By Charmaine A. Tadalan
Reporter
THE House panel in the bicameral conference committee on the national budget has “demand(ed)” that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) submit a report on the remaining balance of the 2018 national budget.
Without that report, Mr. Andaya said, the committee will not be able to approve its report on the the P3.757-trillion budget. “No DBM report on 2018 savings, no bicam report for 2019 budget,” he said.
“The House conferees demand that DBM furnish us a report on total appropriations that have not been released and allotment(s) issued that have not been obligated for year 2018,” he said in a statement, Sunday.
“We need that report in order to pass the 2019 budget. We need a clear picture of our spending authority. Congress authorized the extension of the 2018 appropriations. We demand to see the balances,” he added.
Mr. Andaya is referring to Joint Resolution No. 3, signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte, extending the validity of the 2018 budget for capital outlays and maintenance and other operating expenses until Dec. 31, 2019.
“Matagal na naming hinihingi ito kay Sec. (Benjamin E.) Diokno. This report is two years overdue. Kahit yung report on 2017 savings, hindi pa rin naibibigay ni Sec. Diokno sa Congress hanggang ngayon,” he said. (We’ve been asking for this report from Sec. Diokno. This report is two years overdue. Even the 2017 savings report has not been submitted to Congress until now.)
The government is currently operating under a reenacted budget, while the House and Senate are tackling the 2019 General Appropriations Bill, which both chambers target to ratify by Wednesday, Feb. 6, the last day of session.
The 17th Congress will go on a break from Feb. 7 to May 19 for the election campaign period. It will resume briefly on May 20 and will officially close on June 7.
