Acting Presidential Spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (File photo)
MANILA – With the scheduled signing of the proposed 2022 national budget into law on Thursday, Malacañang assured that the national government will “fast track” all programs and projects meant to improve the lives of Filipinos in the last six months of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.
“Tomorrow, naka-schedule po ang pagpirma ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte ng 2022 general appropriations law (President Duterte is scheduled to sign the 2022 general appropriations law),” acting Presidential Spokesperson, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, said in a Palace press briefing on Wednesday.
The signing of the second pandemic-era budget will guarantee that the government will not operate on a reenacted budget.
“Maasahan natin (We can expect that) in the remaining six months of the term of President Duterte, we will implement and fast-track lahat ng mga programa, proyekto, and activities na nakapaloob sa (all programs, projects, and activities stipulated in the) 2022 national budget,” he added.
Nograles said these programs and projects need to be carried out before the forthcoming 45-day ban on new projects ahead of the May 2022 national elections.
“Kailangan natin gawin ito dahil may (We need to do this because there is an) election ban so we have to already implement bago mag election ban para maramdaman agad ng ating mga kababayan (implement these before elections so that our fellowmen could benefit from them),” he said.
Meanwhile, he also welcomed the results of a survey that showed that the majority of Filipinos will welcome 2022 "with hope rather than with fear."
Based on the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, 93 percent of respondents said they would welcome the New Year with hope while only 7 percent of the respondents would enter 2022 with apprehensions.
Despite the prevailing pandemic, Nograles reminded the public to do their part in ensuring a better year ahead.
“Nandito ang gobyerno para gawin ang lahat ng makakaya pero kailangan din namin ang tulong ninyo. Sa pagtutulungan natin we can overcome yung challenges natin dito sa Covid. Patuloy natin gawin ang nararapat (The government is here to do its best but we also need your help. With everyone’s help, we can overcome the challenges related to the coronavirus disease 2019),” he said.
On Monday, acting Budget Secretary Tina Rose Canda said Duterte is expected to sign the proposed PHP5.024 trillion national budget by December 28, with some provisions up for veto.
Nograles later confirmed that the signing of next year's budget was postponed because the Office of the President is still in the process of vetting and reviewing it. (PNA)
