Public Budget 2024 ready to be debated in the Plenary of Congress

After several sessions, the Budget and General Account Commission of the Republic of Parliament approved the prediction contained in the public budget bill for fiscal year 2024, which will amount to S/241,000 million and seeks to prioritize the functions of Education, Health and Transportation and Public Order and Security. The proposal received 25 votes in favor and 1 abstention.

In this way, the Plenary Session of Congress will begin this Thursday, November 23, the debate on said proposal, as well as that of the debt and financial balance projects. The three initiatives must be approved by November 30 at the latest.

In this regard, the head of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Alex Contreras, indicated that several coincidences have been found with the congressmen, so some requests have been incorporated into the prediction. However, he also warned that there are some articles in which they maintain reservations, which they hope to correct in the final text that is approved in plenary.

“We have more coincidences than differences and I believe that this opinion will be historic and we put for the consideration of this (Budget) Commission these small reservations that we have made on some articles in particular, but always proposing improvements and alternatives that allow this bill to constitute a change in the trend, that is a budget that is reflected in better living conditions for the citizen, that respects fiscal rules, that allows public services to be provided, but with sustainability,” said Contreras Miranda.

What modifications were made to the budget?

During the preparation of the report, some modifications were made to the 2024 public budget proposal, sent by the Executive Branch. Thus, with regard to the implementation of actions linked to Early Childhood Development, the National School Feeding Program is authorized, on an exceptional basis. Qali Warma to carry out the acquisition and delivery of food rations for the care of children from 12 to 36 months of the Day Care Service.

Likewise, it is specified that the Ministry of Interior may make an expense in favor of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the continuity of the execution of the projects, expansion and improvement of the PNP San Bartolo Women’s Higher Technical School, and the police training service of the Officers School of the National Police of Peru (EO PNP), in Chorrillos.

Regarding interventions and pedagogical actions, S/559 million 371,848 were allocated to regional and local governments, according to the conditions or complementary provisions for the execution of resources approved by the Ministry of Education (Minedu).

Likewise, in the final complementary provisions, Minedu is authorized, from its institutional budget, to finance the payment of tickets and/or travel expenses for participants in international events and competitions for the measurement of learning. The implementation and operation of the executing units of the National Authority for Control of the Judiciary and the Public ministryentities in which the amounts must not exceed S/10 million.

Elsewhere, the authorization of financial transfer from Decentralized Public Organizations (OPDS) and municipal companies in favor of the Metropolitan Municipality of Lima is proposed.

“Authorize, during fiscal year 2024, the Municipality of Limato celebrate resource management agreements with international organizations, within the framework of the provisions of Law 30356, Law that strengthens transparency and control in resource management agreements with international organizations, and to approve financial transfers in favor of the international organizations, for the execution of investment projects for amounts greater than S/15 million”, is detailed in the seventy-fourth provision of the approved report.