DBM to hasten budget process for 2012

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) hopes to speed up the budget process for 2012 to ensure that the General Appropriations bill would be passed early on.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the DBM would release in January the first budget call for the 2012 national budget.

This, he said, would ensure the submission of the proposed 2012 spending bill a day after President Aquino delivers his State of the Nation Address in July 25 next year.

President Aquino has approved a new budget preparation schedule starts with the issuance of the first budget call and the Budget Call Forum with all government agencies and corporations on Jan. 6 and 7.

“The 2011 Reform Budget, the first financial blueprint of the Aquino Administration, was enacted on time, the first time it has happened in 11 years. We are committed to making sure that subsequent budgets under this government will be passed on time,” Abad said.

In the past, the Budget Call is issued in April or May of the year prior to the fiscal year of the budget. The Constitution mandates that the Executive submits the proposed budget to Congress within 30 days after session opens, which falls in August.

Starting next year, the government through six pilot departments would be consulting with civil society organizations as part of the budget process, Abad also said.

“This new consultative budget preparation process is in line with the Aquino government’s commitment to ensure good governance through citizen’s participation,” he said. He noted that six departments will be piloting the consultative process, namely: Education, Health, Social Welfare and Development, Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Public Works.

For the first time in 11 years, the budget has been signed into law ahead of the fiscal year for which it is intended.

Mr. Aquino signed into law the P1.645 trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2011.