Sotto questions proposed P15.3-B increase in DILG fund

Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Tuesday questioned the P15.3-billion increase in the local government support fund (LGSF) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) next year and its projects that were already being undertaken by other agencies.

Sotto, member of the minority bloc in the Senate, noted during plenary debates on the DILG budget that from P3.1 billion in 2014, the agency is now proposing P18.4 billion for its LGSF in 2016.

“May we know the reason for the substantial increase? This is an increase of P15.3B,” Sotto said.

Sen. Loren Legarda, who was defending on the floor the proposed budget of the DILG next year as chair of the Senate committee on finance, explained that the LGSF was a source of fund of the bottom-up budgeting (BUB), which she said was previously known as the grassroots participatory budgeting.

Legarda said the projects under the BUB were local infrastructure, small water projects, small roads, access roads, and small evacuation, among others.

But Sotto noted that the DILG budget already included P1.8 billion for water supply, P647 million for housing, and P41 billion for community projects.

After a series of questions from Sotto, Legarda assured that the funds under the BUB would not be used for political purposes.

The DILG is being headed by Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, a party-mate of former Secretary Mar Roxas, who is running for president in 2016.

The number of beneficiaries rose from 590 towns in 2013 to 1,490 towns in 2016, Legarda said in explaining the budget increase.

“Are these projects included in the mandate of the DILG? That’s my question,” Sotto said.

“Yes … because the DILG is tasked to ensure that local government provides its constituents and its people with the best services in so far as infrastructure, health , irrigation, etc. and so it’s within their mandate that local governments are empowered to live in livable communities that’s why the process of consultation of BUB was initiated and continued,” Legarda answered.

Besides, she said, the Commission on Audit could do a performance audit to determine if the projects were effective.

“If it was not used as a political tool to prop up anyone’s candidacy, then it must be continued by government in the next administration. However, if it’s being used politically and the P15 billion you’re asking me will be given as dole outs in a campaign, that is completely wrong and I’m sure and I’m certain that Secretary Sarmiento would not risk his good name just for his political party,” Legarda added.

“I’m not saying anything like that,” Sotto said.

“I thought you were thinking that way,” Legarda answered.

Sotto clarified that he was asking those questions only because if the said projects were already under the DILG, other agencies should stop working on the same endeavors. RC