House OKs P1.6-T budget for 2011 on 2nd reading

Through voice voting, the House of Representatives approved on second reading early Saturday morning the P1.6 trillion proposed national budget for 2011, without any cuts on the allocation for the controversial P21 billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. Speaking after the approval of House Bill 3101, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr told lawmakers that the approval of the budget was not the end of the process yet, but a “part of it, and the big portion will be done in the committee on appropriations." He thanked his colleagues for actively participating in the process. “During all the nine years that I have worked as a member of this Congress from 1992 to 2001, this is the first time that a greater majority, big quorum was present while the budget deliberation was taking place. Thank you to all of you. Some of the media observed that virtually every session day has 200 people present. I am amazed that we have debates here among friends," Belmonte said. There was an air of excitement among members of the House when the session was adjourned around 3:03 a.m. Saturday. They even had a photo session with Belmonte. The session will resume on November 8. In an interview earlier in the day, House appropriations committee chairman Joseph Emilio Abaya said the committee will study the proposed amendments during the break. “Maraming suggestions, recommendation for amendments. Lahat yan ipinapasa lang sa committee on appropriations and uupuan po yan para tingnan which ones are worth agreeing to or which would see the light of day. So pag-aaralan po natin yan over the break," Abaya said. He admitted that the realignments will happen during the break. “As a practice, before second reading as is lang yan. The real amendments, the pen pushing happens during the break, the amendments will be actualized come third reading," he said, adding that he hasn't had the chance to sit down and read the recommended amendments. Before the adjournment, the chamber created the committee that will discuss the amendments. It will be composed of Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, Minority Leader Edcel Lagman, Camarines Sur Rep Rolando Andaya, Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong, and Abaya. The P21-billion appropriation CCT centerpiece program of the Aquino administration was the most debated topic on the floor. It was deliberated for almost three days with less than 30 lawmakers questioning the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep Gloria Macapagal Arroyo asked questions during her first time to take the floor. For three hours, Mrs Arroyo asked for the breakdown of the lump sum included in DSWD budget and clarification on the implementation of the program. [See: Ex-Pres. Arroyo faces former friend at DSWD budget hearing] She even called the program untimely and ambitious and the government irresponsible for allocating a budget for a program that is not yet fully prepared. Other lawmakers see the CCT as a dole-out program and 57 of them, including the Arroyos, signed a manifesto against it. [See: Solons oppose Aquino's conditional cash transfer program also: Gloria, son Dato sign manifesto vs cash-transfer scheme] However, knowing that Malacañang was determined to push for the approval of the CCT through its allies in the House, some 100 lawmakers signed a resolution calling for a creation of a special committee that will oversee the implementation of the program. [See: 100-plus solons sign pro-CCT reso but there's a twist] Legislators opposing the CCT also questioned the decision of the Aquino administration to reduce the budget of several agencies. They believed the funds taken from other agencies were transferred to the DSWD to fund the CCT program. Among the agencies that were given "zero budget proposal" were the National Food Authority and National Electrification Administration. But due pressure, the administration decided to give back the P2.5-billion budget of the NFA. [See: NFA to get P2.5B in 2011; ‘zero budget’ proposal reversed] This was among the 50 items contained in the three sets of errata or correction Malacañang sent to House to incorporate in the proposed budget, Abaya said when asked by House minority leader Edcel Lagman. The budget of the Ombudsman, on the other hand, was tackled at the plenary fastest. [See: Lower House Oks Ombudsman budget, no questions asked] Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez may be one of the “most wanted" government official in the House for evading impeachment proceedings against her, but oddly enough, no lawmaker expressed intention to question her agency’s budget. Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas said they simply showed respect for the institution. “We gave the Office of the Ombudsman the privilege of passing the budget without any interpellation. This shows that, at least, the House believes in the institution [of the Ombudsman] as protector of the people," he said. Tupas is chairman of the House justice committee that is tasked to hear the two impeachment complaints against Gutierrez, a task that the Ombudsman herself made more difficult by filing a motion with the Supreme Court to stop the hearings. Budget distribution questioned Another issue that caused delays in the House discussion of the budget was the alleged inequitable distribution of funds.[See: Visayas, Mindanao solons protest ‘inequitable’ budget sharing] Lawmakers from Visayas and Mindanao moved for the suspension of the deliberation. They protested the measly 7.7 percent budget allocated to Visayas and 10 percent for Mindanao. To appease the solons and ensure that all the districts will be given equal funds, the Department of Public Works and Highways assured that all congressmen (each) will be receiving P50 million worth of road projects. [See: House panel issues new guidelines on lawmakers' P70-M pork barrel] LBG, GMANews.TV