President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a joint resolution extending the validity of the 2018 appropriations for maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlays to Dec. 31, 2019, the Palace said Thursday.
Duterte made the decision in a bid to continue financing the rehabilitation efforts for the regions affected by calamities last year.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said Duterte signed Joint Resolution 3 a week ago, but Malacañang released its copy only on Thursday.
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In the House of Representatives, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya said the cash-based budgeting system proposed by the Duterte administration would not be implemented this year.
“It looks like the plan to use the cash-based budgeting system will not push through this year because [Duterte has] already signed a resolution extending[the 2018 national budget],” Andaya said at a hearing in Naga City.
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The hearing was conducted by the House committee on rules on the alleged anomalies in the budget process. Andaya heads the House rules committee.
According to the Department of Budget and Management, the operating expenses refer to the expenditures that support the operations of government agencies, including the expenses for supplies, materials, transportation, and utilities. The capital outlays are appropriations for the purchase of goods and services such, as bridge and road construction.
Under the resolution, the appropriations that have not been released and the allotments that have not been obligated under the P3.767-trillion 2018 budget can be used until the end of 2019.
Without the extension, the unused allotments and appropriations will revert to the National Treasury.
The joint resolution, which was passed by Congress over a month ago, ensures that the government may still use funds for the ongoing rehabilitation of Marawi City until the end of the year.
Duterte emphasized in the resolution the need to finance the regions ravaged by calamities like Typhoons “Rosita” and “Ompong.”
The House of Representatives approved the joint resolution on Nov. 27, 2018, and the Senate supported the bill on Dec. 3, 2018.
