MANILA, Philippines – Kinwestyon sa pagsisimula ng deliberasyon ng Kamara para sa proposed P6.793 trilyong badyet sa susunod na taon ang mga naging amyenda ng Kongreso sa 2025 budget.
“To be specific about it, it was cut and diverted to other items, either augmenting existing items or new ones,” pahayag ni Caloocan Rep. Edgard Erice.
“After reviewing, the President vetoed only P26 billion, a small amount compared to the huge amendment,” dagdag pa niya.
Bilang tugon, sinabi ni Finance Secretary Ralph Recto na, “At any given time during budget execution, the President can withhold releases of the budget if it is not consistent with the priorities of this administration.”
Samantala, kinwestyon din ni Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco ang small committee na nabuo matapos ang pagpasa ng badyet para magsapinal ng appropriations bill.
“The initiative and errata come from Congress, that’s why Secretary Recto seemed to have a hard time responding to our query as to how some items were reduced. It’s Congress that knows about that,” ani Tiangco.
Tinanong ng mambabatas ang House appropriations committee sa rekord ng dalawang meeting ng small committee noong nakaraang taon para sa 2025 budget.
“The request will be under consideration,” tugon naman ni House appropriations panel chairperson Rep. Mika Suansing.
Hindi naman kumbinsido si Tiangco sa naging sagot ni Suansing.
“This is not acceptable; these are public records, and there were too many violations. There were no records; now you’re saying it’s not readily available. Is this a secret?”
Ani Suansing, “The small committee is subsumed within the committee on appropriations. It is not required to render a separate report. The rule you are citing pertained to the standing committees.”
Para sa 2026 budget, ang small committee ay papalitan na ng budget amendments subcommittee na bubuuin ng piling miyembro ng Kamara mula sa majority at minority blocs.
Ang panel na ito ay bubuuin sa simula pa lamang ng budget deliberations.
Dagdag pa, sinabi ng liderato ng Kamara na magiging bukas sa civil society observers ang budget deliberations.
“The House has opened its doors wider than ever before,” ani Speaker Martin Romualdez. RNT/JGC
