SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon questioned the P11.7-billion lump sum component in the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) proposed budget for 2019.
In Jam Sisante’s report on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, Drilon was referring to the amount earmarked by DILG for “assistance to municipalities.”
“Who approves the disbursements under this item? Can we be clarified? This is a sizeable amount – P11.7 billion,” he said during the interpellation for the agency’s budget on Thursday.
Sen. JV Ejercito, the sponsor of DILG’s budget, explained that “the fund closed directly from DBM (Department of Budget and Management), directly to the local government units and the role of the DILG is just technical assistance and monitoring.”
Meanwhile, Drilon suggested that the significantly large allotment of DILG be reallocated to the projects of the Department of Health, which received budget cuts.
“If the DILG had nothing to do with this, I mean with this item, let’s see what those items are but certainly our 900 rural health units which need equipment should have the highest priority,” he said.
The government is set to operate on a re-enacted budget as the Senate session adjourned on Thursday, without approving the proposed 2019 budget.
The deliberations will continue next year when sessions resume on Jan. 14.
The 1987 Constitution states that “If, by the end of any fiscal year, the Congress shall have failed to pass the general appropriations bill for the ensuing fiscal year, the general appropriations law for the preceding fiscal year shall be deemed reenacted and shall remain in force and effect until the general appropriations bill is passed by the Congress.” (With GMA News/PN)
