Palace optimistic on passage of 2019 budget

“Of course,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said when asked in a Palace briefing if the PHP3.757-trillion proposed national budget would be passed before the end of the year. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Despite claims of “irregularities” in the proposed national budget for 2019, Malacañang on Thursday remains hopeful that it will be scrutinized and eventually passed by Congress.

“Of course,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said when asked in a Palace briefing if the PHP3.757-trillion proposed national budget would be passed before the end of the year.

“The House knows that this is the budget proposal of the Palace. And so, they will have to do their job. If there are questions on the budget, they will raise them, and we will respond to them,” Panelo added.

Panelo said there are Palace liaison officers who will talk to members of Congress to discuss developments on the budget proposal.

Meanwhile, Panelo said Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno will be ready to respond to all questions concerning the budget proposal including claims that President Rodrigo R. Duterte himself had funding requests for the major programs of the administration.

“I think Budget Secretary Diokno will be more knowledgeable on that (budget proposal). If the President has instructions to Secretary Diokno as contained in the budget proposal, then that is the situation,” Panelo said.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading the proposed national budget for 2019. However, Senate agreed not to rush the approval of the budget to scrutinize alleged pork insertions.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri warned that the government may still have to work under a re-enacted budget at least until the beginning of next year since there is limited time to deliberate on the proposed national budget.

Zubiri said the earliest the Senate can start deliberations on the budget would be on November 28. The Congress is set to adjourn session on December 12.

Earlier, the House minority leadership asked Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to explain alleged irregularities in the proposed national budget.

Minority Leader Danilo Suarez wanted Diokno to explain concerns that the proposed national budget might be used for personal campaigns of candidates.

Suarez also claimed that there were also insertions in the national budget realigned to fund basic services.

Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. dispelled allegations that the House version of the 2019 budget is “pork-filled.”

“Everything we are doing here is compliant with all the pertinent laws and the Supreme Court decision,” he said.