Press Release
August 12, 2009

Submit budget proposal early to avoid Reenacted budget - Zubiri

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday asked Malacanang to submit to the Senate the proposed 2010 national budget earlier than the August 27 target.

"August 27 for us in the Senate is too delayed in terms of being able to call the necessary meetings with different departments because we still have to conduct sub-committee hearings," Zubiri pointed out.

"If they can submit the proposed budget earlier than August 27, then they can probably also dispel the political opposition's earlier claim that the executive department is gearing for a reenacted budget next year," he added.

The Majority Leader said that while he is firm in his belief that government will not do a hocus-pocus in the approval of the budget measure because of criticisms it will generate from the public and the opposition sector, he conceded that Malacanang will have full discretion over the expenditure of the national budget once it is reenacted, which critics of the government wants to avoid.

"A reenacted budget at this point in time is not good for the government especially when disapproval rating is high," he said.

He added as a legislator allied with the administration he already discussed his concerns with Budget Sec. Rolando Andaya, who said that the earliest that Malacanang can submit the budget measure to the Senate is on the 27th of this month.

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