THE national budget for 2022 seeks to prioritize social services, but it must adopt four policy initiatives, according to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies.
It said social services will receive 38.3 percent of the proposed P5.02 trillion budget. Education, culture, and manpower development will continue to receive the largest budgetary allocation (P802 billion).
The think tank suggested that, first, the amount and need for social protection be regularly monitored and calibrated, particularly if Covid-19 cases resurface.
"The push to get herd immunity will help mitigate this risk, vaccination rates and positivity rates should be monitored closely especially with the recent opening up of the economy," it underscored.
Second, increased devolution of national government functions, as well as the execution of the local government fiscal equalization GEF, must be continually monitored.
It further said that local governments should be provided with technical capacity-building programs in order for them to properly utilize the additional resources .
Third, continued investments in information and infrastructure that would allow its rapid utilization across many sectors be made.
Finally, the future administration's biggest task will be reducing the debt-to-gross domestic product ratio without jeopardizing much-needed human capital and infrastructure investments.
"These should be combined with job creation for economic recovery," it said.
2022 budget prioritizes social services — PIDS
