Malacañang confirmed through a press briefing that President Rodrigo Duterte has vetoed some provisions of the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte vetoed ‘unconstitutional items’ before he signed the PHP4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.
“Bilang bahagi ng kaniyang Constitutional mandate na lahat ng batas ay tapat na maipatupad, pinag-aralan ng punong ehekutibo ang mga probisyon ng ating pambansang budget at sinubject sa direct veto ang mga probisyon kontra sa mga nakasaad sa ating Saligang Batas,” Roque said.
Specifically, the provision allowing agencies to directly use their income was vetoed by the president.
He added that it is a general rule that all income of agencies shall accrue to the General Fund of the National Government, unless otherwise authorized by a separate substantive law.
“Ibig sabihin lang po nito, dapat lahat ng kinita ng mga ahensiya ay pumasok sa National Treasury at kinakailangan ang paggastos dito ay sang-ayon sa national budget.”
The spokesman also reported how Duterte urged the Congress to promote transparent management and expenditure of public funds based on sound fiscal policies.
Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11518 to further amplify the administration’s efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 crisis in the country, thereby calling the 2021 spending plan as “recovery budget.”
One of the most important allocations in the 2021 national budget is the PHP72.5 billion for the purchase of storage, transportation, and distribution of coronavirus vaccines.
