Nograles: House budget briefings suspended “until further notice”

(Eagle News)–The House of Representatives’ budget briefings have been suspended “until further notice.”

House committee on appropriations chairman Karlo Nograles made the announcement in a Viber group with reporters.

Asked about the reason behind the suspension, Nograles said “It’s the decision of the House.”

Pressed if the move was because of issues surrounding the cash-based budget system, he said it was “to be consistent with the position of the House to oppose cash-based budgeting.”

“And since we will revert to obligation-based budgeting we will give time to the DBCC (Development Budget Coordination Committee) to make the necessary changes,” he said.

Nograles, however, said there was no word on whether the  meeting with the DBCC would push through on Monday.

Under the Department of Budget and Management’s proposed cash-based 2019 P3.757-trillion national budget, all payouts are valid within the fiscal year and three months the following year or only until March 2020.