MANILA, Philippines – Sinabi ni Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon na walang mali kung mayroon mang trillion-peso debt ang bansa basta’t ang pangungutang ay ginagamit ng maayos at nananatiling manageable.
“There is nothing inherently wrong with a country having debt. What matters is that money is used for the right purposes and the government can repay it without compromising other essential programs and services,” ayon kay De Leon sa isinagawang economic forum sa Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas sa Lungsod ng Maynila.
Nito lamang Hunyo, ang bansa ay mayroong outstanding debt na P19.07 trillion.
Winika ni De Leon na gagamitin ng gobyerno ang hiniram na pondo para sa mga priority programs, partikular na sa mga pangunahing imprastraktura na inaasahan na makakaakit ng mas maraming investments.
Tinukoy nito ang Metro Manila Subway, Metro Rail Transit Line 3 Rehabilitation Project at ang North-South Commuter Railway Project bilang mga mahahalagang proyekto na maaring suportahan ang ‘economic development at growth.’
Sinabi ni De Leon na ang mga government programs, activities at projects ay “not mere expenses” dahil ito ay naglalayong makalilikha ng economic returns.
“Until the government can generate sufficient resources to fund investments and close our country’s infrastructure and development gaps, we will need to borrow,” ang sinabi ni De Leon.
“Once completed, these infrastructure projects will benefit our people. They will attract more businesses to invest in the Philippines as they see our progress. More investments mean more development and growth,” aniya pa rin.
“The government has projected P5.2 trillion in revenues in 2027. It plans to spend P6.9 trillion out of the proposed P7.2 trillion national budget,” anito sabay sabing “The revenue shortfall is expected to result in a P1.7-trillion deficit. The government plans to borrow to finance the deficit and other government expenses next year.”
Sinabi pa ni De Leon na ang utang ng Pilipinas ay nananatiling manageable at inaasahan na bababa sa medium term.
“Our economic managers have affirmed that the level of the Philippines’ debt is manageable. Given that our debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio is targeted to continue to decrease over the medium term,” ani De Leon. (KRIS JOSE)
