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Marcos inks P5.768-T 2024 national budget
MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday signed the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) which contains the PHP5.768-trillion budget that will be tapped to fund the administration’s key programs and projects for next year to expedite the country’s recovery in a post-pandemic era. Marcos signed Republic Act (RA) 11975, the law that appropriates funds for the national government’s operations from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday afternoon. “Although it is teeming with numbers, this budget is more than a spreadsheet of amounts, or a ledger of projects. Rather, it details our battle plan in fighting poverty and combating illiteracy, in producing food and ending hunger, in protecting our homes and securing our border, treating the sick, keeping our people healthy, creating jobs, and funding livelihoods,” he said in a keynote speech. “It is wrong to say that the budget merely pays for the overhead of the bureaucracy. It is more than that. It funds the elimination of problems that we as a nation must overcome. It is incorrect to say that the budget merely finances the operations of government because its fine print bankrolls the realization of our dreams writ large,” Marcos added. The expenditure items in the 2024 GAA, when translated to projects, would transform the country and the Filipinos’ lives “for the better”, adding that the national budget for next year would help boost “both
SIGNING OF 2024 BUDGET. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday (Dec. 20, 2023) signs the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024 in a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace in Manila. The 2024 GAA, otherwise known as Republic Act 11975, contains the 2024 national budget amounting to PHP5.768 trillion. (MNS photo) the physical and human capital of the nation”, he said. Marcos, however, acknowledged that the budget for 2024 is not enough to fully fund his administration’s plans for the country. “How I wish that we could wipe
out with one budget cycle all our infrastructure backlog. How I wish we had 'unli' revenues to realize our country's limited unlimited potential,” he said. Marcos reminded the government agencies to spend their respective
budget appropriations “for the correct purposes, the right way, on time, and on budget.” “I say this to remind those who will execute this budget that red tape, at least to underspending and overspending that disregards legal
guardrails, are two sides of the same coin. Implementation delay and illegal deviations inflict the same havoc of denying the people of the progress and development that they deserve,” he said. The 2024 GAA, which is
equivalent to 21.7 percent of gross domestic product, is 9. 5 percent higher compared to the PHP5.268 trillion budget for 2023. It is anchored on the framework provided by the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) that is geared towards achieving the country’s economic goals specifically identified in the current administration’s MediumTerm Fiscal Framework (MTFF), the Eight-Point Socioeconomic Agenda and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028. “So with this reminder comes the most important budget commandment that we must all must heed: We are working for the people, not for ourselves. We are working for the country, not for ourselves. Honor the taxpayers who make the budget possible and in doing so we will bring closer to the brighter tomorrow that we aspire— for Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines)? that we all envision for our people,” Marcos added. The 2024 budget prioritizes expenditure items that advance social and economic transformation through programs that promote food security, reduction of transport and logistics costs, improved health system, strengthened social protection, sound fiscal management and enhanced bureaucratic efficiency. (MNS) NCDA: Joint circular for PWDs to open employment opportunities The joint memorandum circular See MARCOS on 6
Clean California Shares Eco-Friendly Tips Storms are On the Way. Are Californians Prepared? for Greener Holiday Season By Mark Hedin/EMS
‘Tis the season when Americans produce 25% more waste
SACRAMENTO, CA -- This holiday season, Caltrans and the Clean California Campaign, in partnership with Keep America Beautiful, are encouraging Californians to make the holidays greener by reducing their trash and waste. This is especially important this time of year as studies show Americans produce 25% more waste between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. “By making simple yet impactful changes, Californians can minimize waste and help keep their communities cleaner,” said Tony Taveras, director of Caltrans, which oversees Clean California. “By making greener choices this holiday season, Californians will also set a great tone to maintain a Clean California throughout the new year.” Caltrans and Keep America Beautiful’s recommended wastereduction holiday tips include: Recyclable Gift-Wrapping Paper: Instead of traditional wrapping paper that often ends up in landfills, opt for recyclable or reusable alternatives. This includes reusing newspaper and paper bags in place of wrapping paper for gifts. Don't forget to recycle the paper afterward – just remove the tape. Another creative idea for wrapping can be gently-used scarves, handkerchiefs, or tea towels to wrap gifts. You can also package baked goods and other edible gifts in reusable glass bottles or tins. Recyclable/E-Holiday Cards: In an age of digital connectivity, sending electronic holiday
greeting cards can be an ecoconscious alternative to traditional paper cards. Making your own or using recyclable paper are other sustainable alternatives to traditional holiday cards. Natural Decorations: Buy a live, potted Christmas tree to decorate – then plant it in your backyard (if you have one!) after the holiday. If you do cut down a tree, be sure to recycle it after the holiday. Clean California and Keep America Beautiful recommend using items like pinecones, holly, and evergreen branches, emphasizing the beauty and sustainability of such choices. You’ll save money by not splurging on decorations and be able to
return everything to nature after the holidays. Greener Gatherings: When entertaining, cut down on excess waste by using real dishware and cutlery instead of disposable plates and utensils. Also, use washable cloth tablecloths and napkins instead of paper options. Make recycling easy for guests by placing recycling bins beside every trash bin, and make sure the products you provide can be reused or recycled. For more tips and tricks to make your celebrations eco-friendly, check out this free ”Keep the See CLEAN on 7
With an El Niño weather pattern promising wetter wets and hotter hots, California's Office of Emergency Services and Listos California are urging residents to stay safe and be prepared. If your memories of last winter’s dozen “atmospheric rivers” have faded, Mother Nature is preparing a soaking wet reminder, with parts of the West Coast possibly looking at a month’s worth of rain by midweek and another close on its heels around Christmastime. The storms are part of the periodic El Niño weather pattern that meteorologists say promises more torrential rains and higher temperatures across California in the coming year. In hopes of minimizing the disasters that extreme weather can bring, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES), along with Listos California, Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media hosted a press briefing offering safety tips, advice and resources to help Californians prepare for the flooding, high winds and cold temperatures that will likely occur in various parts of the state. “Getting prepared for disaster starts with simple but important actions you can take now before storms hit,” said Diana CroftsPelayo, of OES: Sign up for locally specific, potentially life-saving emergency alerts at safelistoscalifornia.org/ alerts. Make plans for where you and your household will meet, so that even if you’re in disparate locations when a crisis occurs, you’ll be able to reunite.
Have a “go bag” with essential things you can quickly take with you if you have to leave your home in a hurry. And don’t forget to use simple common sense. For instance, if you’re driving and encounter barricades, don’t drive around them! A car can be swept away in as little as 12 inches of water, Crofts-Pelayo warned. “If there’s a barricade there, it’s there for a reason. Do not cross it! “There were too many sad stories last year of people getting trapped through flooded areas,” she said. Along similar lines, pedestrians can be swept away by the force of as little as 6 inches of rushing water. “Stay indoors during storms and high-wind events,” she cautioned. We had too many people hurt by falling trees “out trying to walk their dogs in 70 mph winds.” If you or someone in your household relies on electricity for essential medical equipment, contact your power company to make arrangements. If the company needs to cut off power in an area due to fire risks such as falling trees, it can prioritize keeping the power on for specific customers or help arrange backup power sources. But don’t run a generator indoors,
Pelayo said, those fumes are deadly. And along those lines, don’t rely on your kitchen stove as a heat source. And don’t forget to check on your neighbors and loved ones. Other simple things to take care of ahead of time include having working flashlights and gas in the car. Have fun in the snowy mountains, she said, as long as you’re adequately prepared. And don’t go during a storm if your clothing and car aren’t appropriate for extreme weather, especially if you don’t live there. Don’t put first responders in the position of “trying to save too many people at one time.” Resources for staying safe in extreme weather ListosCalifornia is a “Number One resource,” with its storm safety information available in 13 languages at: Listoscalifornia.org/ StormSeason. “If it’s too cold, if the weather is too intense,” you’ll find information on warming shelters and public shelters for specific disasters. Using these resources comes without ID requirements or any questions about someone’s immigration status. “Accepting any kind of aid during See STORM on
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