Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said Wednesday no funds were allocated for the social amelioration program (SAP) cash aid under the proposed 2021 national budget worth P4.5 trillion.
Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked why there is no budget allocation for SAP during the Senate budget hearing.
“For 2021, we only have regular programs for the DSWD,” Avisado said.
“We’re looking at the improvement in the economy and the opportunity for people to be able to work already, and we still have the regular programs, the 4Ps that will be continued,” the DBM chief added.
Avisado said the government already gave P200 billion SAP funds under the Bayanihan 1 law, which benefitted around 18 million families at the beginning of the lockdowns. Under the Bayanihan 2, another P6 billion was allocated for the cash assistance.
“For next year, we’re hoping that we can go back to the regular programs of DSWD. That is the reason why there is no provision for SAP for next year,” he said.
Further, the budget chief said the government is also investing in infrastructure projects which would generate jobs and would create more sustainable support for Filipinos.
Avisado added that giving jobs is better than merely giving dole-outs.
Also read: DBM: 92.3% of 2020 budget already released by end-June
2021 national budget
The 2021 national budget has the theme: “Reset, Rebound and Recover: Investing for Resiliency and Sustainability” and has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte last month.
Senator Sonny Angara earlier noted that the proposed 2021 national budget is 9.9% higher than the 2020 budget and is equivalent to 21.8% of the country’s GDP.
He added the proposed budget is expected to allocate funds for programs that would stimulate economic recovery.
“We want to see more support for our ailing industries and businesses such as tourism and the micro, small and medium enterprises, almost all of which were forced into dormancy during the government-imposed lockdowns,” he said.
“We have to accelerate our efforts to connect our communities no matter how remote they are because, under the new normal, connectivity is of utmost importance. Our educational system depends on this now that distance learning is the norm,” he added.