Palace says Duterte 'disappointed' with delay in 2019 budget approval
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was "dismayed" by the delay in the passage of this year's P3.757-trillion budget but remains hopeful the expenditure program would be approved by Congress, Malacañang said Monday.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said the failure to pass a new budget would hamper the implementation of infrastructure projects.
"He (Duterte) is aware (of the delay) and I am sure he is dismayed at the legislators' inaction, which will delay his infrastructure projects," Medialdea said in a text message.
"We are still hopeful that the legislators will perform their constitutional duties as President Duterte and his economic team did by submitting the president's budget on the day of the SONA (State of the Nation Address) or 30 days before the constitutional deadline," he added.
Congress will go on recess for the 2019 midterm polls starting February 9. The bicameral conference committee is still deliberating on the budget, which has been dogged by several issues including the billions of pesos allegedly inserted in the government's infrastructure outlay.
The Budget department has denied any wrongdoing, saying adjustments in allocations are part of the budget preparation process. The issues delayed the passage of the budget last year, forcing the government to operate under a reenacted 2018 expenditure program.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said lawmakers still have time to pass the budget. He said the Duterte administration does not need to pressure Congress to approve the budget.
"We’re still confident that it will be passed," Panelo said.
"We eagerly await the passage of that general appropriations bill. They know that it will bring adverse consequences if we have a reenacted budget, they know that," he added.
Medialdea said it would be up to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to decide whether he would submit a report on last year's savings to the bicameral conference committee.
House appropriations committee chairman Rolando Andaya, Jr., one of the lawmakers who questioned the alleged insertions in the 2019 budget, has demanded that the Budget department submit the report. He said the bicameral conference committee would not be able to approve its report on this year's budget without it.
"The president doesn’t have to ask the member of the Cabinet, it’s his call, Secretary Diokno’s call," Panelo said.
Medialdea said the approval of the bicameral conference committee report on the budget would not require the submission of the report on the savings.
"I don't think reporting of 2018 savings is a prerequisite," he said.
Officials previously said a reenacted budget could cut the country's growth by 1 to 2.3 percentage points.
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