Senate urged to approve budget

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang urged the Senate to approve as soon possible the P1.415-trillion national budget after the House passed the measure.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said the budget is key to the government’s strategy to shield the country from the US financial crisis through massive infrastructure and social spending to keep the economy going amid the global economic slowdown.

“It will be prudent of lawmakers if there will be early approval of the national budget,” Dureza told radio station dzRB. “I’m sure members of the Senate are fully aware of the urgency of approving this measure and will act on it expeditiously.”

He said the proposed General Appropriations bill was crafted by the executive branch in such a way that it would help cushion the effects of the global economic turmoil on businesses and families while still attracting investments to the country.

“The financial package or the financial road map in this budget is very appropriate in addressing the problems that we are facing now. It will give us more strength to weather this global storm,” he said.

Dureza reiterated President Arroyo’s call for all sectors to work together to allow the Philippines to see the economic crisis through.

Nograles described the measure as “an antidote to economic stagnation.”

He cited his colleagues for giving education the highest priority in the budget allocation.

Quirino Rep. Junie Cua, House appropriations committee chairman, said the proposed General Appropriations Act for 2009 is a document that embodies “the aspirations of the nation.”

Nograles said the proposed outlay supports the government’s priority programs and projects for 2009 and is designed to address whatever problems the raging global economic slowdown may pose.

“Despite the US government’s $700-billion bailout package, we cannot be complacent but should anticipate any possible ill-effects the crisis may have on the Philippine economy,” he said.

“Infrastructure development programs would help pump-prime the economy while promoting the absorptive capacities of implementing agencies. We also have to heighten tax collections by improving tax administration,” Nograles said.

Cua said the proposed 2009 outlay is only P188.3 billion or 15.4 percent higher than the budget for the current year of P1.226 trillion.

He also noted that of the P1.4-trillion package, P867.9 billion represents new appropriations and the remainder covers automatically appropriated items such as debt servicing, the Internal Revenue Allotment, and retirement premiums of government personnel.

“This bill is not a mere compendium of budgetary allocations but, more importantly, a document of policy directions,” said Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, appropriations committee vice chairman.

“No country is insulated from the ill-effects of the international economic crisis and financial turmoil,” he said.

“Our role is limited to mitigating the adverse effects of the crisis to shield our people, particularly the marginalized and disadvantaged. We can only offer buffers and safety nets,” he said.

Senate to realign budget – Mar

Sen. Manuel Roxas II said yesterday the P1.415-trillion national budget approved by the House of Representatives for 2009 is not complete and should be realigned when the Senate deliberates on the measure to focus on food security.

Roxas, who was in Zamboanga City as guest of the Feast of the Pilar, vowed to block the approval of the budget proposal that is “full of political insertions.”

He said the budget must conform to the current crisis like the “financial tsunami” that is plaguing the world.

“The situation is different now. The assumption (of the House version) is no longer correct, where the budget was written on the ordinary procedure,” Roxas told newsmen.

Citing the financial crunch, Roxas said the national budget must put premium on food security by providing more for the enhancement of agriculture, education and protect jobs in the country.

“The budget needs to be realigned where the poor can feel it,” Roxas added.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles described the House-approved version of the national budget as a very flexible, reform-oriented budget, and recession responsive policy action.

The House passed the budget last Saturday after weeks of deliberations. – With Roel Pareño