Lawmakers: 2006 budget passed within the year

Lawmakers assured Malacañang yesterday that next year’s proposed national budget will be passed within this year as the executive pushed for the adoption of several priority measures for the country’s security and development.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said that during yesterday’s Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting, lawmakers committed to act on the budget after the presentation of Presidential Political Adviser Gabriel Claudio.

Senate President Franklin Drilon, who has been at odds with President Arroyo since calling for her resignation back in July, was present at the meeting along with Speaker Jose de Venecia.

Vice President Noli de Castro, other senators, members of the House of Representatives, Cabinet officials and some businessmen also attended the LEDAC meeting.

Aside from the budget, the Palace is hoping to have the bills on anti-terrorism, pre-need plan code, bio-ethanol, amendments to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) Act, Juvenile Justice System and the anti-smuggling law passed before Congress adjourns again in a month’s time.

Bunye, however, said the other pending proposed laws might not be deliberated on and passed immediately by Congress.

The Charter change initiative was not on the agenda of the meeting and was not tackled, he added. Only the House is supportive of the President’s proposal for Cha-cha through constituent assembly since the senators want a constitutional convention.

In his presentation, Claudio cited the passage of Republic Act No. 9164 resetting the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to the last Monday of October 2007, and every three years thereafter.

The postponement was due to lack of funds.

Malacañang submitted a P1.05-trillion national budget for next year, and said its passage was important for the government to fund infrastructure projects and improve social services.

Claudio said the anti-terrorism bill would be important for national security. Other foreign governments had also criticized the Philippines for its lack of an anti-terror bill, he added.

The pre-need plan code, on other hand, proposes a regulatory framework for pre-need companies under the supervision and administration of the Insurance Commission deemed best equipped to exercise supervision over pre-need plan companies.

It also provides guidelines and sanctions for claim settlements, procedures for the appointment of conservators, proceedings in cases of insolvency and consolidation and mergers of pre-need companies.

Claudio also noted that, with the country’s economic situation, "there exists an urgent need for the government to institute a program that will reduce our dependence on imported petroleum products."

"Bio-ethanol bill or the Alternative Fuels Utilization Act seeks to encourage and promote the use of ethyl alcohol or ethanol as an alternative transport fuel," he said. "This will have positive effects on the economy."

Also in the list of priority measures is the SPV, which expired on Sept. 19, 2004. To date, Claudio said the benefits under the SPV had not been maximized and thus the proposal to extend the deadline for the establishment of an SPV and to avail of the tax exemptions and fee privileges in the sale or transfer of non-performing assets.