Malacañang highlighted that the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2019 is “the reflection of the Administration’s vision of genuine change for the Philippines, where effective and efficient delivery of programs, projects and public services for our people will be its hallmark.”
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said, to prove his commitment and constitutional duty “to be fealty to the constitutional directives,” the president vetoed items of appropriation that are either considered by law and jurisprudence as rider provisions not being related to a particular appropriation or they seek to amend the Constitution and certain statutes.
According to Panelo, the Chief Executive also vetoed items of appropriations under the Department of Public Works and Highways for falling outside the government’s programmed priorities which are in the total amount of P95,374,241,000.
Panelo added that the president likewise subjected certain provisions to conditional implementation in order to ensure conformity with existing laws, rules and regulations. These provisions include allowance and benefits of teachers and creation of teaching positions, construction of evacuation centers, funding for foreign-assisted projects, revolving fund, and lump-sum appropriations for capital outlays, as well as financial assistance to local government units and funding requirements of our foreign service, among others.
