Budget delay feared as solons push

projects
EDITORIAL
Published September 7, 2019, 12:43 AM

We have a new Congress – the 18th Congress – with all 304 members of the House of
Representatives and half of the 24 members of the Senate elected last May 13, 2019. But many of the
congressmen in the 17th Congress were reelected and they continue to push for causes they failed to
push through in the previous Congress.

Only a few weeks after the 18th Congress opened last July 22, many congressmen have renewed
their efforts for some P95 billion for public works projects in some legislative districts that were
vetoed by President Duterte in the 2019 national budget. These “insertions” by some congressmen
had been fiercely opposed by the Senate, causing a three-month delay in the approval of the 2019
budget.

Determined to avert a similar delay in the budget for 2020, Malacanang submitted its
proposed P4.1-trillion budget proposal very early this year. It was immediately sent to the House
Appropriations Committee. But last August 28, it was withdrawn from the committee. Some
congressmen wanted to make some alterations – the inclusion of the funds that were slashed last year
by the House itself and those later vetoed by President Duterte.

Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said
Tuesday: “I truly understand their sentiments, because they lost regular projects.” But since Congress
cannot add to or subtract from the total P4.1-trillion budget submitted by Malacanang, funds have to
be taken from other government units. “I sympathize with them. I understand what they want, but the
amount is too big.”

Ideally, the congressmen should have coordinated early with the Executive Department,
especially the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for the inclusion of their pet
projects in their districts. They would thus be part of the national “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure
program of the administration – unless, of course, they are excessive or really not needed at this time.

But now, Congress has to go through its regular process for budget consideration and approval.
It will invite the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the DPWH. “We will start from
there. Then we look at possible solution,” Congresman Ungab said.

The budget bill was later refilled without changes, but the congressmen have shown they will
push for their projects. We hope the House will be able to reach agreement, perhaps through some
compromises that will allow the approval of the national budget this December, at the latest, and not
in April as in this year’s national budget.
INSTRUCTIONS:

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2. Arrange it according to how the paragraphs should appear.
3. Provide the best headline for the article.
4. Use the back page in rewriting the article.

Determined to avert a similar delay in the budget for 2020, Malacanang submitted its
proposed P4.1-trillion budget proposal very early this year. It was immediately sent to the House
Appropriations Committee. But last August 28, it was withdrawn from the committee. Some
congressmen wanted to make some alterations – the inclusion of the funds that were slashed last year
by the House itself and those later vetoed by President Duterte.

Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said
Tuesday: “I truly understand their sentiments, because they lost regular projects.” But since Congress
cannot add to or subtract from the total P4.1-trillion budget submitted by Malacanang, funds have to
be taken from other government units. “I sympathize with them. I understand what they want, but the
amount is too big.”

Ideally, the congressmen should have coordinated early with the Executive Department,
especially the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for the inclusion of their pet
projects in their districts. They would thus be part of the national “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure
program of the administration – unless, of course, they are excessive or really not needed at this time.

Only a few weeks after the 18th Congress opened last July 22, many congressmen have renewed
their efforts for some P95 billion for public works projects in some legislative districts that were
vetoed by President Duterte in the 2019 national budget. These “insertions” by some congressmen
had been fiercely opposed by the Senate, causing a three-month delay in the approval of the 2019
budget.
But now, Congress has to go through its regular process for budget consideration and approval.
It will invite the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the DPWH. “We will start from
there. Then we look at possible solution,” Congresman Ungab said.

The budget bill was later refilled without changes, but the congressmen have shown they will
push for their projects. We hope the House will be able to reach agreement, perhaps through some
compromises that will allow the approval of the national budget this December, at the latest, and not
in April as in this year’s national budget.

We have a new Congress – the 18th Congress – with all 304 members of the House of
Representatives and half of the 24 members of the Senate elected last May 13, 2019. But many of the
congressmen in the 17th Congress were reelected and they continue to push for causes they failed to
push through in the previous Congress.