MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang remains optimistic that next year’s national budget will be passed on time despite lawmakers’ admission of not having enough time to pass the general appropriations bill by yearend.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the executive department would send liaison officers to talk with lawmakers and ensure the timely passage of the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget.
“We’re only speculating that it will not be passed. We have submitted a budget proposal, so it’s the House’s call. The House knows that this is the budget proposal of the Palace. And so, they will have to do their job. If there are questions on the budget, they will raise them and we will respond to them,” Panelo said in a press briefing yesterday.
Asked if the Palace was convinced the budget would be passed, Panelo replied “Of course.”
Last Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the government might operate on a reenacted budget in the first weeks of 2019 because of lack of time to tackle the proposed outlay for next year.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III has also admitted that it would be unrealistic to expect the Senate to pass the budget and have the outlay ratified this year because the House transmitted it late to the chamber.
He noted that the Senate only has Dec. 3 to 5 and 10 to 12 to approve the budget on final reading, making it “very difficult” to discuss the provisions intelligently.
Congress will go on a holiday break on Dec. 14 and resume session in January.
Panelo said Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno would be able to answer the concerns of lawmakers on the proposed budget. He also denied claims that the 2019 budget has pork insertions.
“The stand of the President is, from the very start, he will never allow anything of that sort. But precisely, the proposal is being submitted to Congress and it is the duty of Congress to go over it, examine it. And then, raise objections,” the presidential spokesman said.