Andaya ready to face House probe into 11th-hour spending by Arroyo gov’t

Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, now Camarines Sur representative, is willing to face his colleagues to answer their questions on the release of P10.2 billion for various infrastructure projects in the last few months of the Arroyo administration, which is under investigation by the House committee on good government and public accountability.

Andaya said he believed the disbursement of the funds was aboveboard.

“I am open to answering queries of my colleagues,” Andaya said in a statement. “Although the records are not with me now, I am confident that the release of funds complied with the law.”

The House committee plans to invite Andaya and former officials of the Department of Budget and Management in connection with its inquiry into whether the release of the P10.2 billion, used ostensibly for 1,074 public works projects, was in order.

The amount was part of the P69 billion in congressional insertions in the 2010 budget, whose release was on condition Congress identified new revenue sources. There were apparently no new revenue measures to support the releases, the committee was told.

The P10.2 billion was released directly to various congressional districts in the first half of 2010.

The House committee is also awaiting a report from the Commission on Audit on whether the projects, which supposedly included road works, buildings, and desilting activities, were properly implemented.

Andaya said in his statement that that Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson had stated there was nothing anomalous in the receipt of funds. He was confident the findings would be corroborated by documents.

“Even if I will insist that the release was in accordance with law and followed established procedures, such would be viewed as self-serving, thus it would be better if the actions I have taken will be checked against official records,” he added.

Singson had said on Tuesday that he assumed that the projects funded by the P10.2 billion were properly bid out and implemented, as these took place before he assumed office.

Andaya also said any slippages in the implementation of the projects were under the jurisdiction of the implementing agency, and must be discovered during audit.

Good government committee chair Rep. Oscar Rodriguez had said that since Andaya was a fellow lawmaker, he would only be requested—not compelled—to appear at the hearing if necessary.

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