[ad_1]
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Panfilo Lacson suspects that the late submission by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) of its 2021 budget proposal was due to “a lot of haggling” between some lawmakers and the agency.
“My source at DBM (Department of Budget and Management) told us that one of the reasons for the hasty submission of erratic or erroneous allocations for the 2021 National Expenditure Plan (NEP) is a belated complaint yung DPWH,” said Lacson in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel on Friday.
“For what reason, I don’t know. We can only suspect that there was a lot of haggling between DPWH and some legislators, “he added.
“That’s what they told us. Of course, there is no way to validate it, but why in the world, kasi Build Build Build [program] doon naka-anchor yung Reset, Rebound, and Recover, e bakit yung DPWH would be late in submitting your proposed budget? “she said further.
The theme of the proposed P4.5 trillion national budget for 2021 is “Reboot, Bounce and Bounce Back: Investing for Resilience and Sustainability.”
During the first day of budget deliberations in the Senate on Wednesday, Lacson pointed to a total of P469 billion in lump sums and reappropriations under the proposed DPWH budget.
The senator said this amount is more than half of DPWH’s proposed P786 billion budget for infrastructure projects and programs.
“I raised a red flag on this and [Budget] Secretary [Wendel] Advised was sincere enough to admit that there is indeed a mistake and will correct it by asking DPWH to send it to him so he can send it to Congress yung errata, ”Lacson continued.
He suggested that the indicated amount could be used to increase funding for other sectors, such as research and development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), whose budget was reduced by 76 million pesetas.
“At least a part of that amount should be realigned or reallocated to other agencies that would need more appropriations. The DOST, I pointed it out, we are a nation of buyers. AND [personal protective equipment sets] lang i-import pa tayo… ”, said the senator.
“We have a lot of local talents. We have many good scientists. In fact, they are emigrating to other countries in the world and, as far as we know, the items we are buying or importing are abroad. budget so that we can make our own inventions, creations, “he added.
/ MUF
Read next
EDITOR’S SELECTION
MOST READ
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4am and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For comments, complaints or inquiries, please contact us.
[ad_2]
