How national budget prepared in the Philippines?

~ The procedure in the preparation of the national budget is regulated by law. On or before October 20 of each year, each department secretary submits to Department of Budget the estimated income and expenditures of the bureaus and offices under his department for the next fiscal year.

Upon receipt of all budget estimates of income and expenditures, the Department of Budget and Management prepares the national budget. Prior to this, however, the Budget secretary can investigate, revise, examine, assemble, coordinate, and reduce or increase the budget estimates of the different departments, bureaus and offices of the government.

After preparing the budget, the Budget secretary submits it to the President, who in turn submits it to Congress within 30 days before the opening of the regular session. The 1987 Constitution specifically provides that the President "shall submit to the Congress within thirty days from the opening of every regular session, as the basis of the general appropriations bill, budget of expenditures and sources of financing, including receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures" ( Sec. 22, Art. VI).

Congress uses the budget submitted by the president as the basis for the annual appropriation. According to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Congress "may not increase the appropriation recommended by the President for the operation of the Government as specified in the budget" (Sec. 25(1), Art. VI).