Two minorities in House oppose reenacted budget for 2019

Factions of the House of Representatives’ minority floor may have been in constant clash, but both were not keen on the idea of a reenacted budget, in the midst the gridlock between the executive and legislative branches of the government.

During separate briefings on Wednesday, Minority Floor Leader Danilo Suarez and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, a member of the so-called “Genuine Minority,” said no to reenacting the proposed budget for 2019.

“Parang déjà vu, dahil alam naman natin, noong pangulo si kasalukuyang Speaker Gloria (Macapagal-Arroyo), iyon po ang isang feature ng kanyang presidency,” Tinio said.

[It’s like déjà vu, because we all know that was the feature of the presidency of now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.]

“Ilang taon, paulit-ulit na may reenacted budget. At malinaw rin kung paano inabuso ng Malacañang at ng presidente, dahil alam naman natin kapag reenacted budget basically nagiging pork barrel ng presidente ‘yong buong budget,” he said.

[For several years, it was always a reenacted budget. And it’s clear how it was abused by Malacañanag and the President because, as we know, the entire reenacted budget becomes the President’s budget.]

For his part, Suarez thinks that resorting to a reenacted budget will be “counter-productive.”

“I don’t think it will do us good,” he said. “Nagpasa na nga kayo ng bagong tax tapos magbabawas ka ng gastos.”

[You already passed a law to get new taxes, and now you’re cutting on expenses.]

According to a report on Tuesday. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said that the government could live with a reenacated budget – in case Congress would not agree to shift to a cash-based budgeting system.

“We are ready for any eventuality. We are always ready,” Diokno said.

READ: Diokno on reenacted budget: Gov’t can live with it

Lawmakers have asked the country’s economic managers to stick with the old obligation-based system, prompting a suspension of the budget hearings, which Diokno and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque criticized. /atm

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