MANILA — The House of Representatives, convening as the Committee of the Whole, on Tuesday approved a report proposing the realignment of at least PHP51.792 billion of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget for 2019 to fund various programs of other government agencies.
Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro, acting as the majority leader of the Committee of the Whole, raised the motion to approve the committee report, which proposed amendments to House Bill 8169 or the 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Having no objections, the motion was approved.
A total of PHP51.792 billion of the DPWH budget for various regions has been realigned to other programs under the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), other DPWH programs, as well as the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management fund.
According to the committee report, the funding for the DPWH regional projects shall be realigned to the following programs:
* DOH’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program — PHP3 billion;
* DOH’s Health Human Resources Development — PHP3 billion;
* Capital Outlay for State Universities and Colleges — PHP1.2 billion;
* Tech-voc laboratories in DepED — PHP3 billion;
* Roads to Decongest Traffic in Urban Areas — PHP10 billion;
* Roads to Identified Tourism Areas — PHP 10.8 billion;
* Roads to Trade Areas, Economic Zones, Livelihood Centers and Markets — PHP10.792 billion;
* DA’s farm to market road — PHP5 billion; and
* Additional National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund — PHP5 billion.
Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr., acting as the chairman of the Committee of the Whole, said the Lower Chamber will pursue its task of reviewing the budget with the intention of strengthening what the executive proposed.
“When we spot errors in the course of our review, we serve the President’s cause and the people’s interest if we correct those. We betray their trust, if we remain silent,” Andaya said.
“The tradition is that we do not stray away from the presidential wishes. Walang kaltas, walang bawas. Kung titimbangin, walang kulang. Ang mangyayari pa nga ay palalakasin ang mga programa (No cuts, no reductions. If it were weighed, there won’t be any deficiency. In fact, what will happen is the strengthening of programs),” Andaya added.
Plenary debates on the national budget were stalled due to claims of insertions in the budget of some lawmakers. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
