Alagang Angara

For the third straight year, the country’s 117 state universities and colleges (SUCs) received increases in their budgets to support their constantly growing requirements to provide quality public education to the country’s tertiary students.

Senator Sonny Angara, as Chairman of the Committee on Finance, said the total budget for the SUCs this year amounts to P107 billion, representing a P13.7 billion increase from the P93.3 billion originally submitted by Malacañang under the 2023 National Expenditure Program.

Some 4.1 million indigent senior citizens will each receive P12,000 in social pension this year with the full implementation of Republic Act 11916, Senator Sonny Angara said today.

As the Chairman of the Committee on Finance that went over the 2023 national budget, Angara said a total P50 billion was provided under the P5.268 trillion General Appropriations Act for the social pension for indigent seniors.

The technical glitch of the country’s air traffic system that led to the disruption of all flights at the start of the year should prompt the implementation of long-term solutions, including the strengthening of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Senator Sonny Angara said today.

The Libreng Sakay program that has benefitted commuters since the start of the pandemic over two years ago will continue in 2023.

Senator Sonny Angara clarified that a substantial amount was included by Congress under the 2023 General Appropriations Act to ensure the continuous implementation of the program.

Congress worked hard to ensure that the P5.268 trillion national budget for 2023 is signed within the year. While there were disagreements on some issues during the bicameral conference committee meetings, both panels found common ground in the need to ensure that assistance is given to those who require it the most and to keep the momentum going in the country’s move towards economic recovery.

The naturalization of PBA import Justin Brownlee will beef up the roster of Gilas Pilipinas during the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in February while providing even more excitement to Filipino hoops fans, Senator Sonny Angara said today.

During the ongoing bicameral conference committee meetings on the 2023 national budget, Senator Sonny Angara assured that the Senate will work for the continued grant of “ayuda” or support to the sectors that are still feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unlike the ayuda that was provided during the height of the pandemic, which involved the distribution of cash dole outs to a significant portion of the population, Angara said what will be provided under the proposed 2023 budget are targeted assistance to specific sectors.

SENATE APPROVES THE MARCOS ADMINISTRATION'S FIRST BUDGET

The Senate has approved its version of the P5.268 trillion national budget for 2023, the first appropriations measure of the Marcos administration.

After marathon hearings at the committee level and interpellations in plenary, the Senate version of the 2023 General Appropriations Bill was approved on third and final reading with a vote of 21-0-0.

Senator Sonny Angara is pushing for the conversion of COVID-19 quarantine and isolation facilities to evacuation centers for families affected by disasters and calamities.

Now that the spread of COVID-19 is under control and fewer people are contracting the virus, Angara suggested the conduct of an assessment on the need to maintain the quarantine and isolation facilities put up during the peak of the pandemic.

Agarang nagbigay tulong si Senador Sonny Angara sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng Bagyong Paeng, particular na sa mga probinsiya ng Zamboanga, Cotabato, Aklan, Maguindanao at Capiz.

Pinangunahan ng mga staff ng opisina ni Sen. Angara ang pamamahagi ng mga food packs at iba pang relief goods para sa ilang bayan ng mga nabanggit na probinsiya.