By Ben Rosario
Former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has assured Malacanang that there will be no slashing of the proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
(Jansen Romero / MANILA BULLETIN)
However, Majority Leader and Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said that the Lower House will continue to improve the proposed General Appropriations Act (GAA) especially in response to the call of the majority of congressmen.
“As of this point in time, the President’s budget in terms of aggregate amount is intact, and the Speaker has no intentions to reduce that amount of budget as presented,” stressed Andaya during a press conference.
The senior administration congressman denied speculations that the Lower House will reduce the budgetary proposal of Congress.
Andaya admitted that a number of congressmen have called the House leadership’s attention over alleged budgetary allocations that they were not aware of.
Certain congressmen have revealed that at least P50 billion has been inserted in the congressional district of favored lawmakers.
Andaya neither confirmed nor denied the allegations but admitted that they are now in the process of looking into the complaints aired by their colleagues.