Lawmaker confident Senate will okay budget

A House leader expressed confidence yesterday that the confrontation between President Arroyo and the Senate would not hinder Senate approval of the proposed P1-trillion 2006 budget.

"Despite the discordant relations between the administration and a number of senators on quarrelsome political issues, we are wholly optimistic the Senate will pass the budget posthaste," said Deputy Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas.

"At the end of the day, we all live in one country, and a new budget is imperative for us to move forward," he said.

He said a new and aggressive public spending program has become necessary to avert "national economic retardation."

"Government spending has to make up for the slowdown in business and household spending as an offshoot of the expanded value-added tax and soaring fuel and electricity prices, which had the dampening effect of a consumption tax," he stressed.

There have been fears that the bitter confrontation between the Senate and Malacañang on a number of issues could derail the enactment of the 2006 budget. The issues include the P2.8-billion fertilizer fund scam, Executive Order 464, Presidential Proclamation 1017, and now the so-called people’s initiative on Charter change (Cha-cha).

In EO 464, President Arroyo prohibited Cabinet members and other executive officials, including low-ranking soldiers and policemen, from appearing at congressional hearings, particularly Senate investigations.

In Proclamation 1017, issued on Feb. 24, Mrs. Arroyo declared a state of national emergency, which she lifted one week later. — Jess Diaz