MANILA – The P3.7-trillion proposed 2019 national budget is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature after Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced Tuesday that he already signed the measure but with reservations.
In a press conference at the Senate, Sotto said the enrolled bill is now on its way to Malacañang as he also appealed to Duterte to review and veto the “unconstitutional” provisions.
According to Sotto, his attestation to veracity of the enrolled bill is limited only to those items approved by the bicameral conference committee and ratified by both chambers of Congress.
“In particular, it is my view that it is unconstitutional that P75 billion worth of programs/projects under the Local Infrastructure Program of the Department of Public Works and Highways was funded through internal realignments after the bicam report was ratified,” Sotto said.
The realigned cuts, according to Sotto, were from Organizational Outcome 1 (asset preservation program, network development program, and bridge program), and Organizational Outcome 2 (flood management program and convergence and support program).
“The President may wish to consider disapproving these unconstitutional realignments, pursuant to his constitutional power to veto particular items in the General Appropriations Bill,” Sotto said.
The 2019 national budget bill was ratified in early February but stayed in the House and not immediately transmitted to the Senate and Malacañang as congressmen said they had to itemize the lump sums.
The government is operating on a reenacted budget and the Palace and finance officials have warned that remaining in this setup could affect the country’s economic growth for 2019./PN
