Drilon sees ‘bias’ for security sector under proposed 2021 budget

MANILA, Philippines — “This is the time to put our money where our mouth is.”

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said this after he flagged a supposed “bias favoring the security sector” in the proposed 2021 budget, lamenting that the additional P10-billion funding for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines under unprogrammed allocations is only an “illusion.”

“Overall, the budget does not provide for the level of livelihood support, economic assistance, and stimulus that one would expect in the face of this unprecedented crisis,” Drilon said.

“The 2021 budget presents a golden opportunity to set the right priorities and policy thrusts. Let us not miss this opportunity. Because if we do, history will not be kind to us,” he added.

According to the minority leader, the 2021 budget is “insufficient” for health-related programs.

“We laud the [finance] committee’s efforts to augment the health budget, but we regret to say that it remains insufficient, when contrasted with the magnitude of the crisis we are facing, and considering the very close relationship between containing the pandemic, and providing a much-needed boost to the economy,” he said.

He said that while the Senate introduced an additional P10 billion to the House-approved P8-billion allocation for COVID-19 vaccines, the said augmentation is only an “illusion.”

“Under the Committee Report, an additional P10 billion in unprogrammed funds is set aside for the purchase of the vaccine. But remember: allocations under the unprogrammed fund item cannot be tapped unless the total revenues exceed the targets. Revenues, not borrowings, must exceed targets. I repeat for emphasis: revenues from taxes and duties, not borrowings, must exceed targets,” Drilon explained.

“No economist will stake his or her reputation by asserting that we expect to exceed our revenue targets in 2022. Given this, it is clear that the additional P10 billion for COVID vaccine under the item on Unprogrammed Funds is, with all due respect, more apparent than real. An illusion,” he added.

Comparing the amount for COVID-19 vaccines to the P19 billion allocated for anti-insurgency efforts, Drilon questioned anew the priorities of the 2021 budget.

He reiterated his earlier call to reallocate the proposed P19-billion for the procurement of vaccines.

“Can we not use the P19 billion anti-insurgency funds, especially that it is for the 822 cleared barangays, to purchase the vaccines? We ask: are our priorities correct? To correct the budget priorities is the solemn duty of this august chamber,” he said.

/MUF