PAGDINIG SA P229.93-B PANUKALANG BADYET NG DND, TINAPOS NA; MAS MALAKAS NA DEPENSA, HINILING

 

Tinapos ngayong Huwebes ng Komite ng Appropriations sa Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan, na pinamumunuan ni AKO BICOL Rep. Elizaldy Co, ang pagdinig sa panukalang P229.93-bilyong badyet ng Department of National Defense (DND) para sa Piskal na Taong 2024. 

“As we move forward with this budget, let us do so with the knowledge that a strong and well-funded defense is the foundation upon which our nation’s prosperity and peace depend,” hinimok ni Komite Senior Vice Chairperson at Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo ang mga kapwa miyembro ng Komite, bilang pagkilala sa mahalagang papel ng DND sa pagpapanatili ng kapayapaan sa loob ng teritoryo ng Pilipinas, at pagtatanggol sa mga hangganan nito. 

Idinagdag pa niya na ang DND ay isang haligi ng katatagan at masasandigan ng suporta tuwing ang bansa ay nahaharap sa mga kahirapan, partikular na ang mga natural na kalamidad. 

Sa kaniyang pagbalangkas ng mga layunin ng ahensya, na kinabibilangan ng soberanya at teritoryal na integridad, katatagan ng kalamidad at pagbabago ng klima, modernisasyon at pagpapaunlad ng kapasidad, at pagdepensa sa cyber, ipinaliwanag ni DND Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. na ang DND ay “in the process of reviewing our strategic thrusts given the volatility in certain areas we have responsibility for.” 

Naiulat na mas mataas ng 12-porsyento ang alokasyon ng ahensya sa ilalim ng 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) kumpara sa pondo nitong 2023 na P204.56-bilyon. 

Ipinaliwanag ni Secretary Teodoro na binabayaran ng DND ang mga pagsulong ng depensa na hindi naisagawa noong mga nakaraang taon. Sa kaniyang pag mosyon na tapusin na ang pagdinig, pinuri ni Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano ang Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas, at sinabing “We should remember that we owe our peaceful existence—na nakakatulog tayo nang mahimbing—dahil inaalay ang ating mga sundalo mismo sa kanilang buhay.” 

Ang pagdinig ay pinangunahan ni Komite Vice Chair at Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, na siyang magdedepensa sa panukalang badyet ng DND sa deliberasyon sa plenaryo.

APPRO PANEL CONCLUDES BRIEFING ON DND’S P229.93-B BUDGET PROPOSAL; STRONGER DEFENSE SOUGHT

The House Committee on Appropriations chaired by AKO BICOL Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co on Thursday terminated the briefing on the proposed P229.93-billion budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) for Fiscal Year 2024. 

“As we move forward with this budget, let us do so with the knowledge that a strong and well-funded defense is the foundation upon which our nation’s prosperity and peace depend,” Committee Senior Vice Chairperson and Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo urged fellow Committee members, recognizing the DND’s crucial role in maintaining peace within Philippine territory and defending its borders. 

She added that the DND is a pillar of resilience and humanitarian support when the country faces adversities, particularly natural disasters. 

Outlining the agency’s thrusts, which include sovereignty and territorial integrity, disaster resilience and climate change, modernization and capacity development, and cyber defense, DND Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. explained that the DND is “in the process of reviewing our strategic thrusts given the volatility in certain areas we have responsibility for.”

It was reported that the agency’s allocation under the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) is 12-percent higher compared to its 2023 funding of P204.56-billion. 

Secretary Teodoro explained that the DND is compensating for the defense advancements that were not carried out in previous years. 

Moving to terminate the briefing, Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano hailed the Armed Forces of the Philippines, saying that “We should remember that we owe our peaceful existence—na nakakatulog tayo nang mahimbing—dahil inaalay ng ating mga sundalo mismong ang kanilang buhay.” 

The hearing was presided over by Committee Vice Chair and Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, who will defend the DND’s proposed budget during floor deliberations. wantta join us? sure, manure...