Only hours before the year 2010 starts, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is yet to sign the proposed national budget for next year.
There is no indication yet when she will sign it. Mrs Arroyo and her family are in Baguio City, where they will greet the new year.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel expressed fear that this failure to sign the budget bill would let the national government reenact the 2009 budget and divert funds. “Likelihood is 2009 budget would be reenacted for at least a few months. The downside is GMA (Mrs. Arroyo) will use the reenacted budget to spread swine flu by keeping pigs at the trough," the senator said apparently referring to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), more popularly known as pork barrel, allocated for lawmakers. But Senator Edgardo Angara, finance committee chairman, allayed this fear. Asked by GMANews.TV if there is danger in Mrs. Arroyo’s failure to sign the budget bill, the senator said “none at all." He did not elaborate. Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Pangilinan also did not share the fear of Pimentel, saying the proposed budget bill will lapse into law 30 days after Malacanang receives it. “In the meantime, last year’s budget will be automatically reenacted for the duration of the time no action from Malacanang takes place," Pangilinan said in a text message. The Congress ratified the P1.541 trillion national budget on December 20. [See: Congress ratifies 2010 budget] Press Secretary Cerge Remonde earlier said that Mrs Arroyo will “act accordingly" on the budget. [See: Palace: Arroyo to 'act accordingly' on signing ratified 2010 budget] - Report from Amita O. Legaspi/JV, GMANews.TV
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