Palace won’t heed Andaya’s demand to release 2018 savings report

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang will not heed the demand of Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. to give a report on government savings in 2018 in exchange for the bicameral approval of this year’s spending bill.

“I don’t think reporting of 2018 savings is a prerequisite,” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said in a text message.

Andaya, chair of the House appropriations panel, on Sunday warned that “no DBM report on 2018 savings, no bicam report for 2019 budget” as he demanded Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to release the report.

READ: Reenacted budget looms over pork

Congress has only three days to reach consensus on the proposed P3.757-trillion budget as Congress is set to go on recess this week in time for the campaign season.

“Ball is on the hands of the legislators. The last time I talked with Sec. Diokno, he said he will just wait for the enrolled copy of the budget bill,” Medialdea said.

The government has been operating on a reenacted budget after Congress failed to pass the budget last year. /je