Marcos certifies 2023 P5.268 trillion national budget as urgent

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos last night certified as urgent the executive department’s proposed P5.268-trillion national budget for 2023 even as the House of Representatives intends to approve the government spending plan this week.

“The certification from Malacañang will enable the House to approve the General Appropriations Bill on second and third reading on the same day, which we set on Wednesday (Sept. 28),” Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a statement.

“We are right on track with our schedule,” he said, referring to House Bill 4488, as the lower legislative chamber deliberates on the budget proposals of only less than 10 agencies this week.

House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said they are 76 percent done last week.

In a single-page document, Marcos invoked his power under Article 6, Section 26, and Subsection 2 of the 1987 Constitution, which authorizes him to “certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of HB 4488.”

“In order to address the need to maintain continuous government operations following the end of the current fiscal year, we strengthen efforts to respond more effectively to the pandemic and support initiatives towards national economic recovery,” Marcos stated.