P22-BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET QUESTIONABLE ABAKADA Party-List Congressman Jonathan Dela Cruz has these observations and questions on the P22-billion supplemental budget the government is asking for: The P22-billion supplemental budget being asked by the government is riddled with both questions and redundancies. Besides, there are no detailed explanations or breakdowns on the purposes for the supplemental budget and how did the recipient agencies arrive at the amounts they are asking for. A total of P7.999 billion will go to the construction of permanent housing for victims of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ care of the National Housing Authority. But there is no breakdown on how the amount was arrived at and by whom. Up to now, we don’t have an accounting of the P14.2 billion supplemental fund for ‘Yolanda’ and other calamity-stricken areas approved in 2013. Also, funds for ‘Yolanda’ victims have already been included in the 2014 and the proposed 2015 national budget. In fact, the President signed the so-called ‘Yolanda’ plan worth P167 billion. So what’s this supplemental budget for? Up to now, no detailed accounting has been made by any government agency on how they had spent the billions of funds they had received for the victims. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will get a staggering P1.942 billion for updating of the national household targeting system for poverty reduction. But DSWD Sec. DInky Soliman did not have a rock-solid justification on why her department needs P1.942 billion just to update a system, and why can’t it be done with a much cheaper budget. For the rehabilitation of LRT 1 and 2, P977.69 million. Just like ‘Yolanda’ funds, LRT and MRT allocations have already been included in the 2014 and 2015 national budgets. Why are they asking for more when rehabilitation work has not even started yet? Besides, there is supposed to have been an award for the LRT line upgrading and the extension of LRT 1 to Bacoor in Cavite. A total of P2.833 billion was allotted to the Operational Transformation Plan for the Philippine National Police care of the office of DILG Sec. Mar Roxas. What are the details of this plan? What exactly is it all about and for what?30
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 06:40:02 +0000
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