Palace 'alarmed' by suspension of budget deliberations

MALACAÑANG on Monday, August 13, expressed alarm over the decision of the House of Representatives to suspend deliberations on the proposed P3.757-trillion cash-based budget for 2019.

"Kanina po sabi ko we are puzzled. Ano ba 'yung ginamit ko'ng word kanina? Well, shocked at saka curious. Ngayon po, we're alarmed. Maybe we should use a more strong language," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. told a press conference.

(Earlier, I said we are puzzled. What word did I use earlier? Well, shocked and curious. Now, we're alarmed. Maybe we should use a more strong language.)

"I realize these are very harsh words. But these harsh words (are) intended to deliver the message that we are completely shocked at the resistance of the House because we were confident that when there was a change of leadership, we will still deal with very close allies," he added.

Roque raised the specter of a reenacted budget, if the House of Representatives insists on amending the proposed a cash-based budget for 2019.

"The ball is in the hands of our allies in Congress. But we're not blinking. We're not scared of a reenacted budget," the Palace official said.

"And the congressmen better ask themselves what will happen to their pet projects. Because under a reenacted budget, it is Malacañang that will determine which budgets will be implemented. I don't think they want that," he added.

Under a reenacted budget, the government will operate on the basis of the previous year's appropriation.

The Duterte administration will thus have to use the 2018's P3.767 trillion, if Congress fails to pass the proposed 2019 budget.

Roque issued the statement after the House appropriations committee suspended the deliberations on the proposed 2019 budget because of its opposition to the cash-based budget system.

Under a cash-based budgeting, government agencies must spend their respective appropriations within the fiscal year.

The proposed P3.757-trillion cash-based national budget is slightly lower than the current obligations-based budget of P3.767 trillion.

Davao City Representative Karlos Nograles, chair of the House appropriations committee, announced Saturday, August 11, that the hearings on the proposed 2019 budget would be suspended until further notice "consistent with the position of the House to oppose cash-based budgeting."

Nograles said the House would give the Development Budget Coordination Committee, which proposed the 2019 budget, to make the "necessary changes" and come up with a "people's budget."

Roque said the executive department remained optimistic that the House lawmakers would cooperate "soon" in pushing for a cash-based appropriation next year, stressing that the new budgeting system "is a very good solution to the problem of underspending."

"We don't understand why there's a change of heart this year around. So we're surprised that they are asserting now that it should be at least two years," he said, referring to obligation-based budget that permit budget spending within a two-year period.

"I don't think the congressmen would want that, that their projects will not be implemented in an election year. So we expect the usual cooperation from Congress soon, because together, we will provide the needs of our constituents," Roque added. (SunStar Philippines)