Thursday, January 15, 2009 Government to use reenacted budget
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has informed all government agencies that their operations would be covered by a reenacted budget until January 31.
Congress failed to pass the 2009 budget before going on its Christmas break last year. It will resume sessions on January 19 and would tackle the budget, among the other priority bills.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said that if the budget is not passed within the month, the budgets of the government agencies would be covered by the reenacted P1.12-trillion 2008 budget.
"The instruction of the President is to undertake activities with the thought in mind that were are on a reenacted budget," Ermita said.
He said the non-passage of the 2009 budget and the reenactment of the 2008 budget would have "quite a big impact" on big infrastructure projects of the government.
The P120 billion worth of infrastructure projects that are in the pipeline, he said, are dependent on the approval of the 2009 budget.
"That would be good reminder for Congress. Let us look at the economy and they should agree among themselves to pass the budget soon," said the Palace official.
On the statements of Senators Manuel Roxas II and Panfilo Lacson that administration allies diverted P20 billion for their pork barrel, Ermita expressed confidence that the House of Representatives and the Senate will consider the points raised by the two senators. (JMR/Sunnex)
