Reporter

SEN. Joker Arroyo on Wednesday advised lawmakers reconciling the Senate and House versions of the 2007 budget bill to settle the stalemate over what amounts to “less than one-half of 1 percent” of the proposed P1.13- trillion annual appropriations so Congress can pass the money measure quickly as soon as the two chambers reconvene sessions on January 22.         

He confirmed that passage of the budget bill was being delayed by a deadlock over a P4-billion allocation for a Palace-proposed feeding program that will allow the National Food Authority to import tons of rice supply for distribution to schools. Senators suspect the scheme would be used for election purposes.           

Assessing the Senate’s performance in 2006, Senator Arroyo asserted that on the whole, the 24-member chamber’s record this year was “a good one,” adding that in the last six months that Senate President Manuel Villar was at the helm, the senators passed a record number of bills of national importance, as well as the pet local bills of their House colleagues.     

Unfortunately, Arroyo acknowledged, both the House and the Senate failed to pass the final version of the budget for 2007 before the Christmas adjournment, leaving the government to operate anew under a reenacted budget starting January.          

“The budget bill is the most important legislation that Congress acts upon. When that is not passed, it constitutes a failure because it’s the most important [measure],” Senator Arroyo said. 

He urged his colleagues in the bicameral conference committee on the 2007 budget bill to break the deadlock over the P4-billion school-feeding program that senators fear would be used by the administration for the May 2007 election and want it spent instead for building more classrooms and hiring additional public-school teachers.            

While the House panel wants to keep the P4-billion funding for the feeding program, which will authorize the National Food Authority to import rice for distribution to schools in all congressional districts, the senators want the money realigned to solve the perennial shortage of classrooms and teachers in public schools.           

“The Senate has a point, but the House also has a point. The House is saying that because senators are nationally elected they don’t have districts [to be accountable to], while we in the House have districts that need a feeding program,” he said.     

“Still, the Senate has a point in worrying that such will be used by the administration for election purposes; we don’t want that to happen,” he added.             

But even if both sides have a point, Arroyo asserts that both must forge a compromise and pass the 2007 budget bill as soon as Congress reconvenes in January.  

“That deadlock is wrong; there should be a compromise. You give a little here, you take a little there, both sides. I can’t understand why they can’t forge a compromise. If one can’t get all that one wants, maybe ask for half—anything to get this done, because we can’t be without a budget for long,” he said.

THE series of earthquakes, including a 7.1-magnitude tremor which struck Taiwan Tuesday night and Wednesday, damaging undersea cables and seriously disrupting Internet flows in the region, affected most members of the country’s business process outsourcing industry, particularly call centers.

BUSINESS process outsourcing companies (BPO) in the Philippines will continue to expand next year, but the country will still be unable to dislodge India as the world’s leading BPO destination, according to a forecast report by consulting firm Tholons Inc.

TAIPEI—Internet and telephone services across Asia were disrupted, hampering financial transactions, after earthquakes near Taiwan damaged undersea cables.

THERE have been significant strides in this country’s efforts to improve its competitiveness, but there is also the need for a closer partnership between the public and private sectors in putting the Philippines among the top five competitive economies by 2010, according to Trade Secretary Peter B. Favila.

SEN. Joker Arroyo on Wednesday advised lawmakers reconciling the Senate and House versions of the 2007 budget bill to settle the stalemate over what amounts to “less than one-half of 1 percent” of the proposed P1.13- trillion annual appropriations so Congress can pass the money measure quickly as soon as the two chambers reconvene sessions on January 22.

Cracker makers hurt by smuggling

MALOLOS—As New Year approaches there is an equivalent rise in the sale of pyrotechnic products. There is also a significant increase of activity in the fireworks industry.