DILI, 10 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The 2023 General State Budget (GSB) proposal was overall approved by the National Parliament in generality, on november 9, 2022, with 40 votes in favor, 24 abstentions, and no votes against.
Parliament will now consider the budget in the specialty and will discuss and vote on each article of the bill before the final global vote, due to take place on november 10, 2022.
“The proposal for the General State Budget (OGE) for 2023 was approved by the National Parliament in generality,” the President of the National Parliament (PPT), Aniceto Longuinhos Guterres Lopes announced the voting result, on wednesday.
The head of the bench of the Fretilin party, David Dias Ximenes ‘Mandati’ said that the approval of the 2023 GSB, in general, was important to sustain the function of the State, as well as to ensure the wellbeing of Timorese people.
He said although the amount of the 2023 GBS is too large compared to the previous budget, the government would execute the budget responsibly.
On the one hand, MP Leandro Lobato from the CNRT party questioned the government’s budget execution capacity: “Due to the low execution rate of 2022 GSB, making it impossible for the government to execute next year’s budget accordingly. Because politicians will be participating in the political campaign for the 2023 parliamentary elections.”
MP Francisco Carlos Xavier from the UDT party hopes that the 2023 GSB will bring significant progress to ensure the well-being of the people: “We hope that this budget will contribute to combating malnutrition, etc.”
He considered the $3.2 billion for the 2023 fiscal year was too large, saying it would threaten the sustainability of the petroleum fund as it may run out by 2034: “Timor-Leste needs to diversify its economy across productive sectors to ensure the sustainability of the fund in the future.”
MP Isabela Ximenes from the Frente Mundança Party said her party voted to abstain due to the budget being too large for the government’s budget execution capacity.
Of the US$3.2 billion, the government has allocated US$17 million for the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads, US$15 million for the construction of the Pante Makasar road, and US$7.8 million for the rehabilitation project of the roads linking Laga and Baguia in Baucau municipality.
Meanwhile, the government has also allocated $118 million for power distribution to ensure that the entire population will have access to electricity by 2030.
In addition, the government has also allocated $25 million for economic diversification, $14.5 million for telecommunications, $6 million for national production, $2 million for the creation of the unique balcony for enterprise registration, and $1.3 million for the creation of the industrial park zone.
Moreover, the government also allocated $21 million for the agricultural sector, $3.6 million for Laivai irrigation development, $2.6 million for Galata irrigation, $2.6 million for extortionists, and $2.1 million for integrated agricultural development.
Furthermore, $772 million of the 2022 GSB would be allocated to social capital, including $137 million for the education sector, $92 million for health, and $301 million for social protection.
The government also allocated $19.2 million for the Bolsa da Mãe program, $10 million for nutrition programs, and $22.4 million for the school feeding program.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
