THE House of Representatives approved the proposed 2019 budget on third and final reading in its plenary session on Tuesday, November 20.
The approved version of House Bill 8169, or the Fiscal year 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), will be transmitted to the Senate later Tuesday, said Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr.
With 196 affirmative votes and eight negative votes, lawmakers approved the House Bill 8169 or the Fiscal year 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) which provides for the first cash-based national budget of P3.757 trillion for next year.
Among those who voted against the bill were Makabayan members ACT Teachers Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas.
The passage of the measure came following statements from Senator Panfilo Lacson that the House of Representatives is stalling the approval of the budget to insert funds for their pet projects.
Lacson’s statement was in reaction to the statement of House committee on appropriations vice chair Maria Carmen Zamora on Monday, November 19, that the House will pass the bill on final reading on November 28.
The approval of the proposed General Appropriations Act encountered a delay after the House leadership discovered a P51.792-billion fund inserted into the allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH).
The House leadership earlier vowed to realign the said insertions to the agencies that suffered budget cuts such as the Department of Education, State Universities and Colleges and the Department of Health, among others.
The insertions would allegedly benefit the districts of some lawmakers that are allies of former House speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.
Andaya said they passed the bill earlier than scheduled to allay fears that there will be a reenacted budget.
“So wala nang delay, just to allay the fears na magkakaroon ng reenacted or we’re stalling. Wala pong ganun. It was very clear to the leadership of the Senate last week pa na they will get the budget on time. And as usual, they will review also our version and we will also review their version. And to make it clear, we will not have a reenacted budget for next year,” he said in a press conference.
Stalled
The approval of the House of Representatives’ version of the 2019 budget was stalled for a month. It failed to approve the measure on third reading last October as promised due to the budget insertions that had to be itemized and some amendments into the bill.
According to Andaya, the House was also swamped by “a very unusual number of requests” coming from the executive and the President.
“May mga request na gustong ilagay doon sa version ng House. So it was our duty to look at it one by one. Hindi naman puwedeng madaliin namin yan, i-sacrifice yung quality ng trabaho namin. So it would take some time. And I’m sure sila rin ho pagdating sa Senate, they will also need some time na tingnan yung sistema na ito,” Andaya explained.
Andaya bared that Duterte asked for funding to fulfill the promises he made during his visits in military camps and in different provinces.
“Basically, housing and yung mga pinupuntahan nyang lugar, mga kalye na kailangan ayusin. Things which he sees when he goes around. Yun po yung until now, we are still receiving requests. ‘Coz he’s been going around very often. So from time to time we still receive this request. And we’re trying our best to keep the budget in line sa vision po ng ating Presidente,” said Andaya.
Andaya failed to divulge the aggregate amount of the President’s requests but he cited a request for P2 billion for a housing project for the military.
Andaya said the Congress has yet to provide allocations for the expected Bangsamoro plebiscite at P2 billion when the bill reaches the bicameral conference committee.
“Isa pa iyon, napag-uuspan namin ng Senado, kung nais po nilang maglagay dahil aminin po natin, wala pong nakalagay na pondo dun po para sa Bangsamoro. So ano ba iyong direksiyon natin? Do we expect an election or a plebiscite next year? Dahil po iyon sa budget duon ninyo po makikita iyong policy. So kung interesado talaga magkaroon ng plebesito ay dapat lagyan natin ng budget. Aminado tayo na hindi po nilagay ng Executive doon sa budget proposal nila for next year,” he said.
Andaya said the House of Representatives is also eyeing the extension of the 2018 fund for the Marawi rehabilitation as the funds have yet to be spent. (SunStar Philippines)