DUTERTE GOV'T PROPOSES P5.

024-TRILLION BUDGET FOR 2022

SUMMARY OF THE REPORT

The Duterte government, through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),
submitted on Monday, August 23, its proposed budget plan for 2022, amounting to P5.024
Trillion. The proposal is equivalent to 22.8% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and
is higher by 11.5% than the 2021 national budget. "Despite this, the Duterte government only
earmarked 4% of the budget for the pandemic response, amounting to P240 Billion. The House
is now set to hear the proposal of each agency, which usually leads to changes in the initial
proposed amount. The Education sector, comprising the Department of Education and the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and state universities, is proposed to receive the
highest allocation within the Executive department, with a proposed budget amounting to P773.6
Billion. The allocation for Local Government Units (LGUs) will amount to P1.116 Trillion. The
amount includes the P959-billion National Tax Allotment share of LGUs, following the Supreme
Court ruling on the Mandanas-Garcia case. The DBM highlights their aim of leaving a legacy for
Duterte, naming the budget plan "Sustaining the Legacy of Real Change for Future Generations.
A total of P1.18 trillion is proposed to be spent in 2022 for infrastructure, which includes the
following programs: Network Development Program - P128.1 billion Flood Management
Program - P113.5 billion Rail Transport - P110.9 billion Land Public Transportation Program -
P13.9 billion. 

PERSONAL INSIGHT
As a Filipino citizen, I am angry with how much each government agency has a lot of
budgets but it was not used properly or it was used for personal gain. As of right now, I don’t see
any improvement in any of these agencies as we are still a corrupt country, and these agencies
are unable to use their budget to its good use. An example of not properly using its budget is
DOH wherein there are a lot of complaints of health workers not getting paid or underpaid
because the said DOH is corrupt that is why even if there is a lot of budget hospitals are still
struggling to strive for better equipment and medicine for nurses and doctors if the budget where
use properly the country would have been ready for covid-19 wave.

DOH is one of the examples of a corrupt government, there are a lot more like
Agriculture, Ched, DepEd, and many more if there will be just good leaders in each agency there
will be a success of distribution of resources there should not be just good leaders rather great
leaders that can lead people to a successful agency. Successful agencies can lead to a better
country as they are the root of everything and people depend on them.

Reference:
https://www.rappler.com/nation/duterte-government-proposes-2022-national-budget/?
fbclid=IwAR1eQgRMHhKFMcRzNAq5Z9c4xSqHAodRzDv9bMkPRa3pxMV0KMs36hQ1pgg

BIR SAYS ON TRACK TO HIT REVENUE GOAL

SUMMARY OF THE REPORT
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is on track to meet its revenue goal again this year
if the economy continues to recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic,
officials said. This as the BIR reported its first-half collection breached the P1-trillion mark.
Marissa O. Cabreros, the deputy commissioner at the bureau, said on Sunday that the country's
biggest revenue-generating agency is optimistic it will be able to hit its P2.081-trillion target for
the entire year, as economic activity picks up. The bureau generated P1.034 trillion from January
to June, exceeding its P1.018-trillion target for the period by 1.61%, BIR Commissioner Caesar
R. Dulay said in a text message on Friday. This was also 8.11% higher than the P956.397-billion
tax collection in the first half of 2020 when strict lockdowns halted nearly all economic activity.
In the first half of 2021, the economy showed signs of recovery as quarantine restrictions in
Metro Manila and surrounding areas were eased, alongside the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
Economic managers set yearly collection goals for the bureau and other revenue-generating
offices to fund the government's spending plan and borrow the rest to plug the funding gap. For
this year, the state has set a P4.5-trillion budget and projected total revenues to hit P2.881
trillion. To recall, the BIR exceeded its downscaled target last year after generating P1.846
trillion, 12.5% above the P1.642-trillion goal. It accounted for 74% of the government's total
revenues worth P2.5 trillion in 2020. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs also exceeded its
P291.833-billion goal for the first half by 3.7%, after collecting P302.74 billion. This made up
48.83% of the BoC's P620-billion collection target for the entire year. The economy showed
indications of recovery in the first half of 2021 when quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila and
adjacent areas were removed, and COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out. To support the
government's spending plan, economic managers set yearly collection goals for the bureau and
other revenue-generating offices, and the rest is borrowed to close the budget gap. The state has
set a P4.5-trillion budget for this year, with total revenues expected to reach P2.881 trillion. Last
year, the BIR surpassed its downscaled aim, generating P1.846 trillion, 12.5 percent more than
the P1.642-trillion target. In 2020, it accounted for 74% of the government's total income of P2.5
trillion.

PERSONAL INSIGHT
From what I have read it is safe to say that our country has become better than last year
as it shows positive percentages of accumulated tax, this shows that we are more prepared for
Covid 19 than 2019 as it grows to 74%  revenue from taxes that are made. The economy sure is
recovery but the question does having good numbers could help lessen the problem of Covid 19,
I must say I was impressed how the government improved their way of helping companies and
its citizens to get back on their feet. Different cities with their own municipality help improve the
revenue goal of the Philippines, with leaders that really did their job with their own city they held
their ground as Covid 19 was having more variants.

Covid-19 vaccines are the best answer to a country that has almost a thousand infected
citizens a day, being mandatory to some really helps it to be implemented. There are a lot of
people that have been vaccinated and these open up a lot of opportunities that is why 2021 has
improved its economy because of how they implemented the vaccines wherein some agree and
some don’t but I would guess that before 2021 ends at least half the people of the Philippines
will be vaccinated. Lastly, people are more conscious on how to deal with Covid 19 and how
they interact with different people that is why the government has lessened restrictions in
different areas so that they can still have the freedom that people needed as 2019 and the start of
2021 has been more in a restricted way.

Reference:

https://www.bworldonline.com/bir-says-on-track-to-hit-revenue-goal/
 ADB MAINTAINS 2021 FORECAST FOR PHILIPPINE ECONOMY; COVID-19
VACCINATION KEY TO GROWTH

SUMMARY OF THE REPORT

According to a report released today by the Asian Development Bank, sustained growth
in public infrastructure investment, improved consumer confidence, and progress in the national
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine campaign would help the Philippines' economic
growth in 2021 and 2022.  In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021 Update, the Asian
Development Bank kept its GDP growth prediction for the Philippines at 4.5 percent in 2021 and
5.5 percent in 2022.
The report notes signs of a gradual recovery in the country's economy, with an uptick in
domestic demand and favorable external trends aligning with the ADO's April projections. The
main risk to the outlook is the spread of newer, contagious COVID-19 variants, which could lead
to the return of stricter containment measures and the imposition of new taxes. However, due to
the threat posed by more infectious COVID-19 variations, the recovery remains fragile," said
ADB Philippines Country Director Kelly Bird. " Vaccination will be critical to the economy's
safe reopening." "
The government has focused on vaccinating Filipinos residing in major urban areas, such
as Metro Manila, which has the highest occurrences of COVID-19 infections. Public
infrastructure disbursements rose 39.1% year-on-year in July, and the government is on track to
achieve its target of raising infrastructure spending to at least 5% of GDP in 2021 and 2022, up
from 4.8% in 2020.
The government's policy reforms and the expansionary fiscal program will help the
economy recover, with a fiscal deficit of 7.5 percent of GDP forecast in 2022, according to the
research. According to the ADO Update, inflation predictions remain constant at 4.1 percent in
2021 and 3.5 percent the following year. The government's monetary policy stance is projected
to remain supportive, with inflation expected to fall back within the central bank's target range of
2% to 4% and a gradual rebound in domestic demand. The current account surplus will fall to a
revised 1.0 percent of GDP this year and 0.8 percent in 2022, according to the report, with a
stronger-than-expected increase in imports, including capital goods and raw materials.

PERSONAL INSIGHT
From my analyzes of the current situation of the Philippines, things will get out of hand
as there are different variants that are more harmful and contagious than the old version of Covid
19. 2020 has been a rollercoaster of different implementations on how to prevent Covid 19 some
are helpful and some are just ridiculous including face shield wherein it is said that it helps
prevent Covid 19 but there is really no significant study whether it is true or not. The economy of
the Philippines is dependent on how the people and government act on Covid as these are the key
elements to be able to get the Philippines back on track as they have lost a lot of revenue in 2019.

These percentages are still far from recovering what was lost as 2022 comes I must say
that it will still be the same as new variants await and people still do not have the discipline
needed in order to recover, Metro Manila still have to deal with how they will prevent people on
going out as they are one of many cities that have the highest rate of cases as Manila is the
Capital of the Philippines. 2022 is still undetermined as to whether it will be a good year for the
Philippines or not but as we should all know that everyone not just in the government but also
citizen of the Philippines that we should know are boundaries and having to trust the government
in preventing Covid 19.

Reference:
https://www.adb.org/news/adb-maintains-2021-forecast-philippine-economy-covid-19-
vaccination-key-growth?fbclid=IwAR0_bQ-
KH1_2Cp1cMyC7iNG1GEdKd1uW3wyUAfV_comy2CmDcypetynolP0
 PHILIPPINES: BOOSTING PRIVATE SECTOR GROWTH CAN STRENGTHEN
RECOVERY, CREATE MORE JOBS

SUMMARY OF THE REPORT

According to the Philippines Economic Update (PEU) titled Regaining Lost Ground,
Revitalizing the Filipino Workforce, released today by the World Bank, the Philippine economy
is expected to grow 5.3 percent this year before accelerating to an average of 5.8 percent in
2022-23 on the road to recovery. Government spending on infrastructure is likely to bolster
GDP, aided by the gradual progress in vaccination leading to increased people movement and the
rebirth of enterprises. Household consumption is expected to recover, anchored on increased
remittances and improving salaries as more individuals regain or find new jobs, barring a further
uptick in COVID-19 cases.
Reforms that open additional industries to foreign investment, streamline administrative
procedures to ease market entry, and encourage businesses to use new technologies, according to
Diop, will improve private sector growth, generate more employment, and deepen the recovery.
The nearly two-year-long pandemic, on the other hand, has forced the closure of numerous
businesses, resulting in job losses and revenue losses, as well as health concerns and disruptions
in children's schooling. Due to the more contagious Delta type, the Philippines experienced two
COVID-19 outbreaks this year, the first in March-April and the second in August-September.
The authorities reintroduced tight mobility restrictions in Metro Manila and adjacent
provinces, as well as major urban regions, in both cases. Despite this, economic activity has not
been seriously affected by the current spike and mobility constraints. As a result, the economy
grew by 4.9 percent in the first three quarters of 2021, after contracting by 10.1 percent in the
same period of 2020. In the year 2022, the phased economic reopening is expected to benefit the
services sector especially transportation, domestic tourism, and wholesale and retail trade.
Despite positive improvements, the COVID-19 pandemic remains a severe threat to the
country's growth prospects, according to the PEU. Even in countries with high vaccination rates,
infections have spread, but with significantly lower severity of disease, hospitalization, and
fatality, according to the paper.

PERSONAL INSIGHT
As I travel to different places I notice that in mid-year of 2020 the economy has grown as
much as 10% and some infrastructure and businesses have opened up and embraced the new
normal that we are facing but there are establishments that are still struggling such as kids
playgrounds and different facilities that accommodates a lot of people. Metro Manila and other
areas should be in a bubble wherein they should be more restricted and isolated so that the spread
of the virus would lessen and as we all know some variants started from there, the economy will
sure be growing as the Philippines changes in how they put actions on preventing the spread of
Covid.

By new technologies, businesses are able to deal with people with less interaction and
this improves the economy a lot and when I say technology the use of mobile phones to order
through grab or food panda has helped food businesses to get back on their feet and give them a
chance of survival in this new normal. 2022 will surely be a big opportunity for some businesses
and also for foreign investors, by mid-2022 I think that the Philippines will get back on track
with the opening of big establishments that have big revenue and also schools they could
increase productivity in the country.   

Reference:

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/12/07/ph-boosting-private-sector-
growth-can-strengthen-recovery-create-more-jobs?
fbclid=IwAR3W8psKfN5pU8nOR8Omgu31iO1AU2xDUQamXhJbYXW2igYUpYQlIlZWQM
M
 COA CLARIFICATION ON AUDIT FINDINGS OF DOH COVID-19 FUNDS

SUMMARY OF THE REPORT

The Consolidated Annual Audit Report for FY 2020 of the Department of Health (DOH)
contains observations and findings made by the Commission on Audit on the utilization of the
budget by the DOH. Accompanying the observations and findings are the recommendations
made by the auditors for the management of DOH to address the observation and findings. The
Report itself does not mention any findings by the auditors of funds lost to corruption. As an
example, some of the findings of deficiencies involving COVID-19 funds amounting to Php67.3
Billion resulted from the non-submission of documentation or supporting papers, which the
DOH may still submit in compliance with the auditor's recommendation of the Php67.3 Billion,
Php42.4 Billion consisted of fund transfers to procurement/implementing partner-agencies
without the required documentation. The breakdown of the Php67.3 Billion and the deficiencies
found are clearly explained in Annexes IV and V of the Consolidated Annual Audit Report of the
DOH. As there are recommendations for compliance by the DOH, the audit process for the
deficiencies pointed out has not been completed. Hence, it is premature at this stage to make
conclusions on the findings in the Consolidated Annual Audit Report.

PERSONAL INSIGHT
In 2021 there are a lot of controversies regarding the use of funds of DOH as there are a
lot of these funds that are not used right and that it is still questionable whether it was corrupt by
the officials or not. DOH in 2021 has made a lot of questionable decisions regarding the ways of
preventing Covid and their way of choosing vaccines, that they chose the expensive yet
ineffective too much cheaper and effective vaccines. I must say that DOH is a corrupt agency
with a big fund they could have held the problem with Covid and yet they did not execute it
properly, different city mayors are more effective in implementing rules that help prevent covid
19 from spreading, and that DOH failed to apply its power over the country as they were just
talks and not so many actions.

With that being said I think that DOH is one of the most corrupt agencies as big as their
budget there is not really an improvement in their actions towards Covid 19. Overall, in my
opinion, DOH should be punished as they carry the health of every Filipino and that they should
know better how to act in this time of the pandemic.

  

Reference:
https://www.coa.gov.ph/index.php/2013-06-19-13-07-50/news-releases/362-coa-clarification-on-
audit-findings-of-doh-covid-19-funds