MALACAÑANG – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, March 11, assured the public that he would not sign the 2019 national budget if there are provisions that violate Constitutional requirements.

“I will not sign anything that would be an illegal document,” President Duterte said in a speech during the awarding ceremony for the Outstanding Women in Law Enforcement and National Security of the Philippines.

The Chief Executive issued such remark as the two chambers of Congress continue to disagree on the P3.757 trillion 2019 proposed national budget and the alleged changes made by the House of Representatives after the bicameral committee endorsed its version.

President Duterte added that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country, which measures the nation’s economic growth, would be affected and economic slowdown might occur should the government continue to operate on a reenacted budget.

“Magkaroon tayo ng slide sa GDP niyan if we are going to reenact the budget and everybody will suffer including law enforcement. It will decrease our GDP,” he said.

Meanwhile, in his remarks, President Duterte reiterated his call to the government employees to remain committed to protecting the Filipinos and the nation.

“I count on you, my fellow workers in government, to help keep our communities and country safe and secure,” he said.

“I call on my fellow workers in government and our kababayans as well to emulate the awardees in their untiring dedication to help uplift the lives of all Filipinos and bring about a better and more developed Philippines,” President Duterte added.

According to the President, it is only by ensuring peace and order that the Filipinos can attain a truly progressive and prosperous country.

Before attending the awarding ceremony, President Duterte administered the donning of ranks to 32 newly promoted Presidential Security Group and 250th Presidential Airlift Wing personnel. ###PND