House's Visayan bloc wants more allocation for VisMin

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - The Visayan Bloc in the House of Representatives is now pushing for amendments in the proposed P2.606 trillion national budget for 2015, contending that Visayas and Mindanao were not given equitable share of funds from the national government,.

Third district Representative Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez (Negros Occidental) said the 33-member bloc will push for the amendments to increase the allocations for both Visayas and Mindanao in the proposed national budget.

He noted that the budget allocation has always been in favor of Luzon and has remained lopsided to Visayas and Mindanao.

"The government has not prioritized or given equitable share for the people of the Visayas and even Mindanao who are also Filipinos," Benitez told The Freeman.

Aside from the proposal to increase allocation in Visayas and Mindanao, the bloc will also push for amendments on the lump sum provisions that it claimed were questionable and prone to corruption.

Benitez cited the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund, which increased to more than 100 percent, from P53.5 billion this year to P118.1 billion next year.

MPBF, according to Department of Budget and Management, is referred to as authorized salaries, associated premiums and other singular benefits of the employees of national government in constitutional offices enjoying fiscal autonomy.

"Why was the allocation for MBPF more than doubled? Are we going to really hire or fill up all these positions?" Benitez asked, adding "that has not been the track record of the government. I hope this is not again to justify savings."