Unequal budget allocation: Gwen lauds Visayas solons on stand vs. inequity

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia commended all Visayas lawmakers for standing up as a solid bloc against the inequitable distribution of the country's resources as reflected in the national budget.

Led by Cebu second district Congressman and Deputy House Speaker Pablo Garcia, all Visayas members of the Lower House stood up against and denounced the budget for the Visayan regions, which was pegged only at seven percent.

Congressman Garcia moved to suspend the consideration of the national budget and the House leadership was left with no recourse but to suspend the session indefinitely.

Lawmakers from Mindanao reportedly joined and huddled together with the Visayas bloc.

The governor strongly supports the stand of the Visayan congressmen.

"Equitable jud na in accordance sa pag-compute with the total area and population and the 25 percent equalization which is divided amongst all the provinces pareha nag amount, which determines pila ka percent ang maadto sa NCR, Luzon…," she said.

What was presented on the floor showed that Visayas      was at a disadvantage.

"Naa man jud nay specific computation, dili na mapunan ug dili maibanan depende if moingon ang national government nga kuwang ni or dili mahatag tanan," she said.

Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, a member of President Aquino's Liberal Party, commented that changes on the expenses are just being studied by the new administration.

"So many things are being changed especially the expenses kay basin i-hapsay lang usa, since PNoy keeps on dissecting and analyzing the situation," he told reporters. The House aims to pass the national budget on October 14, a day before the three-week congressional break. (FREEMAN)