’06 budget okay seen in March

The new chairman of the House appropriations committee said yesterday his panel is rushing work on the proposed P1-trillion 2006 budget so the chamber can approve it next month.

"I am working hard to get a plenary approval by the third week of March at the latest," Albay Rep. Joey Salceda told reporters.

"National interest is better served by the approval of the budget so we can fund new programs and projects," he said.

Salceda, who was previously senior committee vice chairman, has taken over from fellow Bicolano Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. of Camarines Sur, who assumed his new post as budget secretary yesterday.

Andaya’s last official act as appropriations committee chairman was his sponsorship of the 2006 budget in plenary session on Monday. In the same sponsorship speech, he said farewell to his colleagues.

Salceda said his committee is still scrutinizing the budget proposals of some agencies.

"We hope to start plenary debates by the third week of this month and approve the budget after one month of deliberations. If we can obtain approval earlier, (so much) the better. That means that we can send the budget to the Senate earlier," he said.

He said he would suggest to his Senate counterpart, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., that the two chambers finally approve the budget before Congress goes on its Lenten break starting April 7.

"If that is not possible, I will suggest that the President call a special session so we can pass the general appropriations bill," he added.

He recalled that last year, the budget was enacted on April 24.

Lawmakers will be on recess from April 7 to May 14. They will hold sessions again from May 15 to June 9 before going on a mandatory adjournment preparatory to the start of their third and last regular session, which starts on July 24.

Under the Constitution, Congress should end its session 30 days before the start of another session on the fourth Monday of July.

With the delay in the enactment of the 2006 budget, the government is now operating on the basis of the P907-billion 2005 budget.

Some senators claim that a reenacted budget would provide an exclusive pork barrel fund for Malacañang.

There is however an upside to last year’s recycled outlay: since it is about P100 billion lower than the proposed P1-trillion spending level for this year, there would be a much lower budget deficit. And with a lower deficit, government borrowing would be a lot less than if the spending authority were for P1 trillion.

Meanwhile, Malacañang debunked claims that it was rushing passage of the supplemental budget to increase the allowances of government workers so it would be able to delay approval of the General Appropriations Act.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye and Andaya urged the Senate to speed up the hearings on the supplemental budget that would allow the government to increase workers’ monthly allowances by P1,000.

The two said state workers have long been awaiting such economic relief from the government. — With Aurea Calica