Senate OKs 2015 budget; House to pass P23 B more

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate has approved on third and final reading the P2.606-trillion national budget for 2015.

It carries a proviso that the budget contains no pork barrel fund whatsoever.

Following four days of plenary debates, the Senate approved the proposed 2015 national budget with a total of P96.5 billion in realignments that were introduced by the senators.

Only 13 senators were present when the budget was approved last night, all of whom voted in favor of its approval.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and committee on finance chairman Francis Escudero assured the public that the national budget would have no pork barrel funds or anything similar to it.

Drilon said it is clear that the 2015 national budget would not have anything that could be construed as Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) that the Supreme Court (SC) had declared unconstitutional.

“In terms of the ability of legislators to interfere in post-budget execution, which was the questionable aspect of the PDAF, there is no such thing,” he said.

“I do not know the details of the P37 billion. I just know that as a matter of principle, the ability of legislators before to participate in the post-budget activities – meaning, a lump sum is in the budget called the PDAF and then, the legislator will identify a project to be funded by that PDAF – that is not there in the budget.” 

Anything in the implementation of the national budget seen to be reverting to the pork barrel system, “can always be brought back to the Supreme Court,” Drilon said.

Escudero said agencies concerned would have to itemize lump sum items before the funds would be released to them, and all   releases would have to be reported to Congress and the Commission on Audit to ensure their compliance.

“As soon as they avail of it, we will see it,” he said.

Escudero said a penal provision has been introduced in the national budget.

“We provided a penalty of six months suspension or imprisonment of one year, or a fine equivalent to six months’ salary if they fail to submit,” he said.

Of the P96.5 billion realigned by the Senate, P53.9 billion was from the unprogrammed funds, representing the proposed buyout of the MRT-3, he added.

Among the special provisions that the Senate introduced was the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) that acting Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III introduced.

In that provision, the PSC would be required to use its funds to finance the requirements of all athletes competing for the country in international competitions even if they do not belong to any national sports association.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would be prohibited from undertaking any infrastructure project that might impinge on heritage sites.

The Land Transportation Office would be required to pay all of its obligations in its contracts.

The Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and DPWH, would be required to use their quick response funds to procure insurance policies to cover for infrastructure facilities and other equipment   in danger zones.

The DOH’s P1-billion budget for responsible parenthood would not be used unless it can secure a certification from the Food and Drug Administration that the drugs and other tools to be purchased are not abortifacients.

Among the realignments that senators introduced are: Congress, an increase of P333 million to restore the Senate and the House of Representatives’ budgets to this year’s level;

Department of Agrarian Reform, a P2-million realignment as requested by the agency;

DepEd, an increase of P1.1 billion for the construction of additional school buildings;

State Universities and Colleges, an increase of P598 million as additional subsidy for capital outlay and scholarships;

Department of Finance, an increase of P95.3 million for the modernization program of the Bureau of Customs;

Department of Foreign Affairs, an increase of P85 million to the legal assistance fund for OFWs, which would bring its total to P100 million;

DOH, an increase of P278 million for the purchase of equipment and assistance to patients;

Department of Justice, an increase of P100 million for the rehabilitation of the various halls of justice and support to the National Bureau of Investigation;

Department of National Defense, a P93-million increase for the improvement, renovation and construction of barracks;

Department of Labor and Employment, a P6.5-million increase for the maintenance and other operating expenses of the National Labor Relations Commission;

DPWH, a P1.7-billion increase for roads and bridges leading to tourism destinations and other infrastructure projects;

Department of Science and Technology, an increase of P5 million;

Department of Trade and Industry, P100 million for small and medium and enterprises;

Judiciary, an increase of P1.5 million for a facility to use its excess funds; and a reduction of P4.696 billion from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund.

Escudero said the realignments made by the House of Representatives were accepted by the Senate.

The bicameral conference committee meetings between the Senate and the House to reconcile the conflicting provisions of their versions would be held this Tuesday.

The definition of savings that the Senate introduced would fully comply with the SC ruling on the Disbursement Acceleration Program, Escudero said.

P23-B supplemental budget

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said yesterday the House aims to approve the P23-billion supplemental budget sought by Malacañang before Congress goes on Christmas break on Dec. 19.

He has met Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to discuss details of the supplemental budget to fund the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by Super Typhoon Yolanda, and the rehabilitation of the Light Rail Transit lines 1 and 2.

Speaking to reporters, Belmonte said the supplemental budget will be discussed through the normal process.

“It would be like a fast train but it won’t be railroaded,” he said. “The process will be swift because there are no pending matters in the appropriations committee and they can concentrate on it.”

Belmonte said passing the supplemental budget is important to ensure funding for the pending obligations of projects under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), which the Supreme Court had   declared unconstitutional.

“Some of DAP projects were already completed but were not yet paid so that’s among what has been included,” he said. – With Paolo Romero