The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) will push for a national budget proposal of P1.541 trillion for 2010, P115 billion or eight percent higher compared to this year’s bill of expenditures.

Budget Secretary and DBCC chair Rolando Andaya Jr. said yesterday that the bigger budget sets the stage for more economic-enhancing activities as well as provisions for social services.

“(The Arroyo government) is finishing the priority programs and projects that it has started,” he said.

“These will lay down the foundation for growth and an improved quality of life for future generations,” Andaya said.

Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves said the 2010 national budget is consistent with the fiscal path, which is achieving a balanced budget by 2012. “The proposed budget shows our commitment to fiscal consolidation.

This means further reduction in our debt burden and more resources to fund the urgent needs of our people such as quality education and health services,” Teves said.

The DBCC said the 2010 budget is consistent with the goal of reducing the budget deficit to 2.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) from 3.2 percent of GDP this year.

“The proposed 2010 budget is anchored on the assumption that gross domestic product will grow by 2.6-3.6 percent in 2010,” said the DBCC.

Andaya said the DBCC is “on track” to meet the deadline mandated in the Philippine Constitution to submit the budget to Congress within thirty days after the President’s State of the Nation Address.

This year, the national budget of P1.426 trillion was only implemented in April.