INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday rebutted claims that the agency received funds from a different agency without the consent of the Congress.
This came after Northern Samar 1st District Rep. Paul Daza questioned the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the MMDA for transferring P1.1 billion of their P12 billion fund for the free public Wi-Fi program allegedly without Congress’ consent.
“Inter-agency transfer of funds is completely legal and not prohibited,” MMDA acting Chairman Romando Artes said in a Viber message to reporters.
Artes did not expound further on his answer and opted not to address other questions raised by the congressman, saying that the “MMDA will answer in the proper forum all points raised by Cong. Daza.”
Daza explained that there is no clear direction from Congress on the financial transfers in his privilege speech during Wednesday’s House of Representatives session, especially given that the legislature sets the budgetary allocations for all government agencies.
He claimed that it is illegal since Congress needs to be informed of such budgetary changes.