Econ managers request more consultation with lawmakers

This is to ensure that we can move our country forward and achieve our Ambisyon Natin 2040 objective of becoming a high-income country

The economic managers have made a joint proposal to work more closely with the country’s lawmakers to ensure the swift passage of pending bills that are in tune with the Duterte administration’s aim to uplift the country’s standard of living.

In a statement, the Department of Finance (DoF) said there is a need for “more clarity on the basis where the executives can support bills with fiscal or economic implications” to manage the expectations of lawmakers on such measures.

The DoF said that under the proposal, directors and staff of the finance agency, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) would be actively involved in engaging the leaders and committees of both the Senate and the House in providing inputs on pending economic and fiscal bills.

The three departments have sent an official letter addressed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. The letter was signed by the Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia and then DBM Officer-in-Charge Secretary Janet Abuel, who has since been replaced by Secretary Wendel Avisado.

In the letter, they said increasing the number of informal or technical level meetings of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council could ensure better working relations with lawmakers.

“The DoF, DBM and NEDA look forward to working more closely with the 18th Congress, under your leadership, to better align the priorities of the legislature with the President’s development agenda,” the letter said.

“This is to ensure that we can move our country forward and achieve our Ambisyon Natin 2040 objective of becoming a high-income country where poverty is eradicated.”

The economic team outlined their position on the grant of incentives; the creation of more freeport zones; the imposition of guarantees or quotas on lending, credit, and other artificial barriers on resource allocation, including price controls and ceilings; mandatory addition of programs to the national budget; earmarking of funds; and the creation of new government corporations or departments.