PR
“We’re hoping that Congress passes and approves the 2020 budget on time to ensure that last year’s delays are not repeated, when we had to use a re-enacted budget in the first months of the new year,” was what Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said on Monday.
According to the Cab Sec, the plenary debates on the proposed P4.1 trillion 2020 budget started on Monday after its approval at the lower house on third reading. Nograles noted that the General Appropriations Act would undergo thorough examination before it reaches the Senate.
“The members of the Senate promised that they would give priority to the budget’s approval. We’re hoping the Senators ensure that last year’s delays would not happen again,” Nograles added.
“We saw the negative effects of the budget impasse on the economy and on government projects, particularly on sectors involved in job generation and livelihood creation. These should be avoided this time around.”
It would be recalled that the 2019 budget of P3.7 trillion was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte only last April after Congress failed to pass the legislation, resulting in delays in implementation of government programs and projects.
Any delays in the budget passage would adversely affect initiatives to combat poverty and hunger.
“We are fully expecting that Congress would support the expansion of programs that would address poverty concerns in 32 priority provinces targeted by the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP), which aims to achieve #GoodbyeGutom,” according to the former Davao lawmaker.
Among the priorities of government is to provide funds to address the education and health needs of schoolchildren.
The Duterte administration, Nograles stressed, likewise desired to provide free insurance coverage under the Universal Health Care Act.
Once approved by the Senate, the 2020 GAA would immediately undergo bicameral discussions and would be sent to the President for signing.
“We fully expect President Duterte to sign the General Appropriations Acts by mid-December,” Nograles pointed out.
