Sen. Imee R. Marcos, during the continuation of the discussion on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its attached agencies by the Finance Subcommittee I on Monday, October 14, 2024, sought clarification on the cash grant deficit for the 2023 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) budget, which was not included in the computation of the 4Ps budget for 2025.
Based on the submission of the DSWD to the committee, Marcos pointed out that the agency has a deficit of P1.956 billion in subsidies in arrears for fiscal year 2023, yet it was included in the special provision of the agency’s 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP) as if there would be savings.
“Why is it in the special provision for 2025? How sure are you that you will have savings?” the senator asked.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian explained that it is not savings but rather the actual additional tier 2 budget that the DSWD has requested from the Department of Budget and Management, amounting to P7 billion, which was already included in the NEP.
Comments