Lawmaker fears railroaded budget for 2022

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate. (Fili phINQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Minority Leader Carlos Zarate on Sunday hit the plan of Congress to ask President Rodrigo Duterte to certify as urgent the passage of the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget for 2022.

Zarate, a Bayan Muna representative, said this might again result in a railroaded budget without being thoroughly scrutinized by Congress.

“This again hinders transparency and, in a sense, Malacañang is reducing the House of Representatives as its rubber stamp as it goes through the mere motion of scrutinizing the budget as not enough time is given to analyze and discuss the budget,” Zarate said in a statement.

ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap, chair of the House committee on appropriations, said on Friday that he would request Mr. Duterte to certify as urgent the passage of the 2022 budget.

Yap earlier told reporters that plenary deliberations on the 2022 budget would start on Sept. 21 and pass the budget by Sept. 30. INQ