The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has assured the public government programs will be implemented as planned despite some vetoed provisions on the 2021 budget by President DutertePresident Duterte signed last December 28 Republic Act No. 11518, also known as the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year 2021.
The DBM said to ensure efficient use of public funds, provisions which do not relate to particular appropriations, of which would effectively amend the Constitution or any existing laws, were subjected to direct veto.
Specifically, the President directly vetoed 13 special provisions and placed 45 general provisions under conditional implementation.
Wendel Avisado, DBM secretary, said most government projects will continue to be implemented as planned.
“There won’t be disruptions. The provisional implementation is, in short, that is for later release,” Avisado said.
The budget chief also said the DBM is coordinating with different government agencies to ensure the timely and quick release of their respective budget allotments. He also expressed the budget agency’s readiness to quickly act upon budget requests from agencies that will promptly submit their respective budget documents.
“We have already informed government agencies regarding these new budgetary items that are in the GAA, and we will require them to submit a revised agency performance target, among other supporting documents, as may be applicable, such as the request for issuance of special allotment release order and notice of cash allocation,” Avisado said.
He also said the budget agency will ensure the efficient use of public funds, adherence to laws, rules and regulations as well as shared fiscal responsibility in the implementation of the budget.
“The President has said, we will look at the projects that were presented, and that are in line with the priorities of the government. The agencies or departments also have the capabilities to implement projects within the year,” Avisado said.
The DBM pointed out the P4.506 trillion national budget is designed to boost the government’s response and recovery efforts in addressing the adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic. (A. Celis)
