MANILA – The government is prepared to respond to the economic effects if President Rodrigo Duterte decides to approve or veto the proposed P3.7-trillion 2019 national budget.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President needs time to decide if he will sign or veto the measure as he is exercising “utmost care” in reviewing the budget to ensure it abides by the Constitution.
“As a lawyer and strict enforcer of the rule of law, the President treads cautiously in performing his constitutional duty making sure before he inks his signature to the document, he does not violate our Constitution, as well as related jurisprudence on the matter,” said Panelo.
“While we are very eager and devoted to implement policies that will benefit Filipinos, this administration is equally committed to being a stickler for the rule of law,” he said.
The palace official assured the public that Duterte’s economic managers are prepared in the event the chief executive approves or rejects the submitted spending plan.
“As to the possible repercussion on the economy of a re-enacted budget, our economic managers have contingency plans prepared, responsive to any conceivable event, and they will correspondingly adjust their targets, which include the execution of programs and projects relating to infrastructure as well as the delivery of basic services to the people,” Panelo said.
In a speech in Bacolod City on Thursday, Duterte said he will carefully scrutinize the contents of the budget bill forwarded by the Congress to Malacañang on March 26.
“Ang budget kasa-submit lang. I have to sign it pagbalik ko pa, pinag-aralan pa, galing Budget [department] to the office of the president. The office of the president is not the Budget so ang legal ko magbasa uli,” said Duterte.
“Hindi magkasundo ang congress pati senado eh. And ‘yung mga insertions diyan titignan ko, pagka tagilid talaga I will not hesitate to veto the entire budget,” he added.
The 2019 national budget bill was originally ratified in early February but remained dormant in the House and not immediately transmitted to the Senate and Malacañang as congressmen said they had to itemize the lump sums.
After an impasse in the Senate, the budget bill was sent last month to Malacañang for the President’s signature after Senate president Vicente Sotto III signed the measure but with reservations.
The Palace had initially scheduled the ceremonial signing of the budget on Monday, April 15 but backtracked on Thursday, saying the ratification may push through after the Holy Week break since the President is still studying the bill.
The government is operating on a re-enacted budget and the Palace and finance officials warned remaining in this setup could affect the country’s economic growth for 2019./PN
https://www.panaynews.net/palace-govt-prepared-if-duterte-vetoes-2019-natl-budget/
No comments:
Post a Comment