President Rodrigo Duterte will ask Congress for P3.757 trillion budget for next year.

This was after Duterte and the members of the Cabinet approved the proposed budget for 2019 during a Cabinet meeting Monday night, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing in Cavite.

Of the budget to be proposed to Congress, the major expense would be for personal services worth P1.185 trillion.

Other expenditures include P562.9 billion for maintenance; P752.7 billion for capital outlay; P640.6 billion for local government units; P187.1 billion for support to government-owned and controlled corporations; P14.5 billion for tax expenditure; and P14.1 billion for debt burden.

Duterte is expected to submit the proposed budget to Congress during his State of the Nation Address on July 23.

Meanwhile, Roque added Duterte could ask Congress for a supplemental budget for the plebiscite if Congress would approve the proposed federal constitution.

"It's not a problem, because if it's (budget) is not sufficient or there is no appropriation, there could be a supplemental budget," he said.

The 22-man Consultative Committee submitted to Duterte the draft of the proposed federal constitution on Monday.

Except for the transitory provision, Duterte has approved the draft charter.

Duterte did not want to be the leader of the transition government to avoid speculation that he wanted to stay in power beyond his term, Roque has said. Celerina Monte/DMS