Administrative Code of 1987/Book VI/Chapter 2

by Corazon Aquino

Layout 2

Chapter 2—Budget Policy and Approach

Sec. 3. Declaration of Policy.—It is hereby declared the policy of the State to formulate and implement a National Budget that is an instrument of national development, reflective of national objectives, strategies and plans. The budget shall be supportive of and consistent with the socio-economic development plan and shall be oriented towards the achievement of explicit objectives and expected results, to ensure that funds are utilized and operations are conducted effectively, economically and efficiently. The national budget shall be formulated within the context of a regionalized government structure and of the totality of revenues and other receipts, expenditures and borrowings of all levels of government and of government-owned or controlled corporations. The budget shall likewise be prepared within the context of the national long-term plan and of a long-term budget program.

Sec. 4. Planning and Budgeting Linkage.—The budget shall be formulated as an instrument for the attainment of national development goals and as part of the planning-programming-budgeting continuum. Levels of revenue, expenditure and debt shall be established in relation to macro-economic targets of growth, employment levels, and price level change, and shall be developed consistent with domestic and foreign debt, domestic credit and balance of payments objectives for the budget period. The aggregate magnitudes of the budget shall be determined in close consultation among the planning and fiscal agencies of government. Budgetary priorities shall be those specified in the approved national plans, keeping in mind the capability and performance of the implementing agencies concerned. Agency budget proposals shall explicitly state linkage to approved agency plans.

Sec. 5. National Resource Budget.—The finances of government shall be analyzed and determined as the aggregate of revenue, expenditure and debt of all units of government, including the national government and its agencies and instrumentalities, local government units and government-owned or controlled corporations. The national government budget shall be evolved within the framework of the total impact of government activity on the national economy. The budgets of government corporations and local governments shall be consistent in form and timing with that of the national government, to facilitate comprehensive evaluation.

Sec. 6. Regional Budgeting.—The budgets of national government agencies shall take into full and explicit consideration the goals, plans and requirements of their respective regional offices, in the interest of full government response to local thinking and initiative. The budget preparation process shall originate at regional and local levels, and shall be consolidated and reviewed by the central offices of the various national agencies. The regional development strategies and plans, including physical framework and resource-use plans, shall be considered in the preparation of the budget.

Sec. 7. Long Term Budgeting.—The annual budgets of the national government shall be prepared as an integral part of a long-term budget picture. The long-term economic and physical framework plans of government, multi-year requirements of approved programs and projects, organizational and personnel development strategies, and other commitments entered into or otherwise assumed by government shall be specified in the budget process.

Sec. 8. Development Projects.—The development process requires the implementation of major development projects of such size as to significantly affect the infrastructure program, debt ceilings, the balance of payments, domestic credit, and government expenditure levels. The budget process shall formally consider the timing of major national projects, in order to ensure the observance of established fiscal, monetary, international payments, and other constraints.

Sec. 9. Performance and Financial Review.—The analysis of agency operating performance, the evaluation of performance relative to costs incurred and the review of agency operating systems and procedures are inherent parts of the budget process. Agencies shall therefore design and implement (1) management information systems yielding both performance and financial information which will adequately monitor and control budget implementation, and (2) improvements in operating systems, procedures and practices, so as to ensure that the targets approved in budget authorization are in fact attained at minimum cost.

Sec. 10. Compensation and Position Classification.—The size of personnel services expenditures relative to the total budget and the number of agencies and personnel in government call for an effective national compensation and position classification policy. The Constitutional principle of a single compensation scheme for the government and its instrumentalities is one of the bases of the government budget process.