Protesters in black told: Talk to DBM

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is willing to dialogue with employees of the judiciary who would be wearing black on Monday in protest of the cut in the judicial branch’s proposed 2012 budget, Malacañang said Sunday.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr., who is set to arrive this week after he accompanied President Aquino to the United States, would be the “best person” to explain the reduction of the judiciary’s budget to P13.3 billion from last year’s P14.3 billion, said Undersecretary Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson.

“The DBM is open to a dialogue,” said Valte over state-run Radyo ng Bayan, recalling that the DBM had managed to work out a “peaceful compromise” with judges and prosecutors over the delay in the release of their salary increases and allowances last year.

Members of the Judiciary Employees Association of the Philippines (Judea) would be wearing black clothing or armbands today and the succeeding Mondays to protest the reduction of their budget and the transfer of the allocation for unfilled positions amounting to over P1 billion to the miscellaneous personnel benefit fund in the Office of the President.

SC spokesperson Midas Marquez had told the House appropriations committee the judiciary was seeking a P27.1-billion budget for 2012 but this was slashed by Malacañang.