Senator Francis Escudero. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis Escudero, chairman of the committee on finance, expressed fear that postponing the resumption of sessions on Monday may derail the passage of the proposed 2014 national budget.
Instead of postponing the sessions for a week as suggested by Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Escudero said the chamber may just exempt the attendance of government officials, who are engaged in relief operations in areas ravaged by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”
“I am worried that we might not finish the budget in time,” Escudero said in a text message to reporters Thursday.
“If at all, we can exempt the attendance of officials who are engaged in relief, rescue and rehabilitation work so as not to affect/delay government action on the calamity,” he added.
Cayetano, in a letter to Senate President Franklin Drilon Thursday, proposed to postpone the resumption of Senate sessions on Monday for at least a week to allow department officials and other employees to focus in relief and rescue operations.
Drilon, in a separate text message, said Cayetano’s proposal may have to be decided in a caucus also scheduled on Monday.
The caucus was called to discuss the individual proposals submitted by each senator on what they would do with their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), also known as “pork barrel” next year.
Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara backed Cayetano’s proposal while Senators Sergio Osmena and Loren Legarda said they would abide by the decision of the majority of their colleagues.
Neophyte Senator Grace Poe, on the other hand, echoed Escudero’s apprehension that the postponement of the resumption of the sessions may hamper the passage of next year’s budget.
“Sa tingin ko dapat bigyan ng consideration at karagdagang paid leave ang mga empleyado na tutulong sa mga kamag-anak o kababayan na biktima ni Yolanda. Pero kailangang ituloy ang session para mapag diskusyunan at maaprubahan agad ang budget lalo na para sa rehabilitation at rebuilding program para sa mga lugar na nasalanta ni Yolanda at pati na rin ang mga biktima ng nakaraang lindol,” Poe said.
(I think, we should give consideration and additional paid leave to employees, who are helping their relatives and other victims of Yolanda. But the sessions should proceed to discuss and immediately approve the budget especially the rehabilitation and rebuilding program in areas affected by Yolanda, including those hit by the recent earthquakes)
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