By Joann Santiago
MANILA, Nov. 25 (PNA) — The 2015 proposed national budget continues to meet hurdles but a Malacanang official is optimistic that it will get lawmakers’ approval and will be available by January 1.
In a briefing Tuesday, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said they recognize lawmakers’ right and responsibility to scrutinize the proposed budget.
He assured the public that the Executive branch considered provisions of the law as well as the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) before they submitted the proposed Php2.606 trillion national budget for 2015, being deliberated in the Senate.
He said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and other agencies under the Executive Branch have explained discrepancies earlier asked by lawmakers.
Thus, he is hopeful that all the questions regarding the proposed 2015 national budget will be resolved for it to eventually be signed into law and be in effect in the first day of 2015 just like in the recent years.
”Based on previous years experience and given the commitment of the leaders of both Houses, we are reasonably assured that the plenary deliberations will be concluded so that both Houses are able to come up with their own versions that will later on be reconciled by a bicameral conference committee and ratified by both Houses so that the proposed General Appropriations Act may be submitted for the President’s signature in December as we have experienced in the previous years,” he said.
Asked for reaction on Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s allegations that the proposed budget was not properly deliberated that is why there are so many errata, Coloma said this issue has been answered when the budget was being deliberated in the House of Representatives.
He also noted that Secretary (Edwin) Lacierda has earlier “pointed out that about 80 percent of the so-called errata actually pertained to clerical or typographical errors and the balance contained itemization of programs activities and projects that had been requested by members of the House themselves so that there could be greater clarity and there will be fleshing out of the items that had been indicated in the proposed national expenditure program.”
He explained that the national budget took into considerations the government’s Philippine Development Plan, which focuses on economic growth and progress; social protection and poverty reduction; climate change mitigation and adaptation; security, peace and law and order; and good governance and anti-corruption.
“Lahat naman ay puwedeng suriin at tingnan kung paano ito nauugnay sa limang pangunahing layunin ng Philippine Development Plan,” he added. (PNA)