MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino administration has given the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the go-signal to start preparing the 2013 proposed budget.
The 2013 National Budget Call started last year, followed by a national budget fora within the DBM.
“The beginning of the budget preparation process is signaled by the budget forum, through which government agencies and departments – as well as government-owned and -controlled corporations – are properly informed of our guidelines and requirements for budget preparation,” Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said.
Abad said the early budget preparation would also flesh out remaining lump-sum funds from agency budgets.
Furthermore, Abad said all preparations for the budget would be in accordance by the so-called budget calendar.
According to the calendar set by the DBM, agencies and departments should turn in their budget proposals by April 9.
The presentation of the budget to the President and the Cabinet will be set for June 21.
“The calendar also schedules the submission of all FY 2013 budget documents to the President on July 20, ultimately leading to the submission of the 2013 National Expenditure Program to Congress on July 23, a day after the President delivers his State of the Nation Address,” Abad said.
He said the early passage of the budget is critical in ensuring that critical government services benefit the public
Furthermore, Abad said the early passage of the budget is consistent with the move of the government to pass the 2012 budget early.
“As the President broke ground with the earliest budget signing since our restored democracy, so do we follow suit with the early preparation of the proposed budget for 2013. We are establishing this as the Aquino administration’s new tradition of early budget preparation, so that subsequent national budgets will be enacted and implemented quickly,” Abad said.