Lest we are accused of bias, this column will start by giving the government side on the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019.
First, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno claimed the government budget is pork barrel-free. He also defended the cuts in education and health services.
Diokno riposted this question: “Why should the Department of Education get more money when it underspent its allocation last year?
We leave DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones and Health Secretary Francisco Duque to answer Diokno’s assertion. This is a gray area best left to the fund managers. Like lawyers who have different interpretations of the law, the officials managing government funds (our tax money, really) have divergent views on how government should allocate the national budget.
Briones is formerly National Treasurer while Diokno was also Budget secretary under President Joseph Estrada who was convicted of plunder and then pardoned right away like his crime never happened.
Now our two cents’ worth on the gargantuan national appropriation that seems to be rising every year together with the cost of living and prime commodities: Diokno says there will be no insertion in the budget, hence it is pork barrel-free. He also raises the point that the President has the veto power on line allocations.
Oh yeah? Leave it to the resourceful congressmen to lobby with the President to set aside funds for public works projects in their respective congressional districts. Actually there is an estimated P52-billion realigned pork barrel funds parked within the budget which the President can disburse at his discretion.
Next year is the mid-term elections for senators, congressmen and local officials. How can a sitting president not allocate funds for the ruling party’s candidates? Not to do so would be courting defeat. That is plain and simple realpolitik
Consider the huge slashes in the DepEd and DoH budgets and compare the increase of the Palace Communications Office of Secretary Martin Andanar and Asec Mocha Uson which increased from P1.3 billion to P1.5 billion. Where are the government’s spending priorities?
Opposition Liberal Party Senators Paulo “Bam” Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon expressed concern that basic services for health and education will suffer the most. Cuts in the budget of DepEd and DoH would mean fewer classrooms and health centers. Schools and classrooms destroyed by Typhoon ‘‘Ompong’’ will be hard pressed for money for repair and reconstruction.
The senators noted the biggest chunk of the budget has been allocated to the Department of Public Works and Highways. The government for sure will justify this huge expenditure as essential to its Build Build Build infrastructure program to ease the monster traffic in Metro Manila
There are certain quarters questioning the alleged involvement of the family and relatives of Christopher “Bong” Go, Special Assistant to the President. Go denied the allegation and stated he would be ready to face a Senate investigation on the matter. Go is running for the Senate under the PDP-Laban-Hugpong coalition party of the Dutertes.
The Senate probe plus the bicameral hearing on the budget should be very interesting.
Remember the controversial Dengvaxia dengue vaccine project? This was immediately paid for by the previous Noynoy Aquino administration. In the same way, take note that 2019 is also an election year and candidates need campaign funds.
So, elementary my dear Juan, we don’t have to be economists to know the implication and exigency of why the DPWH is getting the bulk of the budget. Under existing practice, the congressmen can still name and propose public works projects in their respective districts to receive funding from the President.
Pork barrel free as claimed by Diokno is pure hogwash.
Speaking of the senatorial slates, there are those who are seen as sure winners and those who are merely there NOT for the fun of it but for the funds of it. Campaign funds, that is. A popular practice in this country is to tap big business and political backers for campaign funds. These political bets can make money whether they lose or later on drop out of the race with a lot of pesos still left in their pockets. Smart.
Leading the race according to the latest Pulse Asia survey are women candidates headed by Senator Grace, Poe, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayateno.
Who says the women in this country are disenfranchised? So far we have had two women presidents in Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, the present Speaker of the House of Representatives.