MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has generated some P370-billion “pork” in 2017 and more in 2018, which could be used to “sway the outcome” of the May polls, House appropriations panel chair Rolando Andaya Jr. claimed Tuesday.
Andaya said he has documents to show that the DBM generated a total of P370 billion in savings in 2017, which is at the full disposal of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokono.
“Documents in our possession show that for 2017, a total of P370 billion was generated in savings. This amount was at the full disposal of Secretary Diokno,” Andaya said in a statement.
“We also know that the amount for 2018 savings is higher. More than enough to sway the outcome of the 2019 elections, if he wants to,” he added.
The congressional bicameral conference committee (bicam) earlier demanded that Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno submit a report on the total unreleased appropriations and unobligated allotments from 2018. The bicam said they need the statement “to pass the 2019 budget.”
Andaya said the request would not be granted because “that is where the DBM pork lies.”
“The House conferees have demanded to see the lump-sum savings of the DBM for 2018. We knew from the beginning it would not be granted for that is where the DBM pork lies,” he said.
READ: Bicam presses DBM for report on unreleased 2018 funds
However, Andaya earlier said that it would proceed with the approval of the 2019 spending bill even without the DBM’s report.
READ: Andaya relents, bicam to pass 2019 budget even without Diokno’s savings report
He said that the 2019 proposed budget would be ready for the President’s signature next week as the House aims to approve the bicameral conference report on the 2019 budget on Wednesday.
Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on finance, said that the bicam agreed to ratify the 2019 budget on Friday. /ee/ac
READ: Bicam ‘breakthrough:’ 2019 budget to be ratified by Friday – Legarda