‘Transparency is the only safeguard in passing budget’

DAVAO CITY — House Minority Leader Francis "Chiz" Escudero believes that transparency is the only safeguard that would ensure the passage in Congress of this year’s proposed national budget.

"That is the only way to avoid realignment and conversion of funds that could possibly be used in purposes other than what they have been originally intended," he said.

Escudero fears that funds allocated in the budget would be used for the campaign of pro-administration candidates in the May 14 elections.

"The administration should be very clear and be very transparent where exactly the P4.7-billion school feeding program budget would go and assure that it won’t be used in the election campaign," he said.

However, Escudero said there is still a chance that the P1.126-trillion budget for this year would be passed when Congress resumes session on Jan. 22.

"Give it six to nine session days from Jan. 22 to Feb. 10," he said. "It is still possible by that time that the bicameral committee could already act on the 2007 budget."

Escudero said the members of the opposition in the Senate and the House are among those who had pushed for the 2007 national budget to be passed.

"There are just certain questions and issues that need to be resolved pertaining to the allocation of the P4.7 billion funds for school feeding and rice subsidy programs," he said.

Even if the government operates again on a re-enacted budget, President Arroyo could make the necessary allocations should there be a need for certain expenditures, Escudero said.

Last week, Congress reached an impasse on the proposed P1.126- trillion 2007 budget, forcing the government to operate on a re-enacted 2005 budget.

The Senate and the House of Representatives disagreed on the proposed cuts in the government’s proposed P4.7-billion school feeding and rice subsidy programs included in the 2007 General Appropriations Bill.