BBM signs P5.768-T nat'l budget for 2024

It's final: No secret funds for OVP, DepEd

- NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

President Marcos yesterday signed the P5.768trillion budget for 2024, which allocates more funds to defense initiatives for the West Philippine Sea and financial assistance to cash-strapped Filipinos.

Marcos said the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024 is the government's "battle plan" to addres poverty, illiteracy, food security, health, employment and the security of homes and borders of the country.

"Today, we sign the national budget, the instrument which tells how the taxes paid by the people will be returned to them. In effect, we are signing the renewal of our annual social contract with taxpayers, that what they have paid faithfully will be rebated to them in full," Marcos said during the 2024 GAA signing.

Among the sectors that received a greater allocation for next year are transportation, defense and education.

The 2024 budget also saw Congress realigning most of the confidential funds of civilian agencies, including those of the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd), toward maritime security.

This sparked and fueled

Various programs intended to support overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are being prepared on top of existing projects to help them maintain their livelihoods and care for their families while they are away, President Marcos said yesterday.

Speaking during the ( BY Family Day in Pasay City, Marcos acknowledged the contributions of the country's OFWs, who have been sending money to relatives back home for decades, which in turn helped improve the Philippine economy.