THE House of Representatives has moved to restore the budget cuts made in the National Expenditure Program against State Colleges and Universities and on government hospitals nationwide.
It stressed the need for the government to invest on education and health in “building a better future for the nation.”
Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexi Nograles, chairman of the House committee on appropriations, said his panel agreed to restore the budget cuts despite the earlier position by the Department of Budget and Management that the MOOE of these institutions be reduced.
He said the budget cuts could have adverse effect on the country’s quality of education and the delivery of public health care.
“We are one in the belief that these SUCs and our government hospitals must be given utmost priority at all times. Quality education and quality health care are key public services that have a direct impact on our nation’s future,” Nograles said.
Under the proposed NEP for 2017 submitted by the DBM, the MOOE of 65 hospitals run by the Department of Health (DOH) and 34 SUCs nationwide was cut in varying degrees from their original MOOE in 2016.
Nograles said the DBM earlier decided to cut the MOOE for SUCs and state hospitals on the assumption these income-generating institutions can generate their own funds to supplement their budget.
The move to make the restorations was strongly lobbied by the Makabayan bloc led by ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Carlos Zarate and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, with Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano.
Acting on the request, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and House Majority Leader Rep. Rodolfo Farinas approved the restorations with the support of Minority Leader Rep. Danilo Suarez.
As a result, the Nograles panel increased the budget of the University of the Philippines-Manila by P85 million for the modernization of its laboratories for the College of Dentistry, the repair and rehabilitation of the College of Nursing building and the acquisition of generators for UP-Manila buildings.
In addition, Nograles said P233.741 million had been restored in the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) budget of the following SUCs: Philippine Normal University (P1.431 million); Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (P2.229 million); Pangasinan State University (P2.56 million);
Cagayan State University (P9.684 million); Nueva Viscaya State University (P273, 000); Central Luzon State University (11.462 Million); Tarlac College of Agriculture (P1.062 Million); Cavite State University (P9.563 million); Laguna State Polytechnic College ( P6.176 million);
Southern Luzon Polytechnic College (P2.733 million); University of Rizal System (P1.523 million); Camarines Norte State College (P1.958 million); Sorsogon State College (P317,000); Carlos C. Hilado Memorial State College (P10.728 million);
Iloilo Science and Technology University/Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (P28.890 million); Iloilo State University of Science and Technology/Iloilo State College of Fisheries (P4. 836 million); University of Antique (P4.332 million);
Bohol Island State University (P21.249 million); Cebu Technological University ( P40.631 million); Eastern Visayas State University (P2.402 million); Naval State University (P831,000); Northwest Samar State University (P1.822 million); Palompon Polytechnic State University (P1.014 million);
University of Eastern Philippines (P4.768 million); Visayas State University (P1.594 million); J.H. Ceriles State College (P971,000); Western Mindanao State University (P7.123 million); Compostela Valley State College ( P10,000); Davao del Norte State College ( P1.524 million);
Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology ( P3.718 million); University of Southern Philippines (P30.329 million); Cotabato State University (P7.178 million) and University of Southern Mindanao (P470,000).
All other SUCs not included in the list maintained their MOOE budget based on their 2016 allocation.
A total P1.538 billion previously slashed from the MOOE of government hospitals had been restored by the House Committee on Appropriations.
Nograles noted any reduction on the budget of these medical facilities could affect the quality of health being accorded to the public.
“Any deterioration in public health would reflect on the leadership of President Duterte so we are making sure our government hospitals will continue to deliver quality health care to our people,” Nograles said.