The Senate set aside bigger funds for the education, agricultural and renewable energy sectors to help the country recover from the current global crisis, Sen. Edgardo J. Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said Friday.

Angara stressed this after delivering last Tuesday his sponsorship speech on the proposed 2010 P1.5- trillion national budget where he explained the distribution of the budget pie to different offices under the Judiciary, Legislative and Executive branches and other constitutional offices.

The Upper House has started formal debate on the budget with opposition Sen. Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano fielding the first questions on the budget immediately after Angara delivered his sponsorship speech.

The Senate resumes regular session Monday after closing its doors to observe Pasay city day last Wednesday.

“The 2010 budget is vital for the national economy, especially as the whole world is recovering from the financial crisis. To facilitate this recovery, we need to improve our education system, enhance and maximize our natural resources and harness our alternative energy sources to wean us from excessive dependence on imported oil,” Angara said.

The Senate’s allocation for the Department of Education (DepEd) is P162.1 B and public universities and colleges will receive P21.7 B.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will be getting P38 B while the Department of Health will have a slightly increased budget of P28.9 B.