House opens floor debates on ’07 budget

The House of Representatives started plenary debates last night on President Arroyo’s proposed P1.13-trillion 2007 budget.

Sponsoring the money measure, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, appropriations committee chairman, likened the budget to a "record book of the rebates that will be given back to the people."

He said it is his and his colleagues’ duty to see to it that their constituents get their fair share of such rebates.

"This budget bill shows in what form these rebates will be. They may be in the form of a classroom in a far-flung barangay or farm-to-market road to bring the farmers’ produce to the city. These are just small projects, but they touch and change the life of a simple farmer or barrio folk," he said.

By Salceda’s own admission, the "rebates" that he said taxpayers are entitled to would come from only a fifth or less of the trillion-peso budget.

He pointed out that 78 percent or P878 billion of the outlay "represents mandatory expenses" that are "out of Congress’ discretion."

Of that amount, P357 billion will be for salaries, P184 billion for the internal revenue allotment of local government units, P318 billion for interest payments, and P19 billion for "other mandatory expenditures."

"The balance of 22 percent will support the regular operations of various government agencies amounting to P140 billion and about P108 billion for capital outlays, of which P84 billion will be for investment in infrastructure development," Salceda said.

He said funding the budget would depend largely on the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs.

"Once again, we will not allow these two major revenue generating agencies to have excuses for not collecting their targets. Congress have supported their reform initiatives, but they must remain answerable for any deplorable performance to the whole Filipino people," he stressed.

Salceda urged his colleagues to approve the proposed 2007 budget because the government cannot continue operating on a reenacted budget without sacrificing public services.

The government has been operating on the basis of the recycled P907-billion 2005 spending program since January due to the failure of Congress to approved Mrs. Arroyo’s proposed P1.053-trillion outlay for this year.

Budget enactment was stalled because of the insistence of the Senate to cut the President’s proposal by P64 billion, while Mrs. Arroyo and her House allies wanted it intact. The President had threatened to veto any reduction.

Majority Leader Prospero Nograles said the House would hold morning and afternoon sessions starting today so it could finish the appropriations measure before Congress goes on its first break next weekend.

Usually, congressmen cram and work overnight on their last day of session to approve the budget.