The House of Representatives never made a move to reduce the 2019 budget for infrastructure projects as appropriated in the National Expenditure Program.
In fact, the House introduced amendments increasing the budget for infrastructure projects without breaching the total amount pegged by the National Expenditure Program. This would allow the Executive Department to spur economic growth through increased public expenditure.
We made sure, however, that such amendments will pass the test not only of constitutionality and legality, but also of transparency and accountability.It is the Senate that may find itself liable to accusations of sabotage when it decided, unilaterally, to cut down the allocation for the President’s Build, Build, Build program and other priority projects.
We are confident that the Office of the President would consider these items in their review and find ways on how to restore them in the President’s veto message.