Section 18October 23, 1989, Sec./Art. 18

(A) The Cordillera Governor shall submit to the Cordillera Assembly not later than two (2) months before the beginning of every regular session, to serve as the basis of the regional appropriations bill, a budget of expenditures and sources of financing, including receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures.

The fiscal year of the Cordillera Autonomous Region shall cover the period April 1 to March 31 of the succeeding year.

(B) The Cordillera Assembly may not increase the appropriations recommended by the Cordillera Governor for the operation of the Regional Government as specified in the budget. The form, content and manner of preparation of the budget shall be prescribed by regional law: Provided, however, That pending the enactment of such a regional law, the budgeting process of the Regional Government shall be governed by existing national laws and rules and regulations prescribed by the Department of Budget and Management.

(C) No provision or enactment shall be embraced in the regional appropriations bill unless it relates specifically to some particular appropriation therein. Any such provision or enactment shall be limited in its operation to the appropriation to which it relates.

(D) The procedure in approving appropriations for the Cordillera Assembly shall strictly follow the procedure for approving appropriations for other departments and agencies of the Regional Government.

(E) A special regional appropriation bill shall specify the purpose for which it is intended, and shall be supported by funds actually available as certified by the Regional Treasurer, or to be raised by a corresponding revenue proposal therein.

(F) No law shall be passed authorizing any transfer of appropriations; however, the Cordillera Governor and the Speaker of the Cordillera Assembly may, by regional law, be authorized to augment any item in the regional appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations.

(G) Discretionary funds appropriated for particular officials shall be disbursed only for public purposes to be supported by appropriate vouchers and subject to such guidelines as may be prescribed by regional law.

(H) If, by the end of any fiscal year, the Cordillera Assembly shall have failed to pass the regional appropriations bill for the ensuing fiscal year, the Regional Appropriations Law for the preceding fiscal year shall be deemed reenacted and shall remain in force and effect until the regional appropriations bill is passed by the Cordillera Assembly.

(I) The Cordillera Governor shall have the power to veto any particular item or items in an appropriation or revenue bill, but the veto shall not affect the item or items to which he does not object.