Senate ratifies 2011 budget

The Senate on Monday ratified the bicameral version of the P1.645-trillion national budget for 2011. 

In his sponsorship speech, Senate finance committee chairman Franklin Drilon said the bicameral report includes an increase of:

P110 million in the maintenance and operating expenses of 80 state universities and colleges (SUC);

P8 million in the budget of the Office of the Vice President;

P200 million in the subsidy of local government units;

P590 million in the budget of the House of Representatives; and

P345 million in the budget of the Senate

Drilon said allocations for the two houses of Congress were increased to bring its 2011 budget at 95 percent of the 2010 budget.

He also said they reduced the budgets of 30 SUCs whose allocations were earlier increased to bring the appropriation for 80 other SUCs to their 2010 level.

Also reduced were the budgets of the Department of Health's Office of the Secretary (by P200 million), Department of Interior and Local Government - Philippine National Police (by P60 million), Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits (by 993 million), and Priority Development Assistance Fund (by P200 million).

On the other hand, Drilon said they realigned the lump sum of P750 million for basic education facilities to the creation of 5,000 new teaching positions and the capital outlay of P70 million for the Quick Response Fund to the insurance premiums for school buildings in calamity-prone areas. - KBK, GMANews.TV