Palace confident of 2015 budget approval despite pork rap

MANILA, Philippines—A Malacañang spokesperson on Tuesday expressed confidence that the 2015 national budget will be passed before the yearend despite allegations that the budget still has “pork barrel” funds.

“Based on previous years’ experience and given the commitment of the leaders of both Houses, we are reasonably assured that the plenary deliberations will be concluded so that both Houses are able to come up with their own versions that will later on be reconciled by a bicameral conference committee and ratified by both Houses so that the proposed General Appropriations Act may be submitted for the President’s signature in December,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

In a privilege speech delivered on Monday, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago assailed the 2015 national budget for allegedly containing “two dangerous minefields leading to corruption” —pork barrel funds and Malacañang’s definition of savings.

Santiago said P37.3 billion was allotted for various projects in the following government agencies: Departments of Public Works and Highways, Health, Social Welfare, and Labor and Employment, and the Commission on Higher Education.

The senator slammed as “overbroad” and “vague” the 2015 budget’s definition of savings, which states that savings can be declared at any time and at any stage of a project.

Meanwhile, the Palace denied that the lump sum appropriations in the 2015 budget will be used for the 2016 elections.

Coloma said the national budget only follows the five pillars provided under the Philippine Development Plan: economic growth and progress; social protection and poverty reduction; climate change mitigation and adaptation; security, peace and law and order; and good governance and anti-corruption.

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