DILI, 21 november 2024 (TATOLI)— The National Parliament this wednesday approved proposal laws number 12/VI 2(2a), which approved the state budget for 2025, worth $2.6 billion, through extraordinary plenary meetings. The state budget was approved by 42 votes in favor, 23 against, and zero abstentions.
“Therefore, the state budget for 2025 is approved,” the President of the National Parliament, Fernanda Lay, said in the plenary in the National Parliament.
After the approval of the state budget proposal, it will return to the C commission, which deals with public finances, to make final reductions; after that, the President of the National Parliament will send the Decree National Parliament proposal law of state budget 2025 to the President of the Republic to promulgate.
Thus, the law proposal for the state budget 2025, worth $2.6 billion, which is allocated to the central administration and special administration region Oé-Cusse Ambeno (RAEOA), and social security included a reservation fund.
The amount included the allocation of $2,07 for the central administration and $2.6 million to the RAEOA.
The proposed laws of the state budget 2025, based on an implementation strategy focused on the priority program, have been providing laws to the government programs, with the motto “Investment in the strategy infrastructure,” to strengthen the economy for the welfare of Timorese people.
The proposals elaborate based on the ninth government constitutional objective to promote socio-economic development for the country. Especially investment targeting the strategy of investment, economic reinforcement, and those initiatives aimed to provide welfare to the Timorese people.
The objective of the state budget 2025 is to promote economic development and improve the Timorese life condition, focusing on increasing economic sustainability and improving public service to ensure the developing benefits to all people.
The strategy infrastructure allocated $227.3 million for the construction, expansion, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roads and bridges and the protection measure against natural disasters, intending to improve connectivity and protect the population against the effects of climate change.
Provide law for donation, and international airport rehabilitation, President Nicolau Lobato, finishing fiber optic cable linking between Timor-Leste and Australia.
Expansion from fiber optic internal net will be permitted, beginning in 2025, with internet supply with high speed across the territory of Timor-Leste.
Provide laws to the budget for the electricity sector; it is a significant increase in the budget for the EDTL subsidy, E.P., to improve and enlarge the electricity function, especially in the rural or remote areas, to ensure stable service and more effectiveness.
In the natural resource, proposed $0.40 million to increase the industry zone and extend petroleum and mineral on the south coast to contribute to economic development and enforce energy security.
For the finance sector, laws invest $5 million for the Central Bank Timor-Leste Capital, aimed to strengthen stability and strengthen the national finance system. This proposal law allocates a big part of the expenses, with the amount of $406 to support civic society, health, and social service.
In human capital development, $16.2 million for the program of technical professional training and also the scholarship program.
Education will provide $145,800 for the new school building construction, teacher training, and strengthening of the school management system.
For health, provide $0.99 million to improve the hospital network and health centers across Timor-Leste.
Therefore, $0.14,2 to procure and distribute the essential items, drugs, and medical equipment for social protection, to reinforce Bolsa da Mãe and increase more than $0.7 million, added to $2.85 million to improve health and nutrition for pregnant women and children.
The proposal law also includes the transfer of $124.1 million for social security, $37.4 million if compared with 2024, which reflects the expansion of the social security system, worth from elders’ retirement or invalid.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
