House saves P190 million in 2005

The House of Representatives has posted an unprecedented P190 million in savings for the fiscal year 2005, "through a program of austerity, cost-cutting and disciplined financial management," Speaker Jose de Venecia told President Arroyo yesterday during a 30-minute call at Malacañang.

De Venecia said he plans to use the savings for the construction of a new building at the House of Representatives, computerization and networking of congressional offices. He also said part of the savings would go to the funding of a unicameral-parliamentary system which would require accommodation of new members.

The President advised De Venecia not to turn the savings over to the National Treasury but instead use it for his building project.

Mrs. Arroyo acknowledged De Venecia’s desire to build additional buildings because of the "lack of available space in the legislative premises."

"The construction of the proposed building has long been put on hold due to budgetary constraints," De Venecia told the President, while handing a two-page letter he signed. "With the number of House members, we are now in need of space not only for their offices but also for their support staff."

De Venecia told Mrs. Arroyo the House would allocate P100 million of the savings for the construction of a new building in the Batasan complex.

De Venecia said the Mitra Building, conceived during his second term as Speaker in 1998, has accommodated all public hearings conducted by the House committees since its inauguration in 2002.

"However, even the available space is not adequate," De Venecia told Mrs. Arroyo, "and we don’t want to go back to the former practice of holding committee hearings in the function rooms of expensive hotels."

He said the building’s total cost and other details would soon be finalized.

De Venecia is confident that Department of Public Works and Highways would undertake construction of the building to save on cost.

Meanwhile, the House computerization program will include a digital link to the plenary hall and their congressional districts.

Present during the meeting were Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the committee on accounts, House secretary general Roberto Nazareno, and Makati City Rep. Agapito Aquino.