The ceremonial signing of the General Appropriations Bill containing the P5-trillion budget for 2022 has been postponed, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said in a Viber message to reporters Monday.
But Malacañang did not give any reason behind the rescheduling of the signing.
Last Week, Sotto said President Rodrigo Duterte was set to sign the proposed P5.024-trillion budget measure on December 28, with the bill sent to Malacañang by Congress on Thursday last week.
Department of Budget and Management officer-in-charge Tina Rose Canda earlier said they were expecting Duterte to sign the budget measure this week.
But Sen. Christopher Go, a close associate of the President, said the chief executive would expedite the review and signing of the proposed 2022 General Appropriations Act to ensure the government had a working budget for the rehabilitation and recovery of areas hard hit by Typhoon Odette.
Go said the President would immediately sign the national budget so that on January 1 or January 3, the government would already have a working budget.
“This is not only for the typhoon but also for COVID response since we need immediate help for our people. Also, the assistance to Covid response should be continuing,” said Go.
President Duterte is set to approve the proposed 2022 national budget before the year ends. Otherwise, the government will run under a reenacted budget or the national budget for 2021.
Meanwhile, Go disclosed some of Duterte’s directives to boost the recovery and address the needs of the typhoon victims.
The senator said that law enforcement agencies, along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, were tasked to undertake all necessary measures to ensure peace and order in affected areas.
Earlier, Duterte issued Proclamation No. 1267 putting Regions IV-B, VI, VII, VIII, X, and XIII under a state of calamity to fast-track all rescue, recovery, relief and rehabilitation efforts there.
“President Duterte designated somebody from the DBM as Finance manager to look for funds to be given as financial assistance,” he said.
The senator added the Department of Agriculture was also directed by Duterte to distribute seeds and boats to the farmers and fisherfolk, respectively, who were affected by the disaster.
On the other hand, the National Housing Authority will provide P100 million worth of housing assistance to each province affected.
Go then reassured that the President and the rest of the government are working nonstop to address the needs of the victims.
