By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — The national government must make the use of savings in a “more democratic” manner, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara yesterday said.
Standards on the use of budget savings must be set, according to the Senate ways and means committee chair.
“We cannot have a system in which the budget bill is debated in the open, in plenary, only to have it adjusted behind closed doors,” said Angara.
He said he does not know whether or not there is consultation before savings are disbursed.
“Having criteria is like having a competition policy that will guide agencies on how to apply as a recipient of savings,” he said.
An agency must also defend first its urgent need for additional funding, he said.
Angara said the government should improve transparency of spending through participatory budgeting.
He lauded the Department of Budget and Management for making the private sector, local governments and nongovernment organizations participate in preparing its budget.
However, the involvement of stakeholders should not only end when the General Appropriations Act is printed, said Angara.
“It must continue when large amounts of money are basically reappropriated,” he said./PN
