THE House of Representatives on Monday swiftly concluded the period of sponsorship and debate on the 2025 proposed budget of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in the amount of P267.36 million under the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman took notice of the MinDA’s budget decrease, down from its present P314.89 million.
He expressed hope that the proposed budget will be augmented closer to MinDA’s original requested budget of P725 million, emphasizing the significant benefits of reform and institutionalizing development initiatives in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
“So ang ganoong kalaking halaga ay malaking dagok din ho sa kanila. So sana mapagtulungan ng ating Chair kasama ‘yong buong Kongreso, kung hindi man ho kayang abutin ‘yong level na P725 million, kahit kalahati sana noon. O kung hindi ho, ang minimum ay kahit ibalik na lang sana ‘yong GAA level nila,” Hataman stated.
Appropriations committee vice chairperson and Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco Jose Matugas, MinDA budget sponsor, concurred with the observations of Hataman, stating that MinDA’s project proposals and programs are critical to Mindanao’s development.
The House also ended without interpellation, the proposed 2025 budgets of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) amounting to P421.37 million and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for P3.828 billion.
Appropriations committee vice chairperson and Camarines Sur Rep. Arnie Fuentebella served as the budget sponsor for both agencies.
The 2025 proposed budget of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), in the amount of P850.464 million, also passed the interpellation period without inquiries from the members of the House minority.
Appropriations committee vice chairperson and General Santos City Rep. Loreto Acharon sponsored the agency’s budget deliberation.
Deputy Speaker David Suarez presided over the deliberation of the proposed budgets of the above mentioned government agencies.
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