SLIGHTLY LOWER NATIONAL BUDGET FOR 2019 APPROVED
Amount slightly lower than the 2018 budget of P3.767 trillion, which was obligations-based
The P3.757-trillion cash-based national budget for next year was approved by President Duterte. The amount is lower than the 2018 budget of P3.767 trillion, which was obligations-based. Personal services take up P1.185 trillion; maintenance expenditures, P562.9 billion; capital outlays, P752.7 billion; allotment to local government units, P640.6 billion; support to goverment-owned and -controlled corporations, P187.1 billion; tax expenditure, P14.5 billion; and debt burden, P414.1 billion. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said the government would shift to an annual cash-based budget from the multi-year obligations-based to eliminate underspending.
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the proposed P3.757-trillion cash-based national budget for 2019, Malacañang announced yesterday.
The amount is slightly lower than the 2018 budget of P3.767 trillion, which was obligations-based. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said that President Duterte approved the 2019 budget proposal during the 27th Cabinet meeting held in Malacañan Palace last Monday.
“Ang na-approvan pong budget ng [Presidente at ng] Gabinete for the year 2019 is P3.757 trillion,” Roque told a press conference in Indang, Cavite.
Roque said personal services would take up P1.185 trillion; maintenance expenditures, P562.9 billion; capital outlay, P752.7 billion; allotment to local government units, P640.6 billion; support to government-owned and controlled corporations, P187.1 billion; tax expenditure, P14.5 billion; and debt burden, P414.1 billion.
Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said the government would shift to an annual cash-based budget in 2019 from the multi-year obligations-based at present, in a bid to curb underspending.
The underspending rate was as high as 13.3 percent in 2014 and 12.8 percent in 2015 during the past administration. But when Duterte assumed office in June 2016, the underspending decreased to 3.6 percent.
The current administration said that a notable decrease in underspending urges government agencies to accelerate the use of their budgets.
Under cash-based budgeting, government agencies are compelled to spend their appropriations within the fiscal year.