House lacks budget for new committees

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is pressed for cash and requires at least P1.6 billion in additional funds for several new positions created under the fledging leadership of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, including 22 deputy speakerships.

The chair of the House accounts panel on Friday sought to augment the chamber’s P14-billion allocation for 2020 by an extra P1.59 billion to cover extra expenses that were not included in the budget proposal.

“We did not expect there will be additional deputy speakers. We did not expect there will be additional vice chairmen on appropriations and ways and means. We did not expect either that there will be newly-created committees,” Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino said.

22 deputy speakers now

He made the request during plenary deliberations on the proposed P23-billion budget of the entire Congress, including the Senate with P7.4 billion.

Following a bruising speakership fight last July, Cayetano sought to create new positions in the 300-strong House to accommodate competing political parties.

In particular, deputy speakers are now 22, from only 12 in the 17th Congress.

Among them are some of the most influential lawmakers, including Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Cibac Rep. Eddie Villanueva, Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto, Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and 1-Pacman Rep. Michael Romero.

The number of vice chairs of the powerful appropriations panel chaired by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab has also risen to 37, while the ways and means panel led by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda has gone up to 59.