PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to meet with lawmakers on Tuesday night, March 12, amid the deadlock in the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019.
In a press conference with Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the meeting between Duterte and the lawmakers was meant to resolve the issues hounding the proposed 2019 budget.
"I understand they will be having a meeting tonight, maybe it’s on the agenda for them to thresh out whatever differences they have," he said.
"You know, the style of the President, he listens. He listens and let the protagonists settle among themselves. Kumbaga moderator lang siya (He's just a moderator)... He may have brought the two together so they can talk and discuss," Panelo added.
This came after Duterte said Monday, March 11, he would not sign an "illegal" budget for 2019 that does not conform to the requirements of the 1987 Constitution.
The National Government is currently operating on a reenacted budget after Congress failed to approve the P3.757-trillion expenditure before Christmas break because of supposed "insertions."
The Senate and the House of Representatives are also squabbling over the supposed amendments to the Congress-ratified 2019 budget that were introduced by congressmen.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier raised the possibility that the government will run on a reenacted budget, if it is proven that the House of Representatives realigned P79 billion even after the ratification of the 2019 budget bill.
Asked what Duterte meant when he said he would not sign an "illegal" budget, Panelo said: "Well, generally he is referring to anything that will fall under the prohibitive clause of the Constitution. Anything that is illegal, unconstitutional, he will not be a part of that."
"Right now, there is a controversy between the House and the Senate. The Senate claims that the itemization of the P79 billion funds is unconstitutional. But the House claims that it is not. So, let us see... It (Duterte's remark) could also mean that you (the Senate and the House of Representatives) settle your differences so that we can have a new budget," he added.
Panelo, nevertheless, said the executive branch "hope[s] for the best" with regard to the approval of the proposed 2019 budget.
"I think they will be resolving that tonight. I will make an educated guess, they will be settled. They will be settled kasi alam nila (because they know) any reenacted budget will affect the operations of the government," he said. (SunStar Philippines)