MANILA – The Senate removed around P75 billion from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget for 2019, which is suspected by Sen. Panfilo Lacson to be an “insertion.”
In a motion raised by Lacson, which was adopted by his colleagues, the allocation was removed in the Senate’s version of the 2019 National Budget. It wants further discussion in the bicameral meeting.
Lacson questioned Senate Committee on Finance chairwoman Loren Legarda on the additional P75 billion but the latter said DPWH secretary Mark Villar was unaware of the sudden increase in his agency’s budget.
Legarda also said the DPWH submitted a P651-billion proposed 2019 budget but did not elaborate for which particular projects it is since it was just based on the previous year’s budget
“How do you submit a proposed P650-billion without a list…There must be a basis for the figure,” Lacson said.
“According to Sec Villar, he’s basing it on the previous budget,” Legarda replied.
For the 2018 national budget, the DPWH has proposed a P651-billion fund to the Development and Budget Coordination Committee, but the DBM replied with a “budget ceiling” of P480 billion for the agency.
In the National Expenditure Program, the DPWH’s allocation suddenly went up to P555 billion, including the alleged insertion worth P75 billion.
The Congress was unable to approve the P3.7-trillion 2019 national budget before their Christmas break due to supposed insertions by the Department of Budget and Management and the presence of pork barrel funds./PN
