Malacañang still prefers the passage of the proposed 2019 national budget than operate on a reenacted budget this year to avoid “dire consequences.”
According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Malacanang opposes a reenacted budget since it would harm the local economy and affect the implementation of vital infrastructure projects, social services, and other poverty alleviation programs.
“A reenacted budget as a result of a budget impasse would hurt our economy,” he said. “This would translate to lost opportunities for higher growth as our economic managers are estimating a loss of one to 2.3 percentage points in the full-year Gross Domestic Product in the event that the 2019 budget will not be passed,” he added.
Panelo argued that various infrastructure projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program would be “severely affected.”
“The ordinary Filipino would be the one greatly affected as there would be fewer openings of employment for him or her, not to mention lesser work productivity for those employed as a result of delays in the completion of badly needed transport and road network,” he said.
He said the government’s programs on poverty reduction, health promotion, and peace and security advancement, among others, would likewise be “inevitably affected.”
To thwart such possible adverse consequences, the Palace remained hopeful that Congress will approve the 2019 national budget.
“The honorable members of Congress know of the dire consequences of a reenacted budget and we are appreciative of the statement made by some members of the bilateral committee that it will endeavor to pass the General Appropriations Bill next week,” he said.
“The Executive branch has already done its part in the budgeting process, we eagerly await Congress to complete the process, so are the Filipino people,” he added.
Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III proposed a reenacted national budget for 2019 in the wake of alleged irregularities in the proposed national budget for the year. Sotto suggested that a reenacted budget would end doubts of alleged “pork barrel” and fund insertions in the 2019 budget bill. (Genalyn Kabiling)
