Signing of 2022 national budget postponed —Sotto

The ceremonial signing of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) containing the P5-trillion budget for 2022 has been postponed, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday.

“[Postponed] daw ang signing,” Sotto told reporters in a Viber message.

Malacañang, however, did not give any reason behind the rescheduling of the signing of the 2022 budget.

“None. [They] will inform daw of new date,” Sotto said, when asked to give details behind the postponement of the ceremony.

GMA News Online has asked acting spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles to confirm the information, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

Last Wednesday, Sotto said President Rodrigo Duterte was set to sign the proposed P5-trillion budget measure on December 28.

On Thursday, Sotto said the 2022 GAB was already sent by Congress to Malacañang.

Apart from the bill for the 2022 national budget, Sotto said the signing of other measures, including the bill creating the Department of Migrant Workers, was also rescheduled.

“[Postponed] lahat. That, I know,” he said.

Department of Budget and Management officer-in-charge Tina Rose Canda earlier said that they are expecting Duterte to sign the budget measure this week.

“We expect the 2022 budget measure will be signed before the year ends so it’s between after Christmas until the 29th. These are the days that are open,” she said at a Palace press briefing last Wednesday.

Before the year ends, the president should sign the proposed 2022 national budget. Otherwise, the government will operate under a reenacted budget or the national budget crafted and approved for the fiscal year 2021. — BM, GMA News