Duterte OKs law extending availability of 2020 budget

January 6, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a law extending the availability of the 2020 appropriations to December 31 this year.

Malacanang released on Wednesday a copy of Republic Act No. 11520, which amended Section 60 of the 2020 GAA or RA 11465 signed on December 29 last year.

"All appropriations authorized in this Act, including budgetary support to GOCCs (government-owned or -controlled corporations), shall be available for release and disbursement for the purpose specified, and under the same general and special provisions applicable thereto, until December 31, 2021," the new law said.

It also said the amount appropriated as financial assistance to local government units released during the fiscal year shall be available for disbursement for the purpose specified until the end of this year while appropriations for the statutory shares of LGUs shall be available for obligations and disbursement until fully expended.

After the end of this year, all unreleased appropriations shall lapse, while unexpended or undisbursed funds shall revert to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund and shall not thereafter be available for expenditure except by subsequent legislative enactment.

Departments, bureaus, and offices of the national government, including constitutional offices enjoying fiscal autonomy, state universities and colleges and GOCCs, shall strictly observe the validity of appropriations and the reversion of funds.

Agency outsourcing requests or agreements by agencies, instrumentalities or GOCCs with the Philippine International Trading Corporation shall not be allowed.

For Fiscal Year 2020, the appropriations for infrastructure capital outlays, including those subsidy releases to GOCCs for infrastructure projects, and for maintenance and other operating expenses and other capital outlays shall be valid for obligation until the end of this year, while the completion of construction, inspection, and payment shall be made not later than Dec. 31 this year also.

"The DBM (Department of Budget and Management) is authorized to issue the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of the cash budgeting system," the law said.

The new Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Celerina Monte/DMS