Bill seeks to extend validity of 2021 budget

Congressman Eric Go Yap, Party List – ACT-CIS (Photo from House of Representatives website)

MANILA, Philippines — House appropriations chair and ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap has filed a bill extending the validity of the P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021 until Dec. 31, 2022.

In filing House Bill No. 10373, Yap said the extension would allow agencies to fully utilize the allocated 2021 budget to implement government programs and projects to ensure that the intended beneficiaries of the government’s basic services are reached.

He added that the 2021 national budget would help the Philippines “rebound from the devastating effects of the pandemic on health and economy.”

According to the website of the House of Representatives, the appropriations panel is scheduled to discuss the proposed bill on Wednesday.

“The pandemic curved opportunities for socioeconomic growth and development. It also brought disruptions in the operations of government, which then caused delay in the release and issuance of budget allocations,” Yap said.

Less than two months before this year’s national budget expires, he pointed out that there were still programs, projects and activities funded by the 2021 General Appropriations Act that were very much needed by the Filipinos, especially those in the vulnerable sector.