House panel okays 2021 budget validity extension
THE House Committee on Appropriations approved a measure that extends the validity of the 2021 national budget.
Members of the committee agreed that 2021 national budget should be available until December 31, 2022, amending for the purpose Section 62 of the general provisions of Republic Act 11518.
House Bill 10373, principally authored by panel chair and ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Go Yap, is needed to allow the agencies to fully utilized the allocated budget for 2021.
Under the bill, the appropriations for infrastructure, capital outlays, including subsidy releases to government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) for infrastructure projects, shall be valid for obligation until December 31, 2022 while the payment shall be made not later than December 31, 2022.
The bill also provides that appropriations for maintenance and other operating expenses and other capital outlays shall likewise be valid for obligation until December 31, 2022.
The bill mandates the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to issue the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of the cash budgeting systems.
The solon said the pandemic brought by COVID-19 has caused disruptions in the operations of the national government, which brought delays in the release of budget allotments.
“Nearing the end of the year, there are still programs, projects and activities funded by the 2021 GAA that are very much needed by the Filipino people, especially those in the most vulnerable sector,” Yap said.
Likewise, Yap said, this will provide the release of the assistance to Local Government Units (LGUs).
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is authorized to issue the necessary guidelines for the effective implementation of the cash budgeting system.
Reports on these disbursements will be submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate President, as well as to the chairpersons of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance.
