House budget briefings indefinitely suspended

The House of Representatives' budget briefings have been suspended with committee on appropriations officials noting that all briefings won't resume until further notice.

Super Radyo dzBB reported that the House Committee on Appropriations chairman confirmed the budget briefings' suspension.

Kinumpirma ni HoR Committee on Appropriations Chairman @karlo_nograles na suspendido na muna ang budget deliberations sa Kamara. @dzbb

— Rowena L. Salvacion (@wengsalvacion) August 11, 2018

Asked why the briefings have been suspended, Rep. Karlo Nograles, appropriations committee chairman said in a message to media, "It's the decision of the House."

Pressed further if the move was due to the issue on cash-based budget system, he said, "To be consistent with the position of the House to oppose cash-based budgeting. And since we will revert to obligation-based budgeting we will give time to the DBCC [Development Budget Coordination Committee] to make the necessary changes.

But Nograles did not comment on whether the meeting with DBCC set for Monday would push through.

Lawmakers across party lines finding ways to restore the cuts in the proposed budget for various government agencies for 2019, primarily brought about by the "cash-based" nature of next year's proposed P3.757-trillion general appropriations.

On Sunday, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that they are studying all options.

"Pinag-aaralan namin lahat ng options. Including reenacted budget ng 2018," he said.

Nograles last Thursday said that a resolution is being circulated at the chamber to recall their approved budget reform bill that has already been transmitted to the Senate. —with a report by Victoria Tulad/LBG/BM, GMA News