Check your info, Palace tells Binay

Malacañang on Thursday advised Vice President Jejomar Binay to double-check his information before unleashing another round of tirade against the administration.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma made this statement as he lashed back at Binay for saying that the government’s budget for the health sector has been dwindling each year.

“Maybe he should study his data and figures first. It is irresponsible to release any number and make accusations without sufficient study,” said Coloma in a press conference.

Binay recently assailed the government for the low priority it has given to the public health sector based on its declining budget allocations under the Aquino administration.

But Coloma noted that this was a spurious interpretation of official data, which showed that the budget of the Department of Health had increased by more than five times from P25.3 billion in 2010 to P128.5 billion in 2016.

Coloma said the data showed that Binay’s claims were “inaccurate” and “unfounded.”

He also denied Binay’s sweeping allegations that the government has been less than transparent with its spending and that it has been using its excess funds to harass or freeze individuals critical of the Aquino administration.

“The Aquino administration has governed on the basis of open, transparent and accountable government. Government funds have been used judiciously to attain the objectives of inclusive growth and poverty reduction,” he said.

“Even the international community has recognized the good governance practices of the Aquino administration that have boosted the country’s investment ratings and earned high confidence as a favored investment destination,” he added.