Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 7) — The Senate passed on second reading a bill seeking to allow government agencies to utilize this year’s national budget until Dec. 31, 2022.
Senators on Tuesday voted in favor of House Bill No. 10373, which was approved on final reading by the House of Representatives last week.
The measure amended by the Senate states appropriations authorized in the General Appropriations Act of fiscal year 2021 shall be available for release and obligation until end-2022, except for personnel services which shall only be available for release, obligation and disbursement this year.
All unreleased appropriations or unobligated allotments shall lapse after the end of the validity period. Meanwhile, unexpended or undisbursed funds shall revert to unappropriated surplus of the General Fund.
During the plenary session, Finance Committee chairman Senator Sonny Angara said government agencies have found it difficult to fully utilize the budget after the shift to the cash-based budgeting before the pandemic, and found even more “obstacles” due to the health crisis.
