DBM chief Andaya gets appointments committee nod
Gov’t allots P12B to deal with rice crisis, he say
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 13:25:00 05/13/2008
(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines -- The national government will allot an additional P12 billion pesos for this year to deal with the rice crisis, Budget chief Rolando Andaya Jr. said during the Commission on Appointments hearing on Tuesday.
Andaya’s confirmation as secretary of the Department of Budget and Management was approved at the committee level earlier in the day and would just need the plenary’s approval.
When asked by Senator Richard Gordon on how much the government would need to avert the rice crisis, Andaya, during his confirmation at the CA, said the budget department was allotting an additional P12 billion for seed distribution, farmer support, irrigation and rice importation.
"For total package this year, including importation of rice, I cannot give [a] specific amount, including support services for farmers, would be an additional P12 billion,” he said.
He added that the budget was included in the P50-million package for agriculture until 2010.
Gordon, however, said that Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap estimated that the government would need about P20 billion for the importation alone.
Andaya clarified that the additional incentive was “over and above” the 2008 budget of the Department of Agriculture, which had been allotted for addressing the rice crisis caused by soaring prices and stagnant production.
Meanwhile, anticipating a no-holds bar grilling from the lawmakers,
Andaya even remarked to Senator Joker Arroyo before the commission that he felt like he was being “interviewed at the UP [University of the Philippines] Law [School].”
Andaya’s confirmation was unopposed by the Commission on Appointments’ committee members although Senator Juan Ponce Enrile warned the budget secretary not to give “favors from the administration.”
Senator Manuel Roxas II has also advised Andaya during the hearing for his appointment that “less talk, less mistake.”
Speaking before the lawmakers, Andaya said, “I am the biggest casual employee [at DBM]. I am merely a poster boy. On its own, DBM can function.”
Saying he was humbled by the commission’s approval, Andaya added that it was enough that he was the only politician in his department while the rest was run by professionals.
John Alliage Morales, Contributor
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