MANILA, Philippines – The government will continue to spend on vulnerable sectors and monitor developments related to the global financial crisis this year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.
NEDA deputy director-general Rolando Tungpalan said this is necessary to ensure that the government stays on track in pump-priming the economy.
Tungpalan said he believes the government response was appropriate as it did not spend beyond what was authorized in the budget.
“Our response was appropriate which is why we did not go into high spending that was beyond what was already authorized in the budget,” Tungpalan said in his speech at the recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) Regional Forum on the Impact of Global Economic and Financial Crisis at the ADB headquarters in Manila.
He said in stimulating the economy, the Philippines worked around the national budget as this has already been submitted to Congress.
Furthermore, Tungpalan said the government pushed for expenditure items that focused on quick, ready-to-go actions and measures, particularly infrastructure, that would not have to go through a tedious bidding process.
“These infrastructure projects were characterized by rehabilitation and repair, including small farm-to-market roads, irrigation ditches, and the like,” he said.
Tungpalan said at the same time, spending was also focused on shielding the vulnerable sectors through appropriate social protection programs including the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program and the Comprehensive Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP).
The CCT is “an expanded social compensation program”, which is not a “dole-out” scheme, Tungpalan said. “Rather it is a response that provided quick incentives for school children to attend to school, and mothers and family members to attend to healthcare,” he explained.
Equally important, Tungpalan cited the importance of continuous monitoring of global events as they impact on local development. –Iris C. Gonzales (The Philippine Star)
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
