In the midst of the debate regarding the amount of the General Budget of the Nation (PNG) for 2025, the Comptroller General of the Republic, Carlos Hernán Rodríguez, called on the Government to prioritize investment in the budget to promote economic recovery.
(Read more: The departments that would see the biggest cuts in their investment resources in 2025)
In an interview with Yamid Amat for EL TIEMPO, the official referred to the discussion that has taken place around the PNG. This considering that the bill to define next year’s resources sank in Congress, which would lead to the Executive removing it via decree.
In that order of ideas, he pointed out that one of the risks of this scenario materializing is that if the Legislature does not approve the financing law, which seeks to raise $12 billion to balance the amount of $523 billion proposed by the Ministry of Finance , they would have to suspend appropriations without funding.
Now, as the comptroller explained, an unbalanced budget could have an impact on the normal functioning of some entities.
“There are two scenarios: if the financing law is approved, the entities will continue with their projected budget for 2025 and their appropriations will not be affected. If the financing law is not approved, the entities that have budgeted part of these resources must adjust to the new amount, affecting their original expenditure programming, so their normal functioning will necessarily be affected.”he indicated.
Comptroller General, Carlos Hernán Rodríguez.
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Added to the above is that with the decrease in the investment budget project presented, which went from $100 billion in 2024 to $87 billion in 2025, “some sectors and entities would still see their resources diminished.”
Regarding the expense budget, Rodríguez pointed out that The Comptroller’s Office will closely follow the process budget to guarantee the good use of public resources.
“We call on the National Government to adjust spending according to collection goals and evaluate the allocation of resources in accordance with the operational capacity of the entities, avoiding low execution such as that of the General Budget of the Nation in August 2024, which was of 54.84%, and in investment, only 34.32%. Only 34.32% in investment. Very low.he highlighted.
Regarding the financing law, he called for long-term budget measures to be considered and not to solve momentary crises. A pattern that has been increasing taking into account that a large part of The tax reforms of recent years have focused on current problems.
“In Colombia, 20 tax reforms have been approved in the last 12 years, and that has no presentation. Tax reforms or financing laws are given to support or solve problems that are temporary for one or two years and after that time we will see each other committed again to another tax reform. This is a recurring practice that must end.”he stated.
To read the full interview, click here.
(See: Axes of the national agreement promoted by the Government would be known next week)
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