MANILA – Senate President Vicente Sotto III has already signed the ratified P4.1 trillion proposed General Appropriations Bill (GAB) despite issues of “pork” allegedly included in it.
“Yes I did sign the GAB on Friday night. The President, Secretary Avisado, Sen. Lacson, and I already understand each other’s’ concern,” Sotto said in a message to the media over the weekend, adding that he’s making the ratified version of the 2020 national budget ready for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.
“Transparent ang budget pero kung may concerns kami, alam na ng executive department. Kung whatever action the executive department does, sila na ‘yun,” he added.
Lacson, for his part, said that he has already submitted the “list of questionable budget items” to Sotto, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Avisado.
“I leave the fate of the national budget to their appreciation as it is purely presidential prerogative,” Lacson said.
Sotto, however, clarified that it will be impossible for President Duterte to immediately sign the budget due to a long printing period.
“The latest will be Jan. 6. ‘Yun ang suspetsa namin na pinakamabilis na matapos ang printing kasi may mga holidays. May weekend,” Sotto said./PN
