Senate ratifies P3.75-T nat’l budget for 2019

A total of 15 senators voted in favor of the ratification of the bicam report on the spending bill, while five voted against it — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Francis Pangilinan. (File photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — On the last day of session before the 17th Congress adjourns for the campaign season, the Senate ratified on Friday night the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed PHP3.757-trillion national budget for 2019.

This after the bicameral conference committee approved the 2019 national budget on the same day.

A total of 15 senators voted in favor of the ratification of the bicam report on the spending bill, while five voted against it — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Francis Pangilinan.

The House of Representatives has already ratified its own version. This means the measure will be transmitted to Malacañang for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.

Lacson, in his privilege speech, said the 2019 budget is “pork-ridden” and “cholesterol-rich”, particularly those lodged in the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

He said each congressman would receive PHP60 million from the PHP51.792 billion, which was allegedly a big chunk of the PHP75-billion insertion in the DPWH budget. Each congressman already has a minimum allocation of PHP100 million under the National Expenditure Program.

Lacson also said some PHP23.286 billion worth of new projects were introduced in the DPWH budget by some senators.

He, however, dispelled the claim of House appropriations committee chair Rolando Andaya Jr. regarding the PHP3-billion pork allocation per senator.

“Huwag po natin siyang paniwalaan dahil sadyang napakalayo sa katotohanan ng kanyang komputasyon (Let us not believe him because his computation is really far from reality),” Lacson said. “There is no sense of propriety in partaking in unconstitutional ‘pork’ allocations. What is worse than this is taking more slabs of ‘pork’ by merit of power.”

During the plenary session, Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate finance committee, also denied the PHP3.3-billion allocation per senator.

“I assure you there is no such allocation — and this is a baseless allegation — for any or each member of this chamber,” Legarda said.

She also assured that each and every amendment is accompanied by agency requests.

“In so far as the Senate is concerned, there are no imagined projects. All are agency requests,” she said.

Earlier in the day, Legarda described the 2019 national budget as “inclusive, pro-poor, and pro-people”, and is a “product of hard work and discernment.”

“Finally, we are honored to present a version of the budget that is pro-poor, pro-development, pro-inclusive and sustainable development, and pro-Filipino,” Legarda said during the bicameral meeting at the AFP Commissioned Officers Club, in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Legarda noted that all Senate amendments, which are “institutional in nature”, were adopted in the bicam report.

She said the House also agreed to most, if not all of the amendments, hence these can be considered as both chambers’ “common institutional amendments.”

Among the notable amendments are the restoration of the funding for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, as well as the Human Resource for Health Development amounting to more than PHP20 billion; additional allowance for teachers on World Teacher’s Day; creation of a new infantry division in Mindanao; a 911 command center for the Philippine National Police; and the School-based Feeding Program.

Congress failed to pass the national budget before the end of 2018 because of allegations of “pork” insertions. The government has been operating under a reenacted budget since January 1.