Duterte to gov’t agencies: Identify savings in 2020 budget

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MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all executive branch agencies and offices to identify savings from their respective 2020 budgets.

In signing Administrative Order No. 41 on Wednesday, the President directed all heads of the agencies and offices to submit reports on their compliance to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) within 15 days.

The DBM is then instructed to recommend to the President the amount that can be declared as savings as well as deficiencies in budget items that need to be augmented, including possible cash aid for persons affected by the pandemic.

Under the 2020 General Appropriations Act, savings are defined as portions or balances of any released appropriations that have not been obligated due to completion, discontinuance, or abandonment of a program, activity, or project.

Savings also include funds that were unobligated due to the implementation of measures resulting in improved systems and efficiencies, enabling the agency to meet and deliver its goals at a lesser cost.

The validity of the 2020 budget has been extended until December 31, 2021, through Republic Act No. 11520.

KGA