Bill extending validity of 2019 budget OK’d on 2nd reading

The House of Representatives earlier passed on final reading its own version of the measure. (File Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — The Senate on Wednesday approved on second reading the measure extending the availability of the funds for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlays (CO) under the 2019 budget until Dec. 31, 2020.

Senate Bill 1153, which amends Section 65 of the Republic Act 11260, or the General Appropriations Act of 2019, was approved in plenary following Senator Sonny Angara’s sponsorship of the measure.

In his sponsorship speech, Angara said the approval of the measure is necessary as all appropriations that were not released, obligated or paid by the end of Dec. 31, 2019 shall lapse and revert to the national Treasury, as provided under RA 11260 and Executive Order No. 91 on the implementation of the cash budgeting system.

“In other words, without the approval of this measure, precious funds might not be spent and our people will experience even more delays in the projects and social services promised to them,” he said.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Finance said extending the validity of these funds would enable government agencies to implement their projects and provide their services to the people.

“Through this measure, we would be extending a big helping hand to the Executive branch which has had to operate in the first few months of this year on a reenacted budget, and the rest (of the year) under pressure to spend up to PHP3.687 trillion of total available appropriations in a span of approximately seven to eight months amidst an election ban on government projects this year,” he said.

“The Senate is not oblivious to the travails of the Executive branch and we must help them. We must act to see to it that the national budget we had approved for 2019 benefits our people in terms of better services and more efficient public spending. I hope we act on this measure the soonest,” Angara said.

The House of Representatives earlier passed on final reading its own version of the measure.

House Bill 5437 was approved Monday with 192 affirmative votes, with no negative votes or abstention.