Rizal Hall, Malacañan Palace
December 19, 2017
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte formally signed the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) in a ceremony at the Rizal Hall of Malacañan Palace.
In his message after the ceremonial signing, President Duterte said that these measures are a fulfillment of his campaign promise, noting that the 2018 GAA amounting to PhP 3.767 trillion is a “credible budget” while the TRAIN is the administration’s “biggest Christmas gift to all Filipinos” as majority of the income tax payers would benefit from it.
He lauded the Senate and House of Representatives for the timely submission of the national budget draft for scrutiny and its eventual signing before the year ends.
The President discussed that the GAA implementation would primarily support the country’s infrastructure development through the BuildBuildBuild program, state and public education, agriculture, and doubling the basic pay of soldiers and policemen. Likewise, the TRAIN would fund quality healthcare for Filipinos who need it the most.
He called on the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Finance (DOF) to implement both the 2018 national budget and the tax reform law efficiently throughout the country for an inclusive economic growth.
President Duterte was joined in the ceremonial signing by his Cabinet Secretaries led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez III; members of the Senate including Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel, Senator Loren Legarda (Chairperson, Committee on Finance), and Senator Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara (Chairperson, Committee on Ways and Means); members of the House of Representatives such as House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, and Representative Dakila Carlo Cua (Chairperson, Committee on Ways and Means); officials and staff of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO); and other invited guests.
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