Lacson: Government’s yearly unused budget is P328.5 billion on average since 2010

FILE PHOTO: Senator Panfilo Lacson (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The government failed to spend an average of P328.5 billion in appropriations yearly for the past 10 years, presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

“Kailangan talaga pagplanuhan nating mabuti bago natin ipasa ang ating budget, otherwise, wala vicious cycle. For the past 10 years—2010 hanggang to date, 2020—ang unused appropriations ng buong national budget, average yearly, P328.5-billion,” Lacson said in an online press conference.

(It’s important that we plan carefully before passing a national budget, otherwise it would be a vicious cycle. For the past 10 years—2010 until 2020—unused appropriations from the whole national budget, average yearly, amounts to P328.5 billion.)

“Imagine, hindi mo nagamit ‘yung P328-billion mahigit (Imagine, you weren’t able to use over P328 billion)?” he added.

Lacson stressed the need to carefully scrutinize the budget every year since this serves as the “lifeline” of the economy.

“Mabuti na lamang at ang Senado, hindi ko naman kini-claim ‘yung credit dito, kasi ‘yung mga kasamahan ko, talagang kami lagi kaming nakabantay sa budget eh, kasi ‘yun ang lifeline ng ating ekonomiya or ‘yung buhay natin dito sa bansang Pilipinas, ‘yan ang lifeline natin. ‘Pag pinabayaan ‘yan, tigok tayong lahat,” he said.

(It’s good that in the Senate, and I’m not claiming all the glory here, because my colleagues are examining the budget, because this is the lifeline of our economy. If we just let it be, neglect it, we’ll all be dead.)

The Senate has recently completed plenary deliberations on the proposed 2022 budget and is eyeing its approval in the first week of December.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1516780/despite-delays-sotto-expects-passage-of-2022-budget-before-christmas

Among the issues raised by Lacson during the debates was the P147.283-billion in “duplicate projects” under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1519611/lacson-questions-duplicate-dpwh-projects

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Lacson’s vice-presidential running mate, touted the latter’s 18-year experience in examining the national budget in the Senate.

“Can you imagine if Sen. Lacson is President and will execute the budget and propose the National Expenditure Program?” Sotto said in the same press conference.

(Can you imagine if Sen. Lacson is president and will execute the budget and propose the National Expenditure Program?)

“Pagkatapos ng 18 taon scrutinize niyan at bigyan ng pagkakataon siya gagawa ng NEP at mag-execute ang laki ng ginhawa ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(After 18 years of scrutinizing the budget as a senator, if he will be given a chance to prepare the NEP, I am sure the people will feel the benefits of the national budget under his administration.)