Joint Resolution Extending the Availability of the 2018 Appropriations for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses and Capital Outlays to December 31, 2019, Amending for the Purpose Section 61 of the General Provisions of R.A. No. 10964, the General Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2018

December 26, 2018

JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3

JOINT RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE AVAILABILITY OF THE 2018 APPROPRIATIONS FOR MAINTENANCE AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES AND CAPITAL OUTLAYS TO DECEMBER 31, 2019, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 61 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10964, THE GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF FISCAL YEAR 2018

WHEREAS, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal years 2014 to 2017 consistently provide that the appropriations for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and Capital Outlays (CO) were available for release and obligation for a period extending to one (1) fiscal year after the fiscal year in which said items were appropriated;

WHEREAS, in Republic Act No. 10964, the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of FY 2018, the validity of MOOE and CO has been limited to one (1) year as provided by Section 61 of the General Provisions of the said GAA, which reads:

"Sec. 61. Availability of Appropriations. — All appropriations authorized in this Act shall be available for release and obligation for the purpose specified, and under the same special provisions applicable thereto, until December 31, 2018.

"A report on these releases and obligations shall be submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate of the Philippines, the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance, either in printed form or by way of electronic documents."

WHEREAS, the country has been affected by several devastating calamities such as typhoons Yutu (Rosita) and Mangkhut (Ompong), flash floods and flooding incidents as effect of the southwest monsoon that severely hit Regions I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, CAR, NCR, X, XII, and ARMM. The onslaught of the said calamities destroyed vital infrastructure and affected the delivery of basic services to the affected communities;

WHEREAS, there are appropriations that have not been released and allotment issued that have not been obligated which shall automatically result in the reversion of the said unexpended appropriations to the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund of the much-needed MOOE and CO to fund priority projects, aid and relief activities as well as for the maintenance, construction/repair and rehabilitation of schools, hospitals, roads, bridges and other essential facilities of the national government;

WHEREAS, previous Joint Resolutions extending the validity of MOOE and CO have been passed by Congress, such as:

Joint Resolution No. 1, passed in 2002, titled: Joint Resolution extending the availability of 2002 appropriations for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses to December 31, 2003, amending for the purpose Section 61 of General Provisions of Republic Act No. 9162, the General Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2002; and

Joint Resolution No. 1, passed in 2013, titled: Joint Resolution extending the validity of appropriations under the Calamity Fund and Quick Response Fund, including those sourced from savings realigned in the current year, as well as all unobligated allotment and unreleased appropriations for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses and Capital Outlays under Republic Act No. 10352 or the FY 2013 General Appropriations Act until December 31, 2014, amending for the purpose Section 63 of the General Provisions therein.

WHEREAS, it is clearly imperative that Section 61 of the General Provisions of Republic Act No. 10964 should be amended such that the validity of the MOOE and CO appropriations shall be extended for another fiscal year for the benefit of the people and for the welfare of the nation: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate of the Philippines voting separately, To extend the validity and period of availability of the Fiscal Year 2018 appropriations for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses and Capital Outlays to December 31, 2019, amending for the purpose Section 61 of the General Provisions of Republic Act No. 10964, otherwise known as the General Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2018.

Approved: December 26, 2018.