BusinessMirror
  • News
    • News
    • Top News
    • Regions
    • Nation
    • World
    • Asia Today
  • Business
    • Business
    • Agri-Commodities
    • Asean Economic Community
    • Banking & Finance
    • Companies
    • Economy
    • Entrepreneur
    • Executive Views
    • Export Unlimited
    • Harvard Management Update
    • Monday Morning
    • Mutual Funds
    • Stock Market Outlook
    • The Integrity Initiative
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Editorial cartoon
  • Life
    • Life
    • Art
    • Design&Space
    • Digital Life
    • Journey
    • Motoring
    • 360° Review
    • Property
    • Show
    • Tech
    • Tourism
    • Y2Z
  • Features
    • Biodiversity
    • Education
    • Envoys & Expats
    • Explainer
    • Faith
    • Green
    • Health & Fitness
    • Mission: PHL
    • Our Time
    • Perspective
    • Photo Gallery
    • Science
    • Today in History
    • Tony&Nick
    • When I Was 25
    • Wine & Dine
  • BMPlus
    • BMPlus
    • SoundStrip
    • Live & In Quarantine
    • Bulletin Board
    • Marketing
    • Public Service
    • CSR
  • The Broader Look
Subscribe
BusinessMirror
BusinessMirror
  • News
    • News
    • Top News
    • Regions
    • Nation
    • World
    • Asia Today
  • Business
    • Business
    • Agri-Commodities
    • Asean Economic Community
    • Banking & Finance
    • Companies
    • Economy
    • Entrepreneur
    • Executive Views
    • Export Unlimited
    • Harvard Management Update
    • Monday Morning
    • Mutual Funds
    • Stock Market Outlook
    • The Integrity Initiative
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Editorial cartoon
  • Life
    • Life
    • Art
    • Design&Space
    • Digital Life
    • Journey
    • Motoring
    • 360° Review
    • Property
    • Show
    • Tech
    • Tourism
    • Y2Z
  • Features
    • Biodiversity
    • Education
    • Envoys & Expats
    • Explainer
    • Faith
    • Green
    • Health & Fitness
    • Mission: PHL
    • Our Time
    • Perspective
    • Photo Gallery
    • Science
    • Today in History
    • Tony&Nick
    • When I Was 25
    • Wine & Dine
  • BMPlus
    • BMPlus
    • SoundStrip
    • Live & In Quarantine
    • Bulletin Board
    • Marketing
    • Public Service
    • CSR
  • The Broader Look
  • Top News

‘Spending ban exemption to cover P500-billion projects’

  • Bernadette D. Nicolas
  • January 31, 2019
  • 5 views
  • 2 minute read
File photo shows the Makati skyline, seen in the distance from adjacent Mandaluyong City’s residential area.
Total
0
Shares

THE Executive branch will likely ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt at least P500 billion worth of big-ticket projects from the election spending ban to avoid delays in the government’s massive infrastructure program.

Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said economic managers will submit a memorandum detailing their proposal to President Duterte in time for the Cabinet meeting next week.

“We are ready to submit a memo to the President and he, in turn, will ask the Comelec to exempt at least the 75 big-ticket projects so that there will be little disruption in our ‘Build, Build, Build’ [BBB] program,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“Our budget for infra is close to P1 trillion, and it is very important that we have them started during the dry months, so we can say that maybe at least half of the trillion will get started this first quarter,” he added.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) chief clarified that economic managers are not seeking a “blanket” exemption, as they have already identified specific projects that should not be covered by the ban.

Of the 75 big-ticket infrastructure projects, Diokno noted that half are already on stream, including some of the major projects being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

He said this is not the first time that the Executive branch has requested for an exemption from the
public works ban.

“We’re confident that our request will be granted, as this is for national welfare and development so I think Comelec will be broad-minded enough. For example, if it is a national project it will not affect elections,” Diokno said.

Due to Congress’s failure to approve the 2019 national budget before the end of 2018, the government is currently operating under a reenacted budget, at least for the first quarter of the year.

In a separate briefing at the Palace, BBB Committee Chairman Anna Mae Lamentillo and Finance Assistant Secretary Antonio Joselito G. Lambino II backed the plan of the Executive branch to seek Comelec exemption on certain infrastructure projects.

“[The exemption will help] especially for big-ticket projects [as] we want to observe the proper timeline,” Lamentillo said.

Lambino noted that at least 0.25 percentage points will be slashed from the country’s GDP growth rate for the first quarter due to the reenacted budget.

Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez said during the BusinessMirror Coffee Club Forum on Tuesday that the poll body is likely to get the poll body’s nod, except if the request is for a blanket exemption.

The National Economic and Development Authority pitched the idea of exemption on Monday as economic managers discussed ways of reducing the impact on first-quarter growth of the limited government spending—by as much as P46 billion, per finance department estimates—resulting from the delayed passage of the 2019 national budget.

Image credits: Nonoy Lacza



0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Related Topics
  • Featured
Previous Article
  • Top News

Pag-Ibig Fund’s net income rises 9.5% to P33.17 billion in 2018

  • Rea Cu
  • January 31, 2019
Know more
Next Article
  • Top News

SC to deliberate on the qualifications of 22 aspirants for lone SC post

  • Joel R. San Juan
  • January 31, 2019
Know more

Know more

Know more
  • 19
  • 2 min
  • Top News

Bivalent COVID-19 vaccines from Lithuania arrive in PHL

  • Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco
  • June 4, 2023
Know more
  • 67
  • 6 min
  • Life
  • Nation
  • Top News
  • Wine & Dine

Pinoy food: Next ‘big thing’ to conquer US

  • Terry Tang / The Associated Press
  • June 4, 2023
Know more
  • 125
  • 7 min
  • Nation
  • Top News

‘Ad utrumque paratus’

  • Rex Anthony Naval
  • June 3, 2023
Know more
  • 103
  • 4 min
  • Top News
  • World

Top American, Chinese defense officials vie for influence in Asia-Pacific

  • David Rising / The Associated Press
  • June 3, 2023
Know more
  • 135
  • 2 min
  • Economy
  • Nation
  • Top News

Ilijan natgas plant reopens, starts power delivery to the grid–DOE

  • Lenie Lectura
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 117
  • 2 min
  • Nation
  • Tech
  • Top News

PBBM leads launch of eGov Super App

  • Samuel P. Medenilla
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 104
  • 1 min
  • Economy
  • Nation
  • Top News

Palace EO seeks to boost integrated financial management system in government

  • Samuel P. Medenilla
  • June 2, 2023
Bureau of Customs headquarters in Manila
Know more
  • 193
  • 2 min
  • Economy
  • Top News

Customs’ annualized collection rate in May grows 17.36% to P77 billion

  • Jasper Y. Arcalas
  • June 2, 2023
Natural rock formation of limestones on the coast with windmills for electric power production. Aerial view of tourist attraction Kapurpurawan Rock Formation in Ilocos Norte Philippines,Luzon.
Know more
  • 110
  • 1 min
  • Economy
  • Top News

118 bidders prequalify for 2nd round of Green Energy Auction program 2

  • Lenie Lectura
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 106
  • 2 min
  • Economy
  • Top News

DTI launches import surge monitoring system as RCEP takes effect in PHL

  • Andrea E. San Juan
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 97
  • 2 min
  • Nation
  • Top News

Senate creates committee to study restoration of fire-damaged MCPO

  • Butch Fernandez
  • June 2, 2023
Scenic view of TPLEX on the way to Baguio City.
Know more
  • 183
  • 2 min
  • Economy
  • Nation
  • Regions
  • Top News

Neda Board okays P23.4-B TPLEX Extension Project

  • Samuel P. Medenilla
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 102
  • 1 min
  • Top News

Newsman Dennis Fetalino writes 30

  • BusinessMirror
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 117
  • 3 min
  • Agri-Commodities
  • Top News
  • World

UN warns of new threat to global food security after Russia limits Ukraine grain shipments

  • Associated Press
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 121
  • 4 min
  • Top News
  • World

Fear of US-China conflict looms over Singapore defense forum

  • Bloomberg News
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 120
  • 4 min
  • Top News

NBA planning to announce latest Ja Morant decision after Finals

  • The Associated Press
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 147
  • 2 min
  • Economy
  • Top News

Factory output on rebound in May

  • Jasper Y. Arcalas
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 160
  • 2 min
  • Top News

JBIC talks to PHL firms on energy investments

  • Samuel P. Medenilla
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 180
  • 3 min
  • Agri-Commodities
  • Economy
  • Top News

Guimaras mango gets IPOPHL 1st ‘GI’ seal

  • Andrea E. San Juan
  • June 2, 2023
Know more
  • 257
  • 2 min
  • Top News

Timely fund release in ₧5.75-T budget eyed

  • Jasper Y. Arcalas
  • June 2, 2023

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe

BusinessMirror
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Podcast
  • Text-Only Homepage

Input your search keywords and press Enter.