Malacañang to respect fiscal autonomy of constitutional bodies–Drilon

Senator Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Faced with strong criticisms, the executive department will no longer impound the budget of constitutional bodies intended for unfilled positions.

“We will adhere to the constitutional provisions which grant fiscal autonomy to the constitutional bodies and at the same time provide transparency in the budget through a reporting system,” Senator Franklin Drilon said during a regular forum in the Senate on Thursday.

“We will not impinge on the fiscal independence of constitutional bodies but we will maintain that we are the guardians of the purse, and that such usage of the fund be made transparent,” said Drilon, chairman of the committee on finance.

Asked if it meant Malacañang would no longer impound the budget of the constitutional bodies, Drilon said,” We will respect their fiscal independence, their fiscal autonomy.”

In the judiciary alone, Drilon noted that P2 billion was allocated for unfilled positions.

News reports estimated the total budget for unfilled positions in government under the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund was at P101 billion.

Heads of the constitutional bodies have openly opposed the MPBF and called for the restoration of the budget.