Legarda: 2016 budget will be ‘inclusive, attuned to sustainable development’

SENATOR Loren Legarda, the new chairperson of Senate finance committee, vowed Wednesday to make the proposed P3-trillion national budget for 2016 “inclusive and attuned to the sustainable development goals.”

“We will scrutinize the proposed national budget and ensure that it will be used judiciously and for the common good,” said Legarda.

Legarda said she would ensure that the government would fund programs for economic growth, as well as for the betterment of every citizen.

She also promised that the budget would create progressive communities, build resilience, reduce poverty, and promote sustainability.

The senator said the 2016 national budget should be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which will succeed the Millennium Development Goals when it expires by the end of 2015.

The proposed SDGs aim to end poverty and hunger, improve health and education, make cities more sustainable, combat climate change, promote peace and justice for all, and protect the environment and biodiversity.

“While the SDGs are still being finalized and will be adopted in September, we already have to work on incorporating these goals in our national development agenda by ensuring that government funds will be used to attain these targets,” the senator said.

Legarda was elected committee chair on Monday, replacing Senator Francis Escudero.

The committee will start its budget deliberations on August 17. Congress earlier vowed to pass the budget by December.

Source: Sunstar