Bicam shoots down funding for Con-Con – Malaya 12.13.2006
BY DENNIS GADIL
THE bicameral conference committee on the P1.126 trillion budget for 2007 yesterday shot down moves to realign funds for the proposed Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).
"The NEP (National Expenditure Program) did not provide for a Con-Con expense," Sen. Franklin Drilon, Senate contingent head and budget chair, said in an interview.
"Considering it (cost of Con-Con) could be substantial, if and when Congress would decide on the Con-Con, there would have to be a special budget for that," he said.
Drilon said Con-Con proponents could not squeeze the needed funding from the 2007 budget because there are funds to spare.
He said the bicameral conference panel is sticking to the "spending program" provided under the 2007 budget.
Drilon said the panel agreed to allocate more funds for typhoon-hit Bicol region for repairs of irrigation systems and school buildings.
Rep. Joey Salceda (Kampi, Albay), head of the House panel, said they agreed to approve the budget for 2007 before December 24.
Senate President Manuel Villar said funds for Con-Con could still be re-aligned from the budget.
"Makakahabol pa kung makakahabol. Ang problema lang kung gusto nating ihabol. Ang paniniwala namin kasi ang pagbabago sa Saligang Batas ay hindi isang bagay na matter of life and death," he said.
Villar said he and Speaker Jose de Venecia met Monday night to rush the passage of the 2007 budget before the year ends.
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. gave the assurance that there would be enough funds to cover election for Con-Con delegates, which would cost about P5.5 billion, and for the holding of a plebiscite, which would cost about P2 billion.
He, however, said government would save a lot if election for delegates would be held along with the senatorial and local elections in May 2007.
He said charter change would not delay passage of the budget as the legislative branch could resort to "multi-tasking."
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in a radio interview, said if Congress wanted to pass the budget it could do so regardless of the proposed amendments to the Constitution. – With Jocelyn Montemayor and Wendell Vigilia
THE bicameral conference committee on the P1.126 trillion budget for 2007 yesterday shot down moves to realign funds for the proposed Constitutional Convention (Con-Con).
"The NEP (National Expenditure Program) did not provide for a Con-Con expense," Sen. Franklin Drilon, Senate contingent head and budget chair, said in an interview.
"Considering it (cost of Con-Con) could be substantial, if and when Congress would decide on the Con-Con, there would have to be a special budget for that," he said.
Drilon said Con-Con proponents could not squeeze the needed funding from the 2007 budget because there are funds to spare.
He said the bicameral conference panel is sticking to the "spending program" provided under the 2007 budget.
Drilon said the panel agreed to allocate more funds for typhoon-hit Bicol region for repairs of irrigation systems and school buildings.
Rep. Joey Salceda (Kampi, Albay), head of the House panel, said they agreed to approve the budget for 2007 before December 24.
Senate President Manuel Villar said funds for Con-Con could still be re-aligned from the budget.
"Makakahabol pa kung makakahabol. Ang problema lang kung gusto nating ihabol. Ang paniniwala namin kasi ang pagbabago sa Saligang Batas ay hindi isang bagay na matter of life and death," he said.
Villar said he and Speaker Jose de Venecia met Monday night to rush the passage of the 2007 budget before the year ends.
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. gave the assurance that there would be enough funds to cover election for Con-Con delegates, which would cost about P5.5 billion, and for the holding of a plebiscite, which would cost about P2 billion.
He, however, said government would save a lot if election for delegates would be held along with the senatorial and local elections in May 2007.
He said charter change would not delay passage of the budget as the legislative branch could resort to "multi-tasking."
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, in a radio interview, said if Congress wanted to pass the budget it could do so regardless of the proposed amendments to the Constitution. – With Jocelyn Montemayor and Wendell Vigilia
posted by brodkaster43 at Miyerkules, Disyembre 13, 2006
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