Duterte may ask Congress to settle budget issue to avoid reenacted GAA until August

March 11, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte might urge Congress to immediately resolve the issue on the proposed P3.757 trillion budget for 2019 to further prevent government from operating under a reenacted 2018 budget.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Palace hopes there would be no more reenacted budget until August.

"If I will have my educated guess - the President will persuade so that the (issue) will be settled," he said.

After the bicameral conference committee of Congress met and approved the supposed budget for this year last February, the enrolled bill has not yet been forwarded to the Office of the President for signing.

According to some senators, the House, particularly the camp of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and House appropriations committee chairman Rolando Andaya Jr., has been realigning allocations for some districts, increasing the budget for their allies, while reducing others.

A senator has warned if this would not be settled, there could be a reenacted budget until August.

Congress adjourned to the May elections. Session will briefly resume on May 20 to June 7 before adjourning sine die.

Beginning July 22, a new Congress will take place. By that time, Arroyo, Andaya and other congressmen would no longer be members of the House as their terms have expired or others did not win in the polls.

Panelo expressed hope that the Senate and the House would soon agree and an enrolled budget bill would be transmitted to OP for Duterte's signature.

"I’m sure they will be agreeing eventually on what to do. All of them are concerned about the welfare of the country," he said. 

Under the reenacted budget, the government could hardly implement new projects and the fourth tranche of the salary increase of government employees could not be given, among others. Celerina Monte/DMS