DBM Sec. Amenah Pangandaman during the Malacañang Palace briefing, August 22, 2023. | PHOTO: INQUIRER.net / Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered the fast tracking of the distribution of fuel subsidy amid rising gas prices.
This is the statement of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman during a Palace briefing on Tuesday.
Pangandaman was asked about the status of the budget allocation.
She responded, recalling her conversation with Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista on the matter.
She explained the funds are already available in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), but a joint memorandum circular (JMC) is just needed to release it.
“Yes po. In fact, when Secretary Bautista called me last week, sinabihan na po namin siya that kailangang matapos na po nila iyong JMC nila. And then, wala naman masyadong amendment doon sa JMC nila,” she said.
(Yes. In fact, when Secretary Bautista called me last week, we told him that their JMC already needs to be finished. And then, there is not much amendment to be done to their JMC.)
“I think they can use the previous JMC yata (probably) and then, sign it and then, submit to us. We will release the budget,” she said.
The DBM chief noted Marcos wants the money in the GAA to be spent as quickly as possible.
“Siyempre po, si Presidente, gusto po niya, kapag nasa budget po, kailangan magamit kaagad. So iyon po,” she stressed.
(Of course, the President, what he wants is, if it is in the budget, it must be used right away. So that’s it. )
“Sana, mailabas namin kaagad kapag mayroon na po iyong requirement for GAA,” she expressed optimism.
(We hope to release it immediately when there is already a requirement for GAA.)
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