Manufacturing program budget cut

The proposed appropriation for the Manufacturing Resurgence Program (MRP) has been drastically cut to only P16.6 billion in 2017, representing a fraction or only 6 percent of the P289-billion budget that was set for this year.

The drop was due to the reclassification of the proposed P257-billion funding for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the Transport Infrastructure Program, reflecting the government’s thrust toward this particular issue.

Last year, the MRP included an allocation of P264 billion for DPWH.

Government data showed that of the proposed MRP budget, P12.61 billion would be spread across seven departments while the remaining P3.99 billion was classified as special purpose funds that formed part of budgetary support to government corporations and local government units.

Recipients of the program are the departments of Agriculture with P7.56 billion; Energy (P200 million); Labor and Employment (P1.23 billion); Science and Technology (P867 million); Trade and Industry (P1.27 billion); Transportation (P1.074 billion), and other executive offices (P397 million).

The MRP was aimed at rebuilding the existing capacity of industries, strengthening new ones and maintaining the competitiveness of industries with comparative advantage.