Hahanapan ng paraan ng Kamara na maitaas ang pondo ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sa susunod na taon.
Ayon kay House Appropriations Committee Chair Elizaldy Co, mahalaga ang sapat na pondo ng ahensya para makahikayat ng mamumuhunan sa bansa at makabuo ng dagdag na trabaho para sa mga Pilipino.
“If we are really serious in generating more investments and creating better-paying jobs for our people, Congress must ensure that DTI and its attached agencies have the resources to its do work properly. We also have to spend more to develop the products we export as well as train Filipinos to be entrepreneurs; to be job creators, not seekers. If we could do this, we could prevent our people from voting with their feet,” sabi ni Co.
Sa budget hearing ng ahensya, sinabi ni DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual bagamat mas mataas ang panukalang P7.91 billion 2024 budget nila sa ilalim ng National Expenditure Program kaysa sa kasalukuyang 2023 budget—higit itong mas mababa sa orihinal nilang proposal sa Department of Budget and Management na P21.03 billion.
Pinakamalaking tapyas dito ang Office of the Secretary at Board of Investments na mula sa P12.61 billion at P1.85 billion proposal ay binigyan lang ng DBM ng P5.32 billion at P659 million.
May budget cut din ani Pascual ang development projects para sa industry, micro, small and medium enterprises, consumer protection program, Malikhaing Pinoy at Negosyo Centers maging makabagong teknolohiya gaya ng artificial intelligence.
Pagbibigay diin naman ni Appropriations Senior vice-chair Stella Quimbo na lalong kailangan ng pondo ng DTI para sa mga programa nito matapos maitala ang pagbagal sa gross domestic product growth sa 4.3 percent sa ikalawang quarter ng taon kumpara sa 6.4 percent noong unang quarter. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
