Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 31) – The relative decline in proposed funding for the University of the Philippines (UP) System and UP-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) only resulted from Congress’ adjustments of their respective budgets this year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Wednesday.
In a briefing, DBM chief Amenah Pangandaman said the UP System’s and UP-PGH’s budgets under the 2023 National Expenditure Program are lower by 9.8% and 5.9% than their assigned amounts in this year’s General Appropriations Act.
According to the documents, the state university will receive ₱23.106 billion next year compared to ₱25.6 billion in 2022.
Meanwhile, the country’s premier public hospital will be getting ₱5.93 billion in 2023, down from ₱6.3 billion this year.
“Iyong reduction po kasi na ito, ito po iyong mga Congress-introduced changes and adjustments and iyong mga non-recurring programs and project po,” said Pangandaman, echoing an earlier statement of the agency over the weekend posted by state-run People’s Television Network.
[Translation: The apparent reduction comes after Congress-introduced changes and adjustments and non-recurring programs and projects this year.]
Pangandaman said these pertain to one-time purchases, citing x-ray machines and similar medical equipment as example.
“One time lang po ito binibili, hindi po ito kailangan pang magsunod na taon kapag ito po ay nagamit na,” added the economic manager.
[Translation: These are only bought one-time, meaning they do not need to be included next year.]
The DBM likewise said earlier that it “takes into consideration” the budget utilization rate of government institutions before allocating their budgets under the NEP. The UP System’s rate was 66% as of end-2021, it added.
CNN Philippines has sought comment from the UP System and UP-PGH.
