Mar hits Bayan Muna solons for wrong DILG budget figures

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has advised representatives of Bayan Muna partylist to make sure that their figures are accurate before making claims about the national budget.

Roxas reacted to statements of Bayan Muna representatives Carlos Zarate and Neri Colmenares who admitted that they have made a "mistake" in claiming that the Department of the Interior and Local Government's budget increased by almost P423 billion.

In fact, Roxas said that in view of the errata issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the DILG's total budget of P104,574,005,000 was actually cut by P2.607 million, to P104,571,398,000 for fiscal year 2015.

In a recent briefing on Tuesday, Roxas disputed the claims of Colmenares. He said the congressman was "entitled to his own opinion" but not "to his own facts."

By admitting their fault, the two Bayan Muna representatives also confirmed DILG's theory that it was a result of misconstruing the P398 billion Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), which is automatically appropriated to all local government units to deliver basic public goods and services.

"Let's be more responsible with what we are saying. It's taxpayers' money that we're talking about here," Roxas said.

"We're not playing around with the people's hard-earned money, so don't play around with the truth," he added.

He also urged the two legislators to take responsibility for their claims that have caused unwarranted discomfort to the public.