2020 Budget Will be Passed on Time: Angara

Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, on Wednesday gave his assurance that the 2020 national budget will be passed on time.

In a statement, Angara said his goal is to send the proposed 2020 budget to President Rodrigo Duterte for signing before the end of the year.

Next year’s expenditure program is expected to be submitted to Congress in August.

Angara noted that the delay in the passage of the 2019 national budget led to several delays in the implementation of various key government projects.

“We owe it to the people to pass the budget on time. Any delay in the implementation of public programs and the delivery of services is a disservice to them,” Angara said.

The panel chair assured that the budget hearings would be transparent “because the people have the right to know where their taxes go.”

He said the panel would also work closely with the executive branch to determine the administration’s priorities and find ways to fund them. (PNA)