Palace on 2019 budget: More projects for lawmakers

Malacañang expressed confidence yesterday that the P3.757-trillion cash-based budget for 2019 will be passed by yearend to prevent a reenacted budget for the third fiscal year under the Duterte administration.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the timely approval of the budget by the House of Representatives would be among the challenges for the new House leadership under Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Well, this is a test for the new Speaker. Nonetheless, we are confident that because this budget is intended to implement more projects for congressmen and legislators as well, it will be passed on time,” Roque said.

He explained that the shift to cash-based budget means that the government will spend based on cash-on-hand, possibly with no need for loans.

The Palace commended the Department of Budget and Management for the early submission of the 2019 national budget after the President delivered his third State of the Nation Address on Monday.

“We will gear up to ensure full and speedy rollout,” Roque said.

Roque vowed to provide a copy of the 2019 National Expenditure Plan for the Malacañang Press Corps for transparency.

Based on the President’s budget message, the administration hopes to improve agency spending performance as the government effects the shift to the annual cash-based appropriations.

The P3.757-trillion budget of the national government for 2019 is 13 percent higher than this year’s appropriations of P3.324 trillion.

Around 24.3 percent or P909.7 billion of the total cash budget for next year will be allocated for the government’s Build Build Build program. The amount represents 4.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product.

The administration has allotted P555.7 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways and P76.1 billion for the Department of Transportation.

For the select major social programs, the Palace allocated P88.1 billion for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, P67.4 billion for National Health Insurance Program, P51 billion for Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, P38.9 billlion for Free Irrigation for Farmers, P34.7 billion for Basic Education Facilities Program and P2.9 billion rice subsidy for Military and Uniformed Personnel.