MANILA, Philippines — Incoming leaders of the House of Representatives vowed yesterday to have the proposed P1.4-trillion national budget for 2020 approved in October. Enactment of the 2019 budget was delayed by wrangling over pork barrel insertions initially between then budget secretary Benjamin Diokno and House members, and later between congressmen and senators. He signed it, but not after deleting more than P95 billion worth of last-minute pork barrel fund realignments made by House leaders. The Senate recommended the deletion, which was supported by the Department of Budget and Management under acting Secretary Janet Abuel. The administration’s economic managers blamed the lower-than-expected economic growth in the first quarter to the budget delay.

Source: Philippine Star July 19, 2019 16:00 UTC