Palace to Lacson: No lump sum appropriations in proposed 2021 national budget

Malacañang on Thursday denied the existence of lump sum appropriations in the proposed P4.506-trillion national budget for 2021 that is being scrutinized by Congress.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the Executive department prepared a budget that follows the Supreme Court ruling on the use of public funds.

“Naniniwala po kami, walang lump sum appropriation diyan, lahat po iyan mayroong proyekto na naka-specify,” he said at a Palace briefing.

Roque was reacting to the allegation of Senator Panfilo Lacson who flagged P469 billion worth of reappropriated and lump sum projects under the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for next year.

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said on Wednesday that the projects were included in the spending plan because their completion had been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic this year.

But Lacson said such lump sum items should not be approved by Congress, citing constitutional issues.

“Hahayaan po namin iyan sa Kongreso, desisyon po iyan ng Kongreso,” Roque said.

The DPWH has the second highest appropriation for next year at P667.3 billion. (Virgil Lopez) -MDM, GMA News