00:00 The overhaul scrutiny of the proposed budgets for the year 2024 of two important government offices began today.
00:07 One of the agencies gave the assurance that the campaign promise of the president of Affordable Housing for All will eventually become a reality in the coming years,
00:16 while the other sought more allocation to fulfill its mandate.
00:20 Melalee S. Moras has more.
00:24 The House of Representatives has swiftly terminated in the committee level the proposed 2024 budget of the Presidential Communications Office headed by Secretary Shelley Garafil.
00:34 For fiscal year 2024, the government's communications arm, along with its attached agencies, is asking for more than P1.7 billion in allocation but is hoping for more to fund all of its plans and programs.
00:48 According to Secretary Garafil, this year, among their major accomplishments include bringing timely and reliable information to the public on every activity,
00:57 trip and engagement of President Ferdinand R. Marquez, Jr., launching of relevant projects like the Media, Information and Literacy Campaign, and other initiatives in the spirit of better service for the Filipinos.
01:10 Rest assured that the PCO is exerting all efforts to ensure the completion of the projects before the year ends and utilize the allocated capital outlay for the procurement of equipment, furniture, fixtures for both projects.
01:25 As one of the attached agencies of PCO, the People's Television Network, Inc. also disclosed its initiatives and plans ahead along with this call for other government agencies for further support.
01:38 The year is not yet over. There may be more government agencies that have a budget for commercials and you can place it on us.
01:48 Again, we have a reach of P90 million and we have about 5 million followers on Facebook. On YouTube, we have 1 million.
01:58 Several lawmakers recognize PCO's vital role in the bureaucracy and express support for its budget request. That's why Secretary Garafil has nothing but a grateful heart.
02:08 I am thankful to the members of the Committee on Appropriations because they have been very supportive to us.
02:17 Maybe it helped because I used to work here. Most of them were my bosses, previous bosses before. So thank you, thank you to them.
02:28 Earlier, the officials of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development also faced the House Committee on Appropriations for their budget proposal where issues on the administration's flagship housing program called Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino Program were mainly discussed.
02:45 This is President Marcos' house. This is not just housing. He always says this is a resettlement. So all of our houses have schools, hospitals, parks and swimming pools.
03:01 Ordinary people who live in the condominiums enjoy it. They also enjoy the hardships.
03:06 for the nation.
