Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 2700)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 2700 is to appropriate funds for the operation of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines for the fiscal year from July 1, 1960 to June 30, 1961, including specific provisions and limitations related to the use of these funds.
No, the adoption of the budgetary system based on functions, activities, and projects shall not result in the laying off of personnel in the classified Civil Service except for cause as provided by law, nor in the reduction of salaries, demotion in rank, or change of status.
The President, with approval, can authorize the use of savings in 'personal services', 'maintenance and other operating expenses', and 'equipment' appropriations within an Executive Department to cover deficits in other items of the same Department, except for 'personal services'. However, no item may be augmented by more than 30% of the original appropriation.
The Auditor General and Commissioner of the Budget must submit separate quarterly reports to Congress specifying any transfer of appropriation made to cover deficits, including details of items and amounts. Heads of bureaus or offices also must submit quarterly reports of their accomplishments to each member of Congress.
The President can use savings for obligations such as claims for officers injured on duty, commutation of leave credits of certain employees, purchase or replacement of equipment lost or damaged by calamity, payment of salaries of exonerated suspended employees, payment of national government share of salaries in new cities/provinces, government contributions to insurance premiums, and several other enumerated purposes detailed in Section 5.
No appropriations may be used for renting automobiles, jitneys, or trucks on a monthly basis or for more than fifteen consecutive days, except when otherwise specifically provided. Also, no appropriations may be used for the purchase of motor vehicles unless specifically authorized.
Certain high-ranking officials such as the President, Vice-President, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, Chief Justice, Ambassadors, and top military commanders, among others enumerated in Section 12, are entitled to use government motor vehicles chargeable against appropriations.
Government motor vehicles must be used strictly for official business, authorized by a serially numbered ticket signed by the bureau or office chief, bear government plates only, and be kept in the office garage after office hours unless used for official business outside such hours.
No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall be used to pay any government officer or employee who engages in a strike against the government or belongs to an organization that asserts the right to strike against the government or advocates the overthrow of the government by force or violence. Payment suspension is conditioned on proper administrative proceedings.
The maximum number of permanent positions in a bureau or office shall not exceed the number included in the schedules for that bureau or office in the budget document, except as otherwise provided by law.
Yes, the President may suspend or stop expenditures of any amount appropriated in the Act for Executive Departments, except for salaries of incumbents. Suspended funds may be used for other authorized expenditures but no item may be augmented by more than 30% of the original appropriation. Relevant reports of such actions must be submitted to Congress within thirty days.
Heads of Departments, certain Cabinet members, the Auditor General, and other specified officials are granted representation allowances of up to ₱250 or ₱200 per month, commutable monthly, paid out of savings in the appropriations provided for their respective departments or offices.
All purchases of equipment, supplies and materials must preferably be locally manufactured unless such items are unavailable locally or if local prices exceed those determined by the Flag Law by more than ten percent.
Motor vehicles unneeded by government entities shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder with a preference given to the former user if they match the highest bid.
No per diems in excess of fifty pesos shall be paid to any official or employee traveling outside of the Philippines.