Palace rejects call for Duterte to break budget row | Inquirer News

Palace rejects call for Duterte to break budget row

By: - Reporter / @NCorralesINQ
/ 02:02 PM March 21, 2019

Palace rejects call for Duterte to break budget row

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang rejected Thursday the call of lawmakers for President Rodrigo Duterte to “exert effort” to break the impasse on the 2019 national budget.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated his statement confirming that Duterte would not be making any move on the impasse.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Palace on budget impasse: It’s all up to Congress

FEATURED STORIES

“Well, the President is not making any move. His last statement was: ‘Solve it on your own,’” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

The government has been operating on a reenacted budget since the start of the year after Congress failed to pass the P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 amid allegations of questionable allocations and insertions.

Article continues after this advertisement

Congress leaders failed to reach a consensus even after a meeting with Duterte in Malacañang.

Article continues after this advertisement

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III has said the delay in the passage of the 2019 budget was hurting the economy.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Delay in 2019 budget approval hurting economy, says Finance chief

Socioeconomic Secretary Ernesto Pernia has also said that the budget delay would cut economic growth to an eight-year low.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Budget delay to cut growth to 8-yr low

On Wednesday, Senate  Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri urged Malacañang to “exert pressure” on the House of Representatives to finally end the impasse.

READ: Zubiri seeks Palace intervention to end budget row

Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. also urged the President on Wednesday to  issue a “strong pronouncement” to break the budget impasse and compel Congress to pass the proposed P3.757 trillion 2019 national budget.

READ: Duterte urged to issue decisive order on 2019 budget

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

“Well, if national interest is a concern, then I supposed every member of Congress knows that they have to respond to the needs of the times,” Panelo said. /jpv

TAGS: budget, Local news, Palace, Panelo

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.