Lagman proposes win-win solution for MPBF issue

House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman on Thursday proposed a compromise solution for the looming dispute between Malacañang and fiscally independent government offices over funds for unfilled government posts. Lagman said the executive branch should release the P23.4 billion budget for vacant government posts to the agencies, but place safeguards to make sure that these funds will go to employees. “Funds for unfilled positions in the judiciary, Congress and constitutional commissions shall be reverted to the respective personnel benefit outlays of the subject agencies," he said in a letter to Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, House appropriations panel chair. The minority leader further suggested that Congress place special provisions in the proposed 2012 budget banning these agencies from using this fund for unfilled posts for other purposes, such as maintenance and operating expenses. He said this provision will “assure transparency, proper utilization and non-diversion of funds." Abaya, for his part, said he will “seriously consider" Lagman’s proposal. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earlier proposed that the funds for unfilled government posts be impounded in a single special purpose fund, formally labeled in the General Appropriations Bill as the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF). Abaya earlier said this will ensure that the funds will go exclusively to government employees and not become a source of “misbehavior." During plenary debates on the proposed 2012 budget, members of the House minority threatened to question the MPBF before the Supreme Court since it supposedly encroaches the fiscal autonomy of other government agencies. The House approved on second reading last Friday the proposed P1.816-trillion budget for next year, without touching the controversial provision on the MPBF. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News