Savings, pork two ‘dangerous minefields’ – Miriam

Miriam Defensor-Santiago / Wikipedia Photo

MANILA – Sen Miriam Defensor Santiago yesterday described the redefinition of savings and the retention of pork barrel allocation as “two dangerous minefields” that have raised questions on the constitutionality of the proposed budget for next year.

Santiago urged her colleagues to retain the Section 91 of the general provisions which requires the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to submit a report on compliance with lump sums reportorial requirements.

Also on her privilege speech, Santiago asked them to revert to the old definition of savings.

She also said that the budget for next year is something that will allow administration candidates to benefit in the coming elections.

“It gives too much money where it should not be placed. It does not give enough to where it is needed,” Santiago said in a press briefing after her speech. “It’s a very lopsided budget.”

Noting on the way the budget was created, she said that it was “cleverly crafted” that one will be able to “see through the device that it is meant to give heads of certain agencies with grassroots connections or relationships much more money for topics not necessarily covered by their mandate.”