MANILA – Voting 16-0, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a joint resolution extending the validity of the 2018 appropriations for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlays (CO) to Dec. 31, 2019.
The resolution would allow the use of appropriations that have not been released and allotments that have not been obligated as these will be reverted to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund on Dec. 31, 2018.
Sen. Loren Legarda, who chairs the Senate finance committee, earlier said the government needs the funds for priority projects; aid and relief activities; and the maintenance, construction, repair, and rehabilitation of schools, hospitals, roads, bridges and other essential facilities of the national government.
But Minority Leader Franklin Drilon stood up and asked if the resolution would be terminated once the 2019 budget has been signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Assuming that the 2019 General Appropriations Act becomes effective by January 31, 2019, what is the effect of this resolution extending the 2018 budget until 2019? Is it terminated ipso facto or does it continue so we have two budgets next year?” he said in his parliamentary inquiry.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said they should seek clarification from the chamber’s legal department.
“Let us seek an opinion from the legal department of the Senate. In my opinion it is on the contrary, we have extended the MOOE and CO until December 2019 and these are just mere budgets that have not been used during the 2018 calendar year. Therefore it is best find out. Let us get a legal opinion,” he said. (With GMA News/PN)
