THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has submitted a brief on the possible implications of a reenacted budget, but is still confident that the 2019 General Appropriations Act will be passed before the end of the year.
Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said at a news conference of the Sulong Pilipinas 2018 on Monday at Clark, Pampanga, that he submitted the brief to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.
“It was pointed out that Congress has until December 31 of this year to pass the 2019 proposed national budget,” he added, and he is confident the measure will be passed before then.
“[Until] end of the year, December 31st, they can work holidays; you know, in the US [United States], they work on Saturday and Sundays. So, like I said, duty first before leisure,” he added.
Last week, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed P3.757-trillion 2019 national budget or House Bill 8169.
House committee on appropriations Vice Chairman Maria Carmen Zamora pointed out that the P3.757-trillion budget is the first annual cash-based budget of the Philippine government.
She explained that the P3.757-trillion budget is around 19.3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, higher than the 18.9 percent in 2018, and is 13 percent greater than the 2018 cash-based equivalent of
P3.324 trillion.
While the Senate has already conducted committee hearings on the budget bill, it could not yet start its plenary deliberations and debates, as it will have to wait for the House-approved version of the 2019 budget. Under the rules the annual appropriation should emanate from the lower chamber.
It was reported that the delayed approval of the national budget stemmed from the supposed P52-billion insertions—allegedly by the previous House leadership—prompting the new officers of the chamber to realign the money to other projects and for equitable and fair distribution of funds.