Act swiftly on P500-million evacuation fund, senators urged

Two congressmen urged senators yesterday to act swiftly on the proposed P500-million appropriation for the evacuation of Filipino workers in Lebanon once the measure is sent to them.

Representatives Marcelino Libanan of Eastern Samar and Ernesto Nieva of Manila made the appeal in a joint statement even before the House could transmit the appropriation bill to the Senate.

The evacuation money is included in the P46.9-billion supplemental budget, which the House appropriations committee approved on Thursday. The chamber is expected to pass the measure in plenary session next week.

Libanan and Nieva said once the bill is sent to senators, they expect the latter not to hold hostage the fund, "to get back at Malacañang," which has barred labor officials from appearing in the Senate inquiry on the repatriation of workers trapped in Lebanon.

"This is not the time to dilly-dally on a crucial measure such as the fund, on which the evacuation of thousands of our workers depends. Let’s immediately pass it so we will have nothing to regret later on," they said.

They said senators can continue their investigation into the repatriation of workers and the use of billions in Overseas Workers Welfare Administration funds but should act with dispatch on the supplemental outlay once it reaches them.

Early this week, anticipating calls such as the one made jointly by Libanan and Nieva, Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. said such appeals would be premature since the additional budget bill has not reached his chamber.

He said congressmen should not grandstand at the expense of the Senate.

He recalled that the proposed 2006 budget, which Congress failed to approve, was in limbo in the House for nine months before it was transmitted to the Senate, which took just one month before approving it with a P64-billion cut.

The President asked for the P500-million evacuation fund after Ambassador to Beirut Al Francis Bichara complained that the Palace and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) were not sending money despite press statements about fund releases in Manila.

Bichara told senators that the embassy received only $19,000.

Palace and DFA officials later grudgingly admitted that the ambassador was "technically correct," and that additional funds were on the way.

Mrs. Arroyo’s request for Congress to appropriate P500 million for the evacuation of Filipino workers in Lebanon lends credence to assertions that there is lack of repatriation funds.

The Senate has subpoenaed labor officials barred by Malacañang from appearing in its inquiry this week.