House starts budget deliberations

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Prospero Nograles on Wednesday called on each member of Congress to "set aside divisive politics for the time being" as the House of Representatives starts committee deliberations on the proposed P1.541-trillion national budget for 2010.

"The proposed General Appropriations Act should propel the nation's economic take-off, and we cannot afford to jeopardize our hard-earned strides in the wake of the lingering economic risks," Nograles said.

The House Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep. Junie Cua (Lone Dist., Quirino) has begun its open public hearings Wednesday morning, starting with the macro level presentations by the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) composed of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Finance (DoF)and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

"We should first assess where we are, what our options are and what directions we must trek," chairman Cua said as he revealed the subsequent schedules of the line agencies for the succeeding public hearings next week.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Jr., said the proposed national outlay is the "final budget of my administration," and that the 2010 GAA looks beyond 2010, "so that future generations can build on what this administration is leaving as legacy."

"We will look into the President's legacy budget with objectivity," Nograles said.

Scheduled to appear before the Cua panel today were Sec. Andaya (DBM), Sec. Augusto B. Santos (NEDA), Sec. Margarito Teves (Finance), and Bangko Sentral Gov. Amando M. Tetangco, Jr.

Andaya earlier noted that the proposed GAA has its bias for public services delivery with almost one third of the P1.541-trillion or P479.9-billion is earmarked for social services.

The 2010 budget also contains the P10.6-billion budget to fund the operations of the Comelec and cover the expenses for the coming 2010 elections.

Of the 2010 social services funds, P235-billion will fund education and manpower development, including DepEd's share of P172.8-billion, and P101-billion for social security and welfare programs, of which P10-billion will be in direct cash transfer to 700.000 poor families.

The DBM said the GAA is anchored on a population of 94.01 million (2010), from 92.23 million this year. The population increase, Sec. Andaya said, requires proportionate increases in school buildings, police personnel, and other social and health services, among other programs.

"I also urged my colleagues to attend the budget hearings and express their concerns to help fine tune the various national programs. There must be synchronicity between local and national programs to attain maximum results that are more meaningful to the poor masses," Nograles said. (Gil Bugaoisan)

House Speaker Receives Budget Documents

Speaker Prospero Nograles formally accepts from Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Jr., the proposed P1.541-trilion national budget for 2010 which President Gloria Arroyo said is the final budget of her administration. Through Sec. Andaya, the President said the budget looks beyond 2010, so that future generations can build on what the Arroyo administration is leaving as legacy.

Subsequently, the Speaker turned over the voluminous documents to House appropriations Chairman Junie Cua (3rd from right) in the presence of (first row, from left) Reps. Hermilando Mandanas, Neptali Gonzales II, Deputy Speakers Simeon Datumanong, Eric Singson and Raul del Mar. Also present at the turn over are (not in order) Deputy Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa, Reps. Trinidad Apostol, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Juan Edgardo Angara, Thelma Almario, Reylina Nicolas, Jesus Crispin Remulla, and Reynaldo Uy. (Photo by Engelbert Engay).

House Ready To Tackle Proposed 2010 National Budget

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Prospero Nograles said the House of Representatives will help ensure that President Gloria Arroyo’s proposed national budget for 2010 will sustain infrastructure and socio-economic productivity programs to promote a balanced national economic and human resource development.

“We are ready to receive the proposed 2010 General Appropriations Act which the President, through Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., will submit by tomorrow, August 26,” Nograles said.

Under the Constitution, the President of the Republic has 30 days after the State of the Nation Address within which to formally submit to Congress the national government’s proposed national outlay for the coming year, Nograles noted.

“Together with Majority Leader Arthur Defensor and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Junie Cua, we have mobilized all the different subcommittees of the latter’s mother panel to be ready to take up the different budget proposals of the various departments, offices, Constitutional bodies and government corporations and agencies,” Nograles said.

Meanwhile, lawmakers crossed party lines to unanimously approved on final reading House Bill 6440 under Committee Report No. 2071 – “An Act defining the crime of child pornography, prescribing penalties therefore and for other purposes” to be known as the “Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009.”

Likewise, the House approved o n second reading nine (9) various measures of national scope and 13 local bills that mostly promote countryside education through the establishment or expansion of public high schools nationwide.

The House plenary also named the members of the House to the bicameral conference committee tasked to reconcile conflicting provisions in the House and Senate versions of the proposed Pre-Need Code of the Philippines under HB 6407 and SB 2077. Those named where Reps. Jaime Lopez, Juan Edgardo Angara, Luis Villafuerte, Jose Carlos Lacson, Roilo Golez, Rufus Rodriguez and Justin Marc Chipeco.

Among those bills approved on second reading are: HB 333 - “An Act prohibiting City Mayors, Municipal Mayors and Provincial Governors from making appointments two (20) months immediately before the next local election and pending assumption to office of the successor, and for other purposes.” Author: Edcel Lagman.

HB 6589 – “An Act providing for the mandatory appointment of cooperative officer in every local government unit, amending for that purpose R.A. 7160…..” Authors: Reps. Luis Villafuerte, George Arnaiz, Jocelyn Limkaichong, Diosdado M. Arroyo, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Victor Ortega, Antonio Alvarez, Abraham Kahlil Mitra, Antonio Cerilles, Antonio Diaz, Ma. Isabelle Climaco, Elpidio Barzaga and Mauricio Domogan.

HB 4907 – “An Act abolishing the Philippine Veterans Assistance Commission…..” Authors: Reps. Antonio Diaz, Roman Romulo, Junie Cua, Erico Basilio Fabian, and Herminia Roman.

HB 1641 – “An Act to increase the penalty for theft or robbery committed within the premises of churches, temples, and museums.” Authors: Reps. Luis Villafuerte, Diosdado M. Arroyo, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Giorgidi Aggabao.

HB 6514 – “An Act declaring May 7 of every year as ‘Healthy Workers’ Day.” Authors: Reps. Juan Edgardo Angara, Marcelino Teodoro, Victoria Reyes, Satur Ocampo, Teodoro Casino, Liza Maza, Luzviminda Ilagan, Rafael Mariano and Arthur Pingoy, Jr. MD.

HB 6512 – “An Act regulating the practice of Psychology, creating the Professional Regulatory Board of Psychology, and appropriating funds therefore.” Authors: Reps. Anna York Bondoc, Raul T. Gonzalez, Jr., Junie Cua and Thelma Almario.

HB 6431 – “An Act rationalizing the tax on winnings and documentaqry stamp tax on horse racing……” Authors: Reps. Abraham Kahlil Mitra, Exequiel Javier, Amado Bagatsing, Jeci Lapus, and Giorgidi Aggabao.

HB 6650 – “An Act chainging the name of the Province of Southern Leyte to Province of Leyte del Sur.” Author: Rep. Roger Mercado.

Arroyo Signs Nat'l Budget Worth Over P1 Trillion

Filipino leader Gloria Arroyo shows the General Appropriation Act of 2008 which she signs Tuesday, March 11, 2008 in Malacanang's Rizal Hall. The signing is witnessed by Vice President Noli De Castro, House Speaker Prospero Nograles, and some members of the House of Representative and other senators.(Photos by Rey Baniquet/Office of the President)

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Arroyo signed into law in Malacañang the P1.127-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2008.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. has described the General Appropriations Act of 2008 as an outlay that will be totally supported by internal revenues as it reflects government confidence in a continued “economic upturn.”

The budget is premised on revenues of P1.236 trillion—P1.108 trillion from taxes and P127 billion in non-tax revenues. Of the tax revenues, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will contribute P885 billion and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), P254 billion.

The 2008 GAA has doubled its investment in housing to P7.6 billion and increased funds for economic services to P287 billion from P242 billion, social services to P368 billion from P320 billion, and defense to P61 billion from P53 billion.

Topping the list of recipient agencies of the 2008 budget is the Department of Education with P146 billion, followed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, P94.5 billion; National Defense, P56.1 billion; Interior and Local Government, P52.6 billion; Agriculture, P23.8 billion; Transportation and Communications, P22.3 billion; Health, P16.3 billion; Agrarian Reform, P13 billion; Judiciary P10.2 billion; and Foreign Affairs, P10.1 billion.