MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will not submit to Congress the proposed national budget for 2021 on Monday during his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) when Congress resumes session, according to Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado.
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Avisado said the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2021 is still being ironed out.
“We have until Aug. 27 pa naman po within which to submit to Congress the proposed 2021 National Budget,” the Budget chief said.
The Executive Branch is mandated under the Constitution to submit the GAA bill to Congress within one month from the opening of sessions.
Avisado earlier said they are eyeing a national budget of P4.506 trillion for 2021, of which nearly half will be composed of borrowed funds, with health, food security, and infrastructure as among the government’s priorities.
The proposed P4.1 trillion budget for 2020 was submitted nearly a month after the SONA last year.