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PRESIDENT Arroyo on Tuesday urged the Senate and the
House of Representatives to pass the proposed
P1.227-trillion budget for 2008 at the soonest possible
time to ensure the speedy implementation of government
programs and projects.
Congress
leaders responded by assuring the public there won’t be
a reenacted budget.
In her
opening statement at the National Security Council (NSC)-National
Antipoverty Commission (NAPC)-Cabinet Group meeting, the
President stressed that the proposed 2008 budget would
assist the poor in coping with the impact of rising oil
prices through increased funding for poverty alleviation
and food security.
“I ask
Congress to pass the 2008 budget to avoid delay in the
implementation of important programs and projects. This
fund would provide more help for the poor to cope with
rising prices of basic commodities brought about by the
increasing world oil prices,” the President said.
In a
related development, House Majority Leader Arthur
Defensor said the bicameral conference committee will
approve the budget when session resumes on January 28,
as “the nation cannot afford another reenacted budget.”
Defensor said the congressional action is also in
response to Mrs. Arroyo’s call to approve the budget.
“National interest dictates” that Congress approve the
P1.227-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for
2008 as soon as possible, Defensor said.
Commenting on reported conflicting provisions in the
House and Senate versions of the GAA, Defensor said,
“All parties—the Executive, the Senate and the House—are
confident that we will be able to reach a positive
compromise.”
Speaker
Jose de Venecia Jr. and House Appropriations Committee
chairman Edcel Lagman, following the November 12, 2007,
final reading for the passage of the proposed budget
under House Bill 2454, said the measure is vital to
achieve a balanced budget two years ahead of projections
in the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan.
“We are
keeping our commitment to our people,” de Venecia said.
Defensor,
noting the extensive meetings and consultations among
members of the bicameral conference committee, said, “We
do have problems, but I am confident they will be
reconciled.”
He,
however, refused to go into details on the points of
conflict in the several provisions of the two GAA
versions, other than saying, “this is a legislative
reality which we must always deal with in a democratic
society.”
“We have
a constitutionally mandated process which we must
follow,” he said.
Under HB
2454, in consonance with the mandate of the
Constitution, the education department registers the
highest allocation followed by the Department of Public
Works and Highways, among others.
In
making her call, Mrs. Arroyo said the proposed budget
would ensure the completion of irrigation projects and
farm-to-market roads before the next planting season,
which would help farmers generate more profits and
provide an abundant supply of affordable food.
“This is
an effective response to rising prices of basic
commodities caused by the surging price of oil price in
the world,” the President said.
The
passage of the proposed 2008 budget was stalled by the
alleged P13.5-billion insertion made by congressmen in
the House version of the budget.
Malacañang said earlier that the government cannot
afford such an insertion as it is unfunded and would be
vetoed if retained.
Budget
Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. said earlier that operating
on a reenacted budget this year for just a few months,
as expected, would not have any impact on the
government’s growth targets.
Malacañang expects approval of the budget in February.
Of the
P1.227-trillion budget, which is P91-billion higher than
last year’s budget, P11.5 billion will fund
infrastructure projects.
In her
statement the President said there would be a
reassessment of the programs of the Presidential
Antigraft Commission, Department of Finance and
Department of Budget and Management against corruption
to ensure that the economic benefits of her programs
trickle down to the people. |
