DTI’s Budget Cut for 2021, Lawmakers in Grief

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s budget will slightly decrease for the year 2021.

Lawmakers however, expressed their grief about the budget cut as it was seen to have helped micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, the budget for their department and all attached agencies for 2021 is P20.162 billion, slightly lower than the current budget for 2020 which is at P20.955 billion.

Meanwhile, Valenzuela City 1st District Representative Weslie Gatchalian admitted that the proposed budget for DTI is quite disappointing, stating that even President Rodrigo Duterte highlighted to intensify all means to support MSMEs.

Gatchalian on his side, strongly suggested that the budget should be increased.

Gatchalian mentioned that there are around 4 million unregistered MSMEs in the Philippine that could also be give assistance amid the pandemic.

“If this fund is not enough for the registered, papaano pa yung three to four million [unregistered] na gusto nating tulungan at kailangan nating tulungan?” Gatchalian said.

Aside from Gatchalian, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, Pangasinan 4th District Rep. Christopher De Venecia and other lawmakers also expressed their disappointment to the Department of Budget and Management for cutting DTI’s budget. (MLC)