(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte also subjected certain provisions of the 2019 national budget to conditional implementation, the Palace said.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the following were subjected to the same to ensure conformity with existing laws:
- allowance and benefits of teachers and the creation of teaching positions,
- construction of evacuation centers,
- funding for foreign-assisted projects,
- revolving fund,
- lump-sum appropriations for capital outlays,
- financial assistance to local government units
- funding requirements of the country’s foreign service
These were apart from the P95.3 billion worth of items which the Senate called “illegal alignments” that were vetoed by the President.
Panelo said Duterte “vetoed items of appropriation that are either considered by law and jurisprudence as rider provisions not being related to a particular appropriation or they seek to amend the Constitution and certain statutes,” being “true to his commitment and constitutional duty to be fealty to the constitutional directives.”
Senator Panfilo Lacson has lauded Duterte and his economic managers for coming up with a “pork-free” national budget.
The government had been operating on a reenacted budget in the absence of a national budget for 2019.
The transmittal to the Office of the President was delayed after the Senate and the House of Representatives wrangled over certain provisions which the Upper House described as illegal alignments.