Press Release
September 4, 2012

Drilon vows 2013 budget approval by yearend

Senator Franklin M. Drilon today said the Senate remains on-track in deliberating on the proposed P2.006-trillion 2013 national budget and is committed to approve the country's outlay before yearend.

Drilon, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee that reviews the country's proposed expenditures, said hearings on the individual budgets of departments are expected to continue until October 17.

"We will not allow any delay in the approval of the budget which was the practice in the past. Now that we have realized - and we are now gaining - the fruits of the budget that is enacted on time such as the case this year and in 2011, we are committed to continue this practice in order to provide our people with quality service they deserve," said Drilon.

"A delayed budget approval translates to a delayed service for the people, especially for the poor and marginalized sector in the society," he added.

Drilon said he expects the House of Representatives to submit their version of the 2013 budget to the Senate by third week of October. His committee, likewise, will submit the 2013 budget for the Senate floor deliberations by second week of November.

"Even if we experienced cancellations of budget hearings because of the recent typhoons and holidays and even if the Congress will go on two session breaks from October 1 to 5 to give way to lawmakers to file their certificate of candidacies and from October 19 to November 4 for the Halloween break, I can still assure the timely enactment of the budget," he said.

"We plan to submit the budget to the President by second week of December," added Drilon.

So far, Drilon said, the committee was able to discuss the proposed budgets of the Office of the President, P2.73 billion; Office of the Vice President, Presidential Management Staff, P330.63 million; Department of Foreign Affairs, P11.64 billion; Commission on Elections, P8.42 billion; Department of Labor and Employment, P2.78 billion; the Judiciary, P17.77 billion; Department of Justice, P10.84 billion; Department of Social Welfare and Development, P55.98 billion; and Department of Trade and Industry, P4.09 billion.

In addition, Drilon's Committee was already done hearing the budget of the Dangerous Drugs Board, P181.94 million; Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, P800.04 million; National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, P491.32 million; National Security Council, P113.43 million; Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, P35.47 million; Presidential Communications Operations Office, P1.31 billion; and Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, P68.72 million.

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