MANILA, Dec 2 — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is coordinating with Congress for the smooth passage of the P23.3-billion supplemental budget, a Palace official said on Monday.
“Ginagawa ng administrasyon sa pamamagitan ng DBM, ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga mambabatas at sa mga lider ng Kongreso para magkaroon ng pagkakaunawaan kung ano ang pinakamainam na landas na tatahakin hinggil dito sa pagkakaroon ng supplemental budget,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang.
Secretary Coloma said the DBM is coordinating with the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations and the Senate’s Committee on Finance regarding the passage of the additional budget for 2014.
“Pangkaraniwang proseso ‘yan kapag mayroong mga panukalang batas na patungkol sa pananalapi o budget. Kinukuha ng Kongreso ‘yung datos at impormasyon mula sa DBM at ito ang ginagamit nila sa pagpapasya,” he explained.
On the P2.6-trillion national budget for 2015, he said both houses of Congress have approved it.
“Hinihintay na lang ang pagdaraos ng bicameral conference committee meeting, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, bukas (Tuesday, December 2) ito nakatakda,” he added.
The DBM has proposed a 2014 Supplemental Appropriations to cover projects that were funded by the defunct Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) that were already completed but have not been paid for.
The supplemental budget will also finance rehabilitation efforts in areas destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda, as well as preparations for the country’s hosting of the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. (PCOO/PND)
