Palace: Budget bill signed into law before year ends

MANILA, Philippines —  Malacañang on Saturday vowed that the 2016 budget will be signed by President Benigno Aquino III at the soonest possible time after the Senate approved it on Thursday.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the P3-billion 2016 budget will have Aquino's signature before the new year enters.

"Katulad ng naganap para sa budget ng 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 at 2015, umaasa tayo na maihahanda ito para lagdaan na ni Pangulong Aquino sa loob ng papasok na buwang Disyembre; at para naman maging epektibo sa unang araw ng budget period na tinutukoy at iyon ay ang calendar year 2016," Coloma said in an interview with state-owned Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma said budget bill will be transferred to the bicameral conference committee for deliberation, after which Aquino will affix his stamp. The new General Appropriations Act of 2016 is expected to be in effect as early as January 1.

“Sa lahat po ng nakaraang pagkakataon, tuwing January 1 ng natukoy na taon ay effective na kaagad ang ating national budget at ito ay magandang senyales na hinggil po sa kalidad ng pamamahala ng ating administrasyon at pagtupad din po ito sa pangako na open, transparent at accountable ang ating pamahalaan," he added.

Prior to its approval, the version of the House of Representatives of the proposed 2016 national budget was approved on October 9, after it was submitted by Malacañang in July.

The biggest share in the P3-trillion proposed budget will be allotted to the Department of Education with K-12 Basic Education Reform Program as priority. The agency also allots P82.3 billion for the construction of 47,553 classrooms and technical-vocational laboratories as it also prioritizes Basic Education Facilities program.

The Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of National Defense and Department of Health will also receive a sizeable share from the proposed 2016 national budget.