PBBM vetoes 2 provisions in 2024 national budget

FILE: Marcos made the guarantee, as he expressed elation over the signing of 35 letters of intent (LOIs) and agreements between the Philippines and Japan on the third day of his official visit to Tokyo. (Photo: RTVM via PCO)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vetoed two provisions in the PHP5.768-trillion national budget for 2024, Malacañang said on Friday.

Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, in a statement, said the vetoed items in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) pertain to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) revolving fund and the implementation of the national government’s Career Executive Service Development Program.

In his veto message on Dec. 20, Marcos rejected the DOJ- Office of the Secretary (OSEC), Special Provision No. 1, “DOJ Revolving Fund,” Volume I-A, page 1119, saying “there is no law which authorizes the DOJ to establish a revolving fund for the purpose indicated therein.”

“It may be emphasized that the service fees sought to be charged and collected are to be imposed upon complaints and affidavits filed with the National Prosecution Service, and petitions for review filed before the DOJ, when, in fact, such pleadings are filed with the said agencies by virtue of their jurisdiction vested by law,” Marcos said.

Marcos said the charges are clearly not from business-type activities within the contemplation of the General Provision on Revolving Funds in the GAA, which permits the constitution of a revolving fund from receipts derived from business-type activities of agencies to be utilized for the operational expenses of such business-type activities.

Citing a Supreme Court pronouncement, he said “inappropriate provisions” are “unconstitutional provisions and provisions which are intended to amend other laws” because “clearly, these kind[s] of laws have no place in an appropriations bill.”

Marcos added that these are matters of general legislation more appropriately dealt with in separate enactments.

Marcos also vetoed Section 38 under the General Provisions on the “Implementation of National Government’s Career Executive Service Development Program (NGCESDP)” (Volume I-B, page 762), saying the particular item does not relate to any particular appropriation in the budget.

He noted that Presidential Decree (PD) 336 dated Nov.

14, 1973, which amends Part I, Article IV, Sections 2 and 5 [G] of the Integrated Reorganization Plan approved under PD 1 issued on Sept. 24, 1972, is considered a substantive law that creates the Career Executive Service Board (CESB).

“PD No. 336 further delineated the functions of the CESB as the governing body of the Career Executive Service (CES) and the Development Academy of the Philippines is tasked to prepare a CES program appropriate and necessary for the organization and operation of the CES, and in consultation with the CESB, initiate and continue to implement the aforesaid program,” Marcos said.

“Moreover, Section 8 (2), Chapter 2, Subtitle A, Title I, Book V of Executive Order (EO) No. 292, s. 1987 (Administrative Code of 1987), also considered a substantive law, expressly prescribed that entrance to the third level career service position shall be prescribed by the CESB,” he added.

Malacañang has yet to release a copy of Marcos’ veto message.

Marcos on Wednesday signed into law Republic Act 11975 or the 2024 GAA which contains the PHP5.768-trillion national budget for next year.

The 2024 budget, which is equivalent to 21.

1 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and higher than the PHP5.268 trillion national budget this year, is designed to sustain the country’s high-growth trajectory and unlock the administration’s goals for the country’s economic transformation.