P3.7-T 2019 nat’l budget may be signed after Holy Week
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2019 06:09:17 +0000
By GENALYN D. KABILING
The proposed P3.7-trillion national budget for 2019 may be signed by President Duterte after the Holy Week since the measure is still under review, Malacañang said yesterday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the ceremonial signing of the 2019 budget proposal has been “calendared” on the President’s schedule on Holy Monday but it was removed from his activities for that day.
“Pinag-aaralan niya. Kinalendar na pero mukhang pinag-aaralan pa. Baka after Holy Week,” Panelo said.
Asked about the chances of the signing after the Holy Week break, Panelo said: “Mataas ang probability kasi naka-schedule na this week. Baka may pinag-aaralan pa.”
Panelo, however, made clear that the President’s schedule could still change anytime.
“Naka-calendar tapos tinanggal sa calendar e di puwede rin ibalik di ba. Lahat ng schedule niya subject to change without prior notice,” he added.
The proposed national budget has been under review by the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management since it was transmitted by Congress last month.
The approval of the new spending plan was delayed for months after the two houses of Congress were locked in an impasse over alleged irregular realignments, including post-ratification changes.
Last Wednesday, Malacañang confirmed that the ceremonial signing of the General Appropriations Act 2019 has been calendared on the President’s schedule on April 15.
Panelo said the 2019 national budget would help bankroll the government’s projects on infrastructure development as well as poverty alleviation and strategies to keep peace and order in the country.
He also extended Malacanang’s gratitude to the lawmakers for the passage of the budget bill.
“We thank the men and women of the Senate and the House of Representatives for supporting this administration’s endeavors in pursuing a path towards the President’s vision of a prosperous and high-income economy under a secure and peaceful nation where all Filipinos can experience a dignified and comfortable life,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)