Senate OKs P12B budget for calamity victims

The Senate on Wednesday voted 16-0 to approve the P12 billion supplemental budget for the emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts for the devastation caused by tropical cyclones “Ondoy" and “Pepeng." The approval came with the assurance that the fund will not be used to finance the campaign of administration candidates in next year’s elections, according to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. Enrile said they included in the measure the creation of a congressional oversight committee that will oversee the disbursement of the fund. “In order to dispel any suspicion or any doubt that this money will be dissipated by those who will implement it, an amendment was accepted to create a congressional oversight with strict reporting system," Enrile said in a press conference. The fund for the supplemental budget will come from the government shares on Malampaya. Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the finance committee, said the disbursement of the fund should be reflected in the Web site of the disbursing line agency. Aside from this, the resolution also included provision on the reporting of the disbursement and spending and the kind of programs and projects for which the disbursements were made. “This ought to go to the Web site of the disbursing line agency, whether it is Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Agriculture etc.," Angara said. Under the measure, the status of the fund – including its utilization and disbursement – should be reported to the Senate congressional oversight committee every month. The amendments to the measure introduced by the Senate were accepted by the House of Representatives. “I called up my counterpart (in the House) and he accepted the Senate amendments so there is now an identical measure practically approved by both houses and ready to be implemented," said Angara. Earlier during the interpellation period at the floor, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. to ensure that the latter would not use the fund for his presidential bid. However, Pimentel withdrew his call minutes later after talking with Teodoro over the phone where the latter assured him that he would be leaving his post soon. “My concerns have been addressed by the direct assurance by the secretary himself that even before the money is actually released, he will be in the campaign trail and will no longer have any hand in the disbursement of the fund. With that, I have no wish to delay the approval of this worthy resolution for the welfare of our people," Pimentel said. - GMANews.TV