DBM: Lump sum budget requests no longer allowed

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will no longer entertain lump sum budget requests from government agencies, a Cabinet official said Friday. "The Aquino [administration] wants to move towards budgeting that enables the people to inspect each and every detail of how the government intends to spend their money. For this reason, we will gradually move away from the often-shadowy practice of lump sum budgeting," Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said. Abad said his department has already started this early the process of preparing the national budget for next year. "This should give ample time to all departments and agencies to flesh out their proposed budgets into programs and projects to be funded, location of projects, and amounts allocated. This promotes transparency and allows agencies to measure outcomes of their spending," Abad said. The DBM — agency that oversees the spending of the government — has already issued 2012 National Budget Call or guide list for government agencies in preparing their budget requests. The DBM will issue its second budget call next month to set the indicative budget ceilings and macroeconomic assumptions. Also, the department has conducted a National Budget Fora to brief different government agencies and corporations on the budget process. -- JE/OMG, GMANews.TV