Duterte veto of P95.3b infra budget shows ”fealty to the constitutional directives”

April 16, 2019

Malacanang late Monday said President Rodrigo Duterte’s veto of P95,374,241 infrastructure budget showed his “true commitment” and “constitutional duty to be fealty to the constitutional directives”.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a statement announced that Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11260, otherwise known as the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019

He said the 2019 GAA is the “reflection” of the Administration’s vision of genuine change for the Philippines, “where effective and efficient delivery of programs, projects and public services for our people will be its hallmark”.

“True to his commitment and constitutional duty to be fealty to the constitutional directives, the President vetoed items of appropriation that are either considered by law and jurisprudence as rider provisions not being related to a particular appropriation or they seek to amend the Constitution and certain statutes,” said Panelo.

Duterte vetoed items of appropriations under the Department of Public Works and Highways ''for falling outside the government's programmed priorities which are in the total amount of P95,374,241.''

“The President likewise subjected certain provisions to conditional implementation in order to ensure conformity with existing laws, rules and regulations, such as the allowance and benefits of teachers and creation of teaching positions, construction of evacuation centers, funding for foreign-assisted projects, revolving fund, and lump-sum appropriations for capital outlays, as well as financial assistance to local government units and funding requirements of our foreign service, among others,” he said.

In a text message to reporters earlier, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea also confirmed Duterte signed the national budget. Ella Dionisio/DMS