Signed on Friday the 13th, to take effect April fool's . .

The heading is borrowed from my co-employee, Edge. It refers to the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2009 or RA 9524. It was signed by the President on April 13th, Friday and by operation of the law, takes effect on April 1st.

The DBM has already issued National Budget Circular No. 519, prescribing the guidelines on the releases of funds appropriated in the new GAA. As usual, this would entail first, the preparation of Agency Budget Matrix (ABM) disaggregating the agency appropriations into "This Release", "Not Needing Clearance" "Needing Clearance", etc. Upon receipt of the approved ABM, the agency concerned will have to prepare their respective Cash Program.