House turns over P50-M savings

The House of Representatives has returned over P50 million in savings to the National Treasury, a first in the chamber’s history.

Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. handed a check for the P50 million to President Arroyo in simple rites at Malacañang yesterday.

At hand during the turnover was Budget and Management Secretary Emilia Boncodin, along with members of the House led by acting minority leader Makati City Rep. Agapito Aquino Jr.

Reading from a statement signed by Reps. Aquino, Robert Ace Barbers, and Roberto Nazareno, De Venecia told Mrs. Arroyo that the House posted the savings despite a decrease of P300 million in its budget last year, when compared to its budget in 2000, and the increase of party-list representatives from seven in 2001 to 19 in 2003.

"We … are proud of this modest achievement in the light of your excellency’s and our constant call for frugal spending by the units of the government," he said.

The savings were from the period Jan. 1 to June 30, 2004.

The House started belt-tightening measures last year, among them a four-day week that maximized staff performance and reduced water and electricity consumption.

The chamber further slashed costs by scheduling all committee hearings at the Mitra Building of the Batasan complex.

In her response, the President thanked De Venecia and the other House members for setting an example of "fiscal discipline in the public sector."— Paolo Romero, Marichu Villanueva