Palace says April 15 signing ceremony for 2019 budget removed from Duterte sked

April 11, 2019

Malacanang on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte is still studying the proposed 2019 budget after a signing ceremony was removed from his official schedule.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte  may sign the P3.757-trillion budget after the Holy Week.

“He still studying it (budget). They already (placed in) calendar but it looks like he still studying it,” he said.

Panelo clarified that Duterte’s schedule is subject to change. 

“It was removed in the calendar but they can still take it back,” he said.

He said there is a high “probability” it will not be signed before the Holy Week.

On Wednesday, the official schedule of the President released to the media showed Duterte will ink the enrolled General Appropriations Bill on Monday, April 15 in Malacanang.

The signing of the budget would take place after months of delay due to the exchanges of allegations of "insertions" or pork barrel by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Some senators have been urging Duterte to veto the P75-billion worth of alleged pork barrel, which the House allegedly inserted in the proposed budget. Ella Dionisio/DMS