‘Win-win’ case for GMA on budget - Malaya 06.09.2006
THE United Opposition yesterday said the collapse of the bicameral talks between the House and Senate panels on the proposed P1.053-trillion national budget for 2006 has resulted in a scenario worse than what the senators tried to avoid – giving President Arroyo an "unlimited supply" of pork barrel funds.
House minority leader Francis Escudero, UNO secretary general, said the President has emerged victorious over the senators who blocked two new items in the proposed budget, which are believed to be Arroyo’s own pork barrel funds.
President Arroyo could realign funds in the P907.6-billion reenacted budget, which were originally appropriated to past projects which have already been implemented.
Talks on the budget were finally called off yesterday when Rep. Joey Salceda (Kampi, Albay), chair of the House committee on appropriations, announced that he has already informed Speaker Jose de Venecia that "I am compelled to terminate further negotiations on the budget since all options for a viable agreement have already been explored and exhausted with no practical result."
"We went into bicam with no illusions it would be a walk in the park. But cognizant of the stakes, especially for the economy and the poor, the House gave it our best shot. The bicam is dead, long live politics," he said.
Salceda said talks could still be revived next month when Congress resumes session but this would be quite impractical since Malacañang is submitting its budget proposal for 2007 by August.
The bicameral conference committee deliberations hit a snag when senators refused to restore the P64 billion cuts they made on the budget, especially the P5 billion Kilos Asenso and P3 billion Kalayaan Barangay Program funds which they believe could be used to fund the campaign of administration allies in the 2007 elections, including the charter change initiative.
Escudero said by failing to strike a compromise, Congress has even given the President humongous pork barrel funds through her power to realign.
"Win-win ang Presidente diyan kapagka-maipasa ang proposed budget na nandun ang pork niya, E di puwede pa rin nyang gamitin yan para sa pamumulitika. Kapagka hindi naman naipasa ang lahat ng capital outlay na nagastos na ng gobyerno ay puwede din niyang gamitin bilang pork barrel yan para maisulong pa rin ang political interest niya (under a reenacted 2005 budget)," he told a radio interview.
DREAM BUDGET
Rep. Rolex Suplico (LDP, Iloilo) said Congress gave the President her "dream budget."
Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Manuel Villar gave up hopes of approving the 2006 national budget but said a supplemental budget could be under way.
Drilon said the Senate bicameral panel in the conference committee headed by Villar came back with no bicameral report, which prompted the Senate leadership to just adjourn the session ahead of its June 9 closing.
"Hindi talaga kaya so we have to adjourn today (Thursday)," Drilon said.
The Senate was supposed to meet until Friday but Drilon said it will have no use.
Drilon said Villar and his panel will continue to look for "ways and means" to address some funding concerns.
Villar, Senate finance committee chair, said the government will have now to rely on the 2005 national budget.
He said the Palace should not consider it as an "early gift" from the Senate because the 2005 budget is much lower than the proposed 1.053 trillion budget for 2006.
"It could be advantageous and disadvantageous, at the same time," he said.
Villar said bicameral talks bogged down after their House counterparts objected to a cut budget.
He said even his proposed compromise on realigning the slashed funds to essential expenditures was also struck down.
Villar said Malacañang also played a role in the impasse by taking a hard line stance on the budget cuts. President Arroyo has threatened to veto the budget if the cuts are not restored.
He said his panel is reviewing proposals to pass a supplemental budget to address the claims of some seven million members of PhilHealth.
He said another supplemental budget would be drafted to plug the shortage in school buildings.
Villar ruled out passing a supplemental budget for elections, saying there was no election this year. – Wendell Vigilia, Dennis Gadil and Regina Bengco
House minority leader Francis Escudero, UNO secretary general, said the President has emerged victorious over the senators who blocked two new items in the proposed budget, which are believed to be Arroyo’s own pork barrel funds.
President Arroyo could realign funds in the P907.6-billion reenacted budget, which were originally appropriated to past projects which have already been implemented.
Talks on the budget were finally called off yesterday when Rep. Joey Salceda (Kampi, Albay), chair of the House committee on appropriations, announced that he has already informed Speaker Jose de Venecia that "I am compelled to terminate further negotiations on the budget since all options for a viable agreement have already been explored and exhausted with no practical result."
"We went into bicam with no illusions it would be a walk in the park. But cognizant of the stakes, especially for the economy and the poor, the House gave it our best shot. The bicam is dead, long live politics," he said.
Salceda said talks could still be revived next month when Congress resumes session but this would be quite impractical since Malacañang is submitting its budget proposal for 2007 by August.
The bicameral conference committee deliberations hit a snag when senators refused to restore the P64 billion cuts they made on the budget, especially the P5 billion Kilos Asenso and P3 billion Kalayaan Barangay Program funds which they believe could be used to fund the campaign of administration allies in the 2007 elections, including the charter change initiative.
Escudero said by failing to strike a compromise, Congress has even given the President humongous pork barrel funds through her power to realign.
"Win-win ang Presidente diyan kapagka-maipasa ang proposed budget na nandun ang pork niya, E di puwede pa rin nyang gamitin yan para sa pamumulitika. Kapagka hindi naman naipasa ang lahat ng capital outlay na nagastos na ng gobyerno ay puwede din niyang gamitin bilang pork barrel yan para maisulong pa rin ang political interest niya (under a reenacted 2005 budget)," he told a radio interview.
DREAM BUDGET
Rep. Rolex Suplico (LDP, Iloilo) said Congress gave the President her "dream budget."
Senate President Franklin Drilon and Sen. Manuel Villar gave up hopes of approving the 2006 national budget but said a supplemental budget could be under way.
Drilon said the Senate bicameral panel in the conference committee headed by Villar came back with no bicameral report, which prompted the Senate leadership to just adjourn the session ahead of its June 9 closing.
"Hindi talaga kaya so we have to adjourn today (Thursday)," Drilon said.
The Senate was supposed to meet until Friday but Drilon said it will have no use.
Drilon said Villar and his panel will continue to look for "ways and means" to address some funding concerns.
Villar, Senate finance committee chair, said the government will have now to rely on the 2005 national budget.
He said the Palace should not consider it as an "early gift" from the Senate because the 2005 budget is much lower than the proposed 1.053 trillion budget for 2006.
"It could be advantageous and disadvantageous, at the same time," he said.
Villar said bicameral talks bogged down after their House counterparts objected to a cut budget.
He said even his proposed compromise on realigning the slashed funds to essential expenditures was also struck down.
Villar said Malacañang also played a role in the impasse by taking a hard line stance on the budget cuts. President Arroyo has threatened to veto the budget if the cuts are not restored.
He said his panel is reviewing proposals to pass a supplemental budget to address the claims of some seven million members of PhilHealth.
He said another supplemental budget would be drafted to plug the shortage in school buildings.
Villar ruled out passing a supplemental budget for elections, saying there was no election this year. – Wendell Vigilia, Dennis Gadil and Regina Bengco
posted by brodkaster43 at Sabado, Hunyo 10, 2006
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