President Duterte Might Sign P3.7 Trillion Budget Before Holy Week

Cabinet Secretary Said That The President Might Sign The Budget This Week

PRESIDENT DUTERTE – Signing the General Appropriations Act of 2019 will allow the President to reject some line items instead of letting it pass into becoming a law. Cabinet official Karlo Nograles said.

Recently, there has been some problems with the national budget.

President’s failure to take action on a bill presented in his office within a 30-day period will allow it to becoming a law. Most importantly, that it is approved by both houses of congress.

President Duterte Might Sign
Photo from www.time.com

This is based on a news report from ABS CBN News.

Based on the article, Nograles said that the president might sign the bill before holy week so that it doesn’t lapse into law. It was clearly expressed by the Cabinet secretary in his statement:

“Before Holy Week maaaring mapirmahan ng Pangulo just to be on the safe side na hindi siya mag-lapse into law.”

or “Before the Holy Week, the president could sign just to be on the safe side. So it won’t lapse into law.”

Political wrangling between several lawmakers about alleged insertions in 2019’s budget has delayed the passage of the bill. The country has been running on the budget from 2018 spending program since the beginning of this year.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III already signed the budget in March with tag “strong reservations.”

Ernesto Pernia, Socioeconomics secretary said that the reenacted budget can cause economic growth to slow down to 4.2-4.9 from 6.2 in 2018.

He also added that the growth could slow by 6.1-6.3 percent if it lasts until April and could slow to 4.9-5.1 if it is until August of this year.

However, Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles claimed that the government can catch up to with projects regarding to infrastructure, when the 2019 budget is signed.

That is all there is to it for now. We’ll post updates as soon as we get them.

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