MANILA, Philippines — Even if there are questions with the budget process followed by the House, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor does not see any problem with the P20 billion-worth of institutional amendments approved by the lower chamber’s small committee tasked to receive and resolve adjustments to the proposed 2021 national budget.
Defensor made the remark after questions were raised regarding the amendments approved by the House’s small committee even if the lower chamber already approved the proposed 2021 reading on final reading.
“Sinasabi nila violation of the Constitution kasi because of the process. I-assume na natin na nagkaroon na ng problema sa proseso. But I think in substance, dun sa substansya at tinutulak ng Kongreso hindi ito masama,” Defensor said in an interview with reporters on Friday.
(They are saying there is a violation of the Constitution because of the process. Let’s assume there is a problem with the process. But in substance, what the House is pushing for is not bad.)
“I would still stand that the reporma at amendment na itinutulak ng Kongreso, wala akong nakikitang problema,” the lawmaker added.
(I would still stand by the reforms and amendments pushed by the House. I don’t see a problem in them.)
Defensor said that upon seeing the institutional amendments approved by the small committee, he believes that these were in support of the current needs of the country amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“But to be fair to the members of Congress and to the members of the small committee, nakita ko yung institutional amendments. Ito namang mga amendments na ito ay mga programa sa DOH (Department of Health), yung programa sa pag suporta, pagka doon sa mga kinakailangan,” Defensor said.
(To be fair to the members of the Congress and the members of the small committee, I saw the institutional amendments. The amendments are programs for the DOH, the programs are for supporting our needs.)
“‘Yung programa dun sa teachers education para dito sa COVID na yung sinasabi nilang e-learning. Sa palagay ko naman, hindi naman ito violation if at all,” he added.
(The programs for the teachers education is for e-learning amid the pandemic. I think this is not a violation.)
The “substance” of what the House is pushing for in the budget, Defensor said, is for the benefit of the country.
“Pangkalahatan yan, para sa lahat yan at kailangan talaga ng ganitong pagbabago sa ating budget sa gitna ng nakikita nating problema sa COVID, pagpapalakas ng ating ekonomiya at pagpapalakas yung programang pangkalusugan,” he added.
(It’s for everyone. There is a need for this change in the budget in the middle of the pandemic to strengthen our economy and health.)
Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier said that any change to the approved version of the 2021 general appropriations bill (GAB) is a violation of the Constitution.
But Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman has defended the process followed by the House.
“What was approved on third reading is the second reading copy of the GAB subject to the amendments to be approved by the Small Committee,” Lagman said in a statement.
“Consequently, the amendments to be approved by the Small Committee are pursuant to the conditional approval of the GAB on second and third readings pending the incorporation of the amendments to be effected by the Small Committee,” he added.
This “tradition,” Lagman said, dates back to the 8th Congress and that the composition and task of the Small Committee to effect amendments were authorized and ratified by the House plenary on October 16.
“This more than three-decade-old tradition is well known to the Senators who have accepted it for a long period of time,” Lagman said.
The breakdown of the P20 billion-worth of institutional amendments approved by the small House committee is as follows:
P5.5 billion for COVID-19 vaccine;
P4 billion for the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to aid displaced workers;
P2 billion for pandemic assistance to afflicted families;
P2 billion for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) under the Department of Health (DOH) to improve and equip hospitals;
P2 billion for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) acquisition of C-130 aircraft;
P2 billion for the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to mobilize the assets of the Philippine National Police (PNP);
P1.7 billion for the Department of Education (DepEd) for the internet needs of schools;
P400 million for the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) for the development of renewable energy;
P300 million under the Department of Health (DOH) for mental health programs
P100 million for the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to improve and modernize its system