26 solons call for speedy court action on P100-B coco levy fund

Twenty-six lawmakers have joined Speaker Jose de Venecia’s appeal for the courts to expedite decision on the P100-billion coconut levy fund and the P35-billion Marcos deposits to address the large budget deficit which he called "a major national problem."

The lawmakers said the country will be the single biggest beneficiary if the two controversial cases, already under litigation for over a decade, are resolved sooner than later "so we can finally and fully utilize" the funds.

"We are not trying to exert pressure on the courts," De Venecia said, "but we are issuing an urgent appeal so that we can settle the cases once and for all."

De Venecia, in making the appeal with Justice Secretary Hernando Perez last Wednesday, said he was taking action as an ordinary citizen. "If the courts can solve the two cases this year, why wait for next year?" he said.

The exercise of political will should not only come from the executive but also from the courts to address a major national problem, De Venecia added.

The House leader on Wednesday launched a joint executive-legislative rapid revenue mobilization action aimed at helping President Arroyo "reduce the budget deficit and restore the nation’s fiscal health so as not to affect the economic pump-priming measures in the countryside."

The Speaker also gave assurances there would be "no reduction or suspension of public works programs in the provinces" saying the allocations are "pump-priming instruments of economic development in the countryside" and are anti-El Niño and anti-poverty.

De Venecia further said the public works allocations would be "released continuously in concert with government funds," citing the agreement he forged with the President, Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho, and Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., chairman of the House appropriations committee.

Aside from the coconut levy and Marcos funds, De Venecia has pushed for the immediate passage by the Senate of the large-scale Securitization bill and the Special Purpose Assets Vehicles Act, the proposed abolition of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and creation of a new performance-based Internal Revenue Management Authority, approval of the Government Procurement Reform bill that allows electronic bidding and procurement, and the de-activation of 14 government agencies being proposed by the Department of Budget and Management.

He said the seven-point rapid income mobilization action will guarantee a series of new revenues for the government to help cut the budget deficit. About P20-P30 billion will be saved by the government with the approval of the procurement reform bill and some P1.5 billion will be saved from the deactivation of the 14 agencies, De Venecia and Andaya said.

"We cannot continue to curse the darkness. But we must continue to seek solutions to the deficit problem," he said.

He said the SPAV will solve P600-billion in non-performing loans and foreclosed real estate mortgages of the commercial banking system, the GSIS, SSS and Pag-IBIG, while the sale or securitization of government royalties in the Malampaya gas field could raise up to $500 million.

Those supporting De Venecia’s appeal for the expeditious settlement of the cases involving the coconut levy and Marcos funds include Deputy Speakers Raul Gonzales, Emilio Espinosa Jr., and Gerry Salapuddin, and senior Representatives Rodolfo Albano, Prospero Nograles Jr., Raul del Mar, Isidro Real Jr., Antonio Nachura, and Junie Cua.

The appeal is also being strongly supported by Representatives Conrado Estrella, Magtanggol Gunigundo, Aurelio Umali, Rodolfo Rodrigo Plaza, Leovigildo Banaag, Belma Cabilao, Manuel Mamba, Luis Bersamin, Amado Espino Jr., Arthur Celeste, Joaquin Chipeco Jr., Felix Alfelor Jr., Monico Puentevella, Felix William Fuentebella, Simeon Kintanar and Edgar Chatto.

The House leader, joined by Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Rep. Andaya, Rep. Gilberto Teodoro, also sought the cooperation of the private sector and the business community in reducing "massive tax evasion." Last month some 250 companies were reportedly involved in value-added tax evasion amounting to P7 billion. – Jess Diaz