House to extend validity of 2019 national budget until 2020

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives will prioritize the passage of a joint resolution extending the validity of portions of the 2019 national budget until December 31, 2020, House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said Tuesday.

In pushing for a longer validity of the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlay of the P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019, Romualdez cited the delays in the passage of 2019 General Appropriations Act and the election ban on the implementation of infrastructure projects and social services.

“We have to ensure that funding requirements of some important national projects under the 2019 GAA will continue until next year. Without the extension, the unused funds will go back to the National Treasury,” Romualdez, chair of the House committee on rules, said in a statement.

The House committee on appropriations chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab will tackle Wednesday House Joint Resolution (HJR) No. 9 filed by Antique Rep. Loren Legarda and HJR No. 10 introduced by San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora and Davao Oriental Rep. Joel Mayo Almario, according to Romualdez. Both measures seek to extend the shelf life of this year’s national budget which would be used to fuel priority projects of the government such as medical assistance program, aid, relief activities, maintenance, and construction and rehabilitation of schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and other essential facilities government.

Once approved by the panel, Romualdez said they would pass the measures on second reading before they go on a break on October 4.

The two joint resolutions specifically seek to amend Section 65 of the general provisions of Republic Act No. 11260, which provides that all appropriations shall be available for release and obligation until December 31, 2019. /kga