‘House did nothing illegal with 2019 budget’
AMID issues on the lumpsum funds in the stalled P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations on Sunday reiterated there is nothing illegal in itemizing the national budget even after its ratification by both chambers of Congress.
Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., in a statement, said the lower chamber has the record to prove the legality of the national budget, which has not been submitted to President Duterte for signing into law, weeks after both chambers had separately voted to ratify the bicameral conference committee-approved version.
“As far as the House is concerned, we have all the records to substantiate our stand and the legal basis, as well as the established traditions and practices to back us up,”Andaya asserted.
He said the lower chamber will print the proposed 2019 GAA so the people will know where the projects and programs from health to education to agriculture to infrastructure would go.
Andaya defended the House leadership’s move to itemize lump-sum entries in the bicameral-approved version of the 2019 GAA bill, even though the changes were introduced after both chambers in plenary had ratified the bicameral report.
He was unfazed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s claim that the House leadership—particularly Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Andaya as appropriations chairman—were committing an illegal and unconstitutional act. This insistence on tinkering unilaterally with the budget bill after its ratification in plenary by both chambers opens up the House to liability for falsification of public documents, as these are records of the legislative process, Lacson warned in a radio interview on Sunday.
On Duterte desk this week EARLIER, Andaya said the 2019 national budget will be submitted to Palace for President Duterte’s signature this week.
According to Andaya, the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act, when ratified by the Senate and the House of Representatives, contained lump-sum funds that needed to be further itemized by both houses of Congress.
“That was the agreement at the conclusion of the meetings of the Bicameral Conference Committee. The House did its part. We itemized our amendments. The people should ask the Senate if they did theirs,” he said.
However, Andaya assured the public that the itemization was within the parameters of the Bicameral Committee Report ratified by each chamber.
“The House did not touch the tens of billions in Senate amendments because, per agreement, it was their duty to do such. If the House did not do its duty, then the budget would be vague and opaque. That will only leave people guessing as to where the taxes that fund the budget go,” he added.
Challenge
MEAnWHILE, Andaya challenged the Senate to hold a joint press conference to show their realignments in the budget.
“Hindi kami natatakot sa isang
budget na malinaw kung saang mga lugar at ahensya, at kung anu-ano ang mga proyekto at mga programa ang popondohan. Pero ano ba ang ikinatatakot ng mga senador sa itemized budget?” he added.
The lawmaker also said the senators have the right to suggest to the President to veto the part of the national budget that they think unconstitutional.
“If the senators really feel that the budget we have ratified is constitutionally infirm and legally flawed, then they can tell the President what specific portions and provisions to veto. And we will respect the presidential veto,” he added.
“That is his prerogative. Don’t take that right away from him. If the contested appropriations represent 2 percent of the national budget, then why should it jeopardize the uncontested 98 percent? Why hostage the national budget over unfounded and unreasonable fear?” said Andaya.