House defers budget hearing

The House of Representatives deferred by one week yesterday its debates on the proposed P725-billion national budget for next year.

The decision was prompted by a request from Assistant Minority Leader Michael Defensor (LP, Quezon City) who told his colleagues that the budget debates traditionally started on the third week of October.

Rep. Gilberto Duavit (LAMP, Rizal), appropriations committee chairman, told reporters that he and other members of the majority acceded to the request to allow the administration’s budget, finance and economic officials to make necessary adjustments in the outlay.

"We are giving them time to make such adjustments following their meetings with IMF (International Monetary Fund) officials in Prague," he said.

The IMF has reportedly rejected the government’s proposal to adjust this year’s budget deficit target from P62.8 billion to P90 billion. The target has already been exceeded as of last August.

The government has also requested the IMF to increase next year’s projected budget gap of P85 billion. Apparently, this has also been turned down.

Duavit said the rejection of the proposed increase in the deficit target has significant implications on the budget.

"We should be seeing here some adjustments in the expenditure program, including reductions. But we want these to come from them (finance and budget officials)," he said.

The decision to delay the budget debates came hours before the scheduled appearance of Ilocos Sur. Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson at the House of Representatives to present some of his evidence against President Estrada, whom he is accusing of having received hundreds of millions in jueteng money.

Rep. Joey Salceda (LAMP, Albay), an appropriations committee vice chairman, said the decision was partly prompted by the desire of the majority to give way to the Singson testimony.

"We don’t want to be seen as impeding his appearance before a committee of this chamber. Anyway, we have the numbers to defeat any impeachment petition that Chavit and opposition congressmen may file against the President," he said.– Jess Diaz