Government on 3rd month without current budget
The national government is now on its third month of operating without a current budget.
It is running on the basis of the 2018 spending law which, by operation of the Constitution, was deemed automatically reenacted on Jan. 1 with the failure of Congress to pass the proposed P3.757-trillion budget for this year.
Since early last month, there has been no word from Malacañang about the budget enactment delay.
Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has issued guidelines on the release and use of funds from the recycled outlay.
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The DBM told other government agencies that for the first quarter of this year, they could disburse only 25 percent of money intended for salaries, maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlay.
For salaries, DBM said, disbursements should not include the fourth and last annual installment of the four-year salary increase of the more than one million government officials and employees, from President Duterte down to the lowest-paid utility worker.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has refused to release funds for the pay hike, saying he would be violating the Constitution and the law if he did so.
For his part, Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. of Camarines Sur has petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to force Diokno to do what he does not want to do.
Justices are among those waiting for their last pay hike installment.
It is not clear when lawmakers would send to the President his proposed budget, a substantial portion of which they have realigned to their own pork barrel.
According to anti-pork Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the spending bill is still with the House of Representatives.
“If you notice, the budget bill has not been transmitted to Malacañang in spite of the (bicameral conference) report being ratified by (Congress) more than two weeks ago,” he said in a statement posted on his website.
Lacson said he received information “that the House leadership is still waiting for several (lawmakers) to finalize the submission of their individual projects.”
“This is not to mention that insertions and realignments were made even after the bicameral (committee) report ratification (on Feb. 8),” he said. – With Paolo Romero
The national government is now on its third month of operating without a current budget.
It is running on the basis of the 2018 spending law which, by operation of the Constitution, was deemed automatically reenacted on Jan. 1 with the failure of Congress to pass the proposed P3.757-trillion budget for this year.
Since early last month, there has been no word from Malacañang about the budget enactment delay.
READ: Implementation of Fourth Tranche Salary Increase
Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has issued guidelines on the release and use of funds from the recycled outlay.
The DBM told other government agencies that for the first quarter of this year, they could disburse only 25 percent of money intended for salaries, maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlay.
For salaries, DBM said, disbursements should not include the fourth and last annual installment of the four-year salary increase of the more than one million government officials and employees, from President Duterte down to the lowest-paid utility worker.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has refused to release funds for the pay hike, saying he would be violating the Constitution and the law if he did so.
For his part, Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. of Camarines Sur has petitioned the Supreme Court (SC) to force Diokno to do what he does not want to do.
Justices are among those waiting for their last pay hike installment.
It is not clear when lawmakers would send to the President his proposed budget, a substantial portion of which they have realigned to their own pork barrel.
According to anti-pork Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the spending bill is still with the House of Representatives.
“If you notice, the budget bill has not been transmitted to Malacañang in spite of the (bicameral conference) report being ratified by (Congress) more than two weeks ago,” he said in a statement posted on his website.
Lacson said he received information “that the House leadership is still waiting for several (lawmakers) to finalize the submission of their individual projects.”
“This is not to mention that insertions and realignments were made even after the bicameral (committee) report ratification (on Feb. 8),” he said. – With Paolo Romero
Source: Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star) - March 2, 2019 - 12:00am