reading the 2017 national budget of the Duterte administration, amounting to Php3.35 trillion.

House Bill 3408 or the General Appropriations Bill for 2017 made it pass the second reading after two weeks of being discussed in plenary debate.

Through “viva voce”, the “Yes” won with 268 congressmen.

The national budget is expected to be passed in its third and final reading after the Congress break on October 22-November 6.

The said budget is higher by 11.6 percent compare to last year’s national budget or Php3.002 trillion.
The Top 10 agencies with the biggest chunk from the said budget includes:

Dept. of Education:                                                    Php567.5 billion
Dept. of Public Works and Highways:                      Php458.6 billion
Dept. of Interior and Local Government:                  Php150 billion
Dept. National Defense:                                            Php134.5 billion
Dept. Social Welfare and Development:                   Php129.9 billion
Dept. of Health:                                                         Php94 billion
SUCs:                                                                         Php58.8 billion
Dept. of Transportation:                                             Php55.4 billion
Dept. of Agriculture:                                                  Php45.2 billion

Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao:              Php41.7 billion