Palace ‘alarmed’ over suspension of House budget hearings

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / JOAN BONDOC

Malacañang had nothing but harsh words for the House of Representatives after the budget hearings were indefinitely suspended amid opposition towards the implementation of a cash-based budgeting system.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday said they refused to submit to lawmakers who are against the proposed P3.757 trillion cash-based budget for 2019, stressing that they are not afraid to operate on a reenacted budget.

“We’re alarmed,” Roque told reporters in a press briefing. “For the past two years, wala pong problema ang Palasyo sa budget.”

“We’re not about to give in. The cash transactions will ensure that only those projects that can be implemented will be included in the budget,” he said.

Roque made the remark after House appropriations committee chair Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles announced on Saturday that budget briefings would be suspended until further notice. Nograles said that cash-based budgeting was “not feasible.”

“Kaunaunahang pagkakataon ito na ang House po na may supermajority na supposedly (pro) administration ay sila pong humaharang ng budget,” Roque said.

“Parang nabaliktad na po. baka nga hindi na kinakailangan na magkaroon ng Minority Floor leader dahil mukhang Minority na ang in power doon sa Kongreso,” he said.

While Roque admitted that these were “harsh words,” he said that this was to convey to lawmakers that they are “completely shocked at the resistance of the House.”

“We were confident that when there was a change of leadership, we would still deal with very close allies,” Roque said.

If Congress fails to ratify the proposed 2019 national budget, Roque said they would not be afraid to reenact the 2018 budget.

Under a reenacted budget, the same fiscal program would be used in the next year.

“The ball is in the hands of our allies in congress, but we’re not blinking. We’re not scared of a reenacted budget,” Roque said.

“The congressmen better ask themselves what will happen to their pet projects because under a reenacted budget, it is Malacañang that would determine which budgets would be implemented. I don’t think they want that,” he said.

Roque added that they are expecting the “usual cooperation from Congress soon because together we will provide the needs of our constituents.” /je