THE Senate and the House of Representatives should end impasse on the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, Malacañang said on Wednesday, March 13.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo urged the Congress to pass the ratified 2019 budget for the benefit of the country.
"There is a budget impasse due to some constitutional questions raised by both chambers. Only Congress can resolve and break this impasse," the Palace official said.
"We call on the senators and representatives to break the stalemate and deliver to the Filipino people an appropriations law that can aid this government better their lives and help our country move forward," he added.
Panelo's call came after President Rodrigo Duterte's meeting with Senate and House leaders on Tuesday night, March 12, failed to reach a consensus on the proposed 2019 national budget.
The passage of the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act has been delayed because of allegedly anomalous insertions and realignment of funds.
The National Government is currently operating on a reenacted budget since the start of the year, following the failure to approve the proposed P3.757-trillion budget.
Panelo said Duterte's office still has yet to receive the general appropriations bill for this year, despite its ratification on February 8.
"The Executive has performed its constitutional task to submit its proposed budget, we await Congress to comply with its constitutional mandate to pass the same," he said.
"As soon as the enrolled bill on the budget is submitted to the President, the latter will perform his constitutional duty to scrutinize it and if he finds it in conformity with the constitutional demands, he will sign it," he added.
Panelo, nevertheless, assured the public that the government is ready to cushion the impact of a reenacted budget.
"The delivery of public services to our countrymen will be maintained," the Palace official said. (SunStar Philippines)