MANILA, Philippines - While the administration remains hounded by the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) controversy, President Benigno Aquino III wants Congress to pass a joint resolution that would define terms related to government spending.
"Nananawagan din tayo sa pakikiisa ng Kongreso, upang maipasa ang isang Joint Resolution na maglilinaw sa mga depinisyon at kaisipang tila pinagtatalunan pa—at iba pang mga usaping kayo lang sa lehislatura, bilang mga nagsulat ng batas, ang makakapaglinaw," Aquino said in his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
Aquino also reiterated that the administration is proposing the passage of a supplemental budget for 2014 to sustain the projects funded by the DAP.
The President said the implementation of these projects has been halted after the Supreme Court declared acts under the DAP as unconstitutional, including the cross-border transfer of government savings.
The administration and the Supreme Court have conflicting definitions of "savings."
Like in his previous televised speeches, Aquino reiterated anew in his SONA the benefits of the DAP.
He told lawmakers and officials: "Alam ko pong kaisa kayong mga nasa bulwagang ito sa paniniwalang hindi dapat ipagkait ang benepisyo sa ating mamamayan, at dapat nga itong makarating sa kanila sa lalong madaling panahon."