House rectifies imbalance in 2015 budget for Vis-Min

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — After the Visayan bloc in the House of Representatives pushed for the amendments in the proposed P2.606 trillion national budget for 2015, Representative Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occidental) said Congress had "rectified the imbalance in the allocation."

Benitez said the amendment on the budget proposal, to increase the allocations for both Visayas and Mindanao, has already been approved in the second reading, and that it will tackled when the House resumes session on the 20th.

"There were many questions, including in irrigation, infrastructures and health insurance for barangay officials, during the deliberations of the budget hearing," the solon said.

The 33-member bloc has been pushing for the equitable share in the national budget for Visayas and Mindanao since the budget allocation has always been in favor of Luzon and has remained lopsided against Visayas and Mindanao.