By Joann Villanueva – PNA
MANILA — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday called on lawmakers to carefully study and immediately pass the proposed PHP3.757-trillion national budget for 2019.
“We urge both Houses of Congress to scrutinize and expedite the passage of the 2019 National Budget for the sake of public interest,” it said in a statement issued late Thursday afternoon.
The statement stressed that the agency continues to support Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno, whose resignation is being called for by members of the House of Representatives on allegations that he added PHP75 billion in the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for next year.
The statement explained that “it is the duty of the Executive branch, through the DBM, to prepare the National Expenditure Program.”
Congress, on the other hand, “has the constitutional mandate to make amendments, should it deem fit, and ultimately authorize the General Appropriations Act (GAA).”
“The DBM strongly supports Secretary Diokno and condemns the flimsy accusations hurled against him in furtherance of a political agenda, “it said.
The agency also extended its appreciation to President Rodrigo R. Duterte “for the continued trust and confidence in Secretary Benjamin Diokno as his economic manager and Budget Secretary.”
“He (Diokno) has served under three Presidents in the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and has always upheld the highest standards of integrity, honor, and competence in public service,” it said.
Aside from his current stint, Diokno led the DBM during the term of President Joseph Estrada from July 1998 until January 2001. He served as Undersecretary for Budget Operations from 1986-91 during the term of President Corazon Aquino.
The statement said Diokno’s track record “speaks for itself” since it is under his term that the agency implemented the What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get Policy, like the use of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) as the comprehensive release document of the national budget.
“This limits intervention on the part of the DBM and enables line agencies to immediately implement their projects. Today, this policy is still in effect,” it said.
The statement also noted that underspending has been addressed from a high of 13.3 percent in 2014 and 12.8 percent in 2015.
In 2016, underspending was cut to 3.6 percent and to 2.9 percent in 2017.
“In fact, from January to September 2018, spending is above the program by 2.6 percent, marking a turnaround in the efficiency and timeliness of government disbursements,” it added.
