MANILA: The House of Representatives has retained in the 2014 national budget certain lump sums President Aquino can use for specific purposes and which his critics claim are his congressional funds.
Among these appropriations are the P7.5bn calamity fund and the P1bn contingency fund.
Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr said the Bohol earthquake shows that the President needs these lump sums, which he can tap for relief and rehabilitation efforts and for emergencies.
“That is the reason why they are there in the national budget,” Belmonte said.
The calamity fund and contingent fund in the 2013 budget also amount to P7.5bn and P1bn, respectively.
Aquino has tapped the two appropriations for money for relief and reconstruction efforts in Bohol and Cebu, and for the rehabilitation of several villages in Zamboanga City devastated by the recent attacks by a group of Moro National Liberation Front rebels loyal to Nur Misuari.
According to the Department of Budget and Management, this year’s calamity fund has a balance of only a little over P1bn.
Administration critics are also counting several other appropriations as presidential “funds.” These are allocations to local government units, P361.3bn; pension and gratuity fund, P120.5bn; miscellaneous personnel benefits fund, P80.7bn; international commitments fund, P4.8bn; e-government fund, P2.5bn; and feasibility studies fund, P400m.
Davao City Rep Isidro Ungab, who chairs the House appropriations committee, said these appropriations cannot be considered presidential congressional funds. “As their names or descriptions suggest, these funds are appropriated for specific expenditures. They cannot be used for other purposes. It is unfair to suggest that the President would treat them as his congressional funds,” he said. He said congressional funds, as in the case of the congressional Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), could be used for projects and programs chosen by the official who has discretion over such funds.
“How can money going to local government units, retirees’ pension and gratuity, miscellaneous personnel benefits, international commitments, e-government projects, and feasibility studies be considered presidential funds?”
The House has transmitted to the Senate the proposed P2.268trn 2014 national budget, which congressmen approved last Tuesday without the PDAF as a lump sum.
They realigned their funds to several agencies that would implement their projects in their districts without their intervention.
The Senate is still undecided on what to do with the PDAF. Some senators suggest that fund should not be realigned and should be deleted and deducted from the national budget.
The Philippine Star
