Sen. Francis Escudero. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday allayed fears that the Senate-approved 2015 national budget would be prone to corruption due to lump sum appropriations.
“Before (the lawmakers) can use the lump sum, they will nee6d to submit an itemized budget to the Senate, House of Representatives and Commission on Audit. The budget will not be released without the itemized appropriations,” Escudero, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said in a press conference.
Escudero also defended the definition of “savings” in the Senate version of the proposed national budget.
“What we are following is the Supreme Court definition of savings,” he said, adding that the Senate’s version of the national budget also included a provision prohibiting post-enactment intervention.
“The national budget is compliant with the Supreme Court decisions on DAP and PDAF,” Escudero said, referring to the Priority Development Assistance Fund known as pork barrel and the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which the high court declared illegal.
“As best as we can, we provided the funds for the vulnerable sectors that need it the most. We have optimized the budget and removed unnecessary appropriations,” he said.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago has criticized the lower House version of the budget for containing pork barrel funds and for its “overbroad” definition of savings.
With 13-0 vote, the Senate on Wednesday night approved on third and final reading its version of the proposed P2.6-trillion 2015 national budget.
The bicameral conference for the national budget is set on December 2.
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