PCSO, Pagcor heads invited not to be scrutinized, says Abaya

Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya. Photo from https://www.congress.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—As the committee level deliberations on the proposed P2.006-trillion national budget for 2013 resumed Thursday morning at the House of Representatives, committee on appropriations chair, Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, clarified that Pagcor and PCSO officials were invited not to be scrutinized for their budget as they were GOCCS outside the jurisdiction of the committee.

Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chair Margarita Juico and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation chair Cristino Naguiat Jr. have been invited for discussions during the morning while Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes is expected to appear before the panel in the afternoon.

Naguiat, Juico and officials from their agencies were there, Abaya said, to present their significant contribution to government revenues this year and to discuss with the panel what they could still contribute in 2013.

Next year’s budget, higher by 10.5 percent compared to the 2012 national budget, is being scrutinized by the House committee on appropriations, led Representative Abaya.

Discussions at the committee level are expected to last throughout the entire month of August after which the proposed national budget will undergo plenary deliberation.