DBM assailed over 175-B ‘insertion’ in proposed national budget for 2019

It’s not 151 billion, but a whopping 175 billion that the Department of Budget Management (DBM) allegedly “inserted” in the proposed 2019 national budget – a development the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is not aware of.

This information cropped up during the Question Hour of the House of Representatives that saw Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno getting pummelled over controversies related to the 13.757trillion national budget for 2019.

Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. chided Diokno for allegedly stage-managing the insertion of 175 billion worth of public works projects in the proposed budget.

Congressmen managed to

discover 151 billion in allocation that was divided in large parts and “parked” in congressional districts.

Based on Andaya’s claim, not only the DPWH and congressmen concerned are unaware of the existence of the so-called “parked pork barrel.” Even President Duterte does not know about it, Andaya said.

“It’s clear now that the insertion is not 151 billion, but 175 billion. Thanks so much for admitting that,” Andaya said.

Grilled by Andaya, Diokno admitted that the 1652 billion budget requested by the DPWH for infrastructure projects was reduced to 1480 billion.

“Because we want the infra budget to be higher and we have fiscal space, we decided to add to the 1480 another 175 billion. For a total of 1555,” Diokno explained.

Diokno’s explanation gave Andaya an opportunity to assail the budget appropriation scheme, saying the DBM chief admitted that 175 billion, instead of 151 billion was inserted in the budget.

“You cannot call that insertion because it’s part of the budget preparation process. That’s not insertion,” Diokno protested.

Andaya then dropped the bomb on Diokno when the House official stated that he had personally discussed the budget insertion with the President who said he is not aware of the additional 151 billion found by congressmen in the 2019 allocation.

“The President told me that he had nothing to do with it and that I should ask you,” Andaya declared.

Again, Diokno protested, saying the President was aware of the additional allocation.

“So he’s lying to me? He’s a liar?” Andaya asked Diokno.

Earlier in an impromptu press conference, Andaya disclosed that a relative of Diokno has allegedly cornered most of the contracts – approximately over 12 billion worth of flood control projects – implemented in Bicol areas that least need them.

Andaya confirmed that CT Leoncio Construction and Trading cornered “not only projects in the second district of Sorsogon” but also a number of contracts in Samar and Catanduanes.

Andaya revealed that the construction company, a single-proprietorship firm based in Bulacan, is linked to the “family tree” of an incumbent Cabinet secretary. A source from Andaya’s office confirmed that the House leader was referring to Diokno.

The House official even said that he

will bring up the Cabinet official’s familial link to the Chamber.

“We have received information about a family tree connecting certain officials to these areas,” Andaya revealed.

Meanwhile, the House leadership on Tuesday reported to President Duterte that the congressional districts of three former key officials of the Lower Chamber will be receiving the largest funding for infrastructure projects of the DPWH.

“On top of the list with biggest DPWH projects is the district of former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez with P5 billion, while the district of former Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas was allocated P3.5 billion and the district of former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations Karlo Nograles received P4 billion,” Andaya stated in a letter sent to President Duterte on Tuesday.

Andaya sent the letter to Duterte in response to Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo requiring the Office of the Speaker to explain the proposed infrastructure allocation for 2019 in the second district of Pampanga.

Senator Panfilo Lacson had also alleged that the congressional district of former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo got the biggest funding for infrastructure projects of the DPWH. It turned out that the budget for Arroyo’s district is ranked below 100 among the largest allocations in 2019.