State of the Nation 3.7 Trillion 2018 Budget

(Press and Public Affairs Bureau) President Rodrigo Duterte culminated his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday with the submission to Congress of the proposed P3.767-trillion national budget for 2018. The National Expenditure Program (NEP) books were handed to House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III. The budget proposal represents an increase of 12.4 percent from the 2017 budget of P3.35 trillion. The Duterte administration plans to spend P8 trillion on infrastructure projects during the President’s six-year term, by building new roads, bridges and airports through its Build, Build, Build Program. The budget for infrastructure for 2018 amounts to P1.097-trillion, up by 29.5 percent from this year’s budget of P847.2 billion. In his SONA, the President emphasized his agenda of prosperity for all, law and order, and peace. PC/GE/RL/FG

the noblest motive is the greatest good for the greatest number