Senate OKs extension of unused 2018 budget

Senate session hall INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate  has  passed on third and final reading  a joint resolution, extending the validity of the 2018 appropriations for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capital outlays (CO) until  December 31, 2019.

Sixteen  senators  voted on Monday to approve the  Senate Joint Resolution  No 17,  with no negative votes and  abstentions.

Minority Leader  Franklin Drilon  though  asked   how   the extension of the 2018 budget would affect the 2019  appropriation.

In  particular, Drilon asked  if the  resolution would be deemed terminated once  the  2019   budget is approved  or  if the government  would  operate  under  the two budgets.

Senate President  Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, who was presiding  over the session, explained they were just  extending until end of 2019 the unused  budget this year.

“We have extended the MOEE and CO  until Dec. 31 of  2019  of the 2018 budget,”  Sotto said.

“And these are just mere budgets that have not been used  during the 2018 calendar year,”   he added.

The Senate leader nevertheless  referred Drilon’s query to  the legal department  of the Senate.

Last month, the House of Representatives  also approved  the same measure.

READ: House okays extension of fund availability in 2018 budget