House Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Karlo “Ang Probinsyano” Nograles on Sunday assured the public that the per agency budget deliberations in the House of Representatives would resume after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) address the concerns of congressmen regarding the “extremely restrictive” cash-based P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 and present to Congress a “true people’s budget.”
The DBM, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Finance (DOF), and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are members of the DBCC, which presented the proposed budget and the adoption of a cash-based budgeting system.
“This is a temporary setback, but rest assured we will get the budget passed on time—a realistic, pro-people, pro-probinsyano budget that will support the priority projects and programs of President Rodrigo Duterte,” stressed Nograles, who had earlier informed House reporters that House budget deliberations were temporarily suspended amid the clamor of House members to bring back obligation-based budgeting.
“Departments and agencies have been informed that the House is suspending budget briefings until further notice. At this point it would be better moving forward if the DBM and DBCC first resolve the issues we have raised.”
According to Nograles, legislators have crossed party lines because they agree “that cash-based budgeting is not feasible, impracticable, and inimical to the interests of our constituents.”
“Sa madaling salita, nagkakasundo kami sa Kongreso na lugi ang tao sa budget na ito, lugi ang Pilipino sa sistemang ito,” referring to the budgeting scheme adopted for the proposed 2019 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Nograles added that he and other House members have cited a litany of problems regarding the NEP since the first day of budget hearings on July 31.
The Davao representative said that owing to the limitations of a cash-based system, the 2019 NEP is P10 billion lower in absolute terms compared to the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) which totaled P3.767 trillion.
“Departments and agencies have been informed that the House is suspending budget briefings until further notice.”
As a result, Nograles lamented that nearly all government agencies have suffered significant budget reductions, “which would result to less of everything: fewer classrooms, barangay health centers, roads, bridges, and energized sitios.”
“Since the House position is to revert to obligation-based budgeting, we will give time to the DBCC to make the necessary changes,” Nograles said.
On Thursday, Nograles met with representatives of the DBM to relay the growing concerns of House members regarding the 2019 NEP. Lawmakers expect to receive feedback from the DBM this week.
Nograles had earlier vowed that the budget for next year will not be reenacted despite the ongoing stalemate between the House and the DBM regarding cash-based budgeting.
“Since the House position is to revert to obligation-based budgeting, we will give time to the DBCC to make the necessary changes.”
“Our responsibility and duty to our constituents is clear: siguraduhin na ang pera ng bayan ay magamit sa ikauunlad ng ating kababayan. We will not allow our countrymen to be shortchanged and we will do what must be done to ensure that they get the budget they deserve.”
