Properly, prudently, and efficiently.
This is how the Executive intends to spend the record-setting P4.1 trillion 2020 national budget that President Rodrigo Duterte had signed on the first working Monday of the year, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said.
“This was a team effort, and we commend the leadership of both houses.”
“We thank the members of Congress for working overtime to expedite the passage of the General Appropriations Act (GAA). This was a team effort, and we commend the leadership of both houses for helping us start the year right,” said the former legislator.
“The timely passage of the budget will allow us to avoid issues like underspending and ensure that priority programs and projects are properly funded and implemented,” Nograles, former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations added.
Despite the 2019 budget being signed in mid-April, the government was able to accelerate spending, with the Department of Budget and Management reporting that it had released P3.622 trillion, or 98.9% of the P3.662 trillion fiscal year 2019 obligation program, by the end of November 2019.
“The budget is the lifeblood of government, and all department heads recognize that the President wants them to maximize the financial resources allocated to them,” said the Palace official.
“The members of the Cabinet are on the same page when it comes to government funds. These are to be used––not abused––for the benefit of our countrymen. Babantayan ng maigi yan para magamit ng tama at maayos,” Nograles added.