Sen. Francis Escudero, chair of Senate finance committee. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Senate committee on finance began deliberations Thursday on the proposed P14.5 billion 2013 supplemental budget for rehabilitation, repair, and construction works and activities in areas hit by recent calamities such as super typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan).
Present at the hearing of the committee being headed by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero were Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Undersecretary Eduardo del Rosario, administrator of the Office of Civil Defense and other officials from the Department of National Defense National Treasury, Department of Budget and Management and Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Senate President Franklin Drilon, who initiated the measure, proposed that the supplemental budget be sourced from this year’s unspent Priority Development Assistance Fund known as “pork barrel” funds of lawmakers .
The said fund was recently declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
While Drilon only proposed P14.5 billion, Deputy National Treasurer Christine Sanchez informed the committee that the available fund of the office was P14.6 billion.
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