The plan of presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to work with the incoming 19th Congress in passing a national budget for 2023—including a proposed stimulus package—signals the new administration’s determination to rebuild the Philippine economy, House Deputy Speaker and Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab said in a statement.

Allies of Mr. Marcos are reported to be preparing a stimulus program called “Bangon Bayan Muli” (BBM) as the incoming administration’s response amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr. Marcos “knows that a lot of work needs to be done and the challenges are rife…. Deciding to work closely with Congress is the right step towards accomplishing his goals and targets for our economy to recover,” Representative Ungab said.

While there is little chance that the 2022 budget shall be used to support the planned stimulus program, Representative Ungab said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) can help identify unused appropriations or possible savings for the stimulus.

A former House Appropriations chair, Representative Ungab also stressed that it would be prudent to wait for the economic roadmap of the incoming administration. The design of the roadmap shall be led by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) through its new Secretary.

“This roadmap may take into consideration the proposed stimulus package, so that the necessary funding will already be included in the investment-led expenditure,” Representative Ungab added.

Representative Ungab pointed to the prompt updating of the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028 as the most important action to be done. The plan will become the basis for planning the spending of Marcos Jr.’s administration in the days and years to come, he said.