‘Come clean on P140-B funds’

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‘Come clean on P140-B funds’
Top News
Wednesday, 07 October 2009 03:26

PALACE officials were urged on Tuesday to “come clean” on the reason behind the impounding of P140 billion in funds from the 2008 budget, and the failure of the Executive to inform Congress that Mrs. Arroyo had such huge amount at her disposal.

The call from Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay followed revelations from alternative-budget activists, led by former national treasurer Leonor Briones, for the Executive to tap into these funds, instead of looking at other means to raise money, for post-calamity rehabilitation, but which will burden people even more and swell the deficit.

“Malacañang needs to come clean on Mrs. Arroyo’s purpose for impounding such a huge amount. And it also needs to explain not only to Congress but to the public why it kept silent on the existence of P140 billion in impounded funds,” Binay said.

Besides replenishing the calamity fund, the P140 billion impounded by Malacañang through transfer from various government agencies could provide help to the agriculture sector, added the mayor.

“Mrs. Arroyo can apparently provide the funds needed to ensure stable food supply by next year, in view of the admission by government officials that there could be a shortage in the supply of rice by nearly next year,” he said.

Binay said Congress has been prompted by the extensive damage caused by Typhoon Ondoy to provide the Office of the President with a P10- billion supplemental budget for the depleted calamity fund.

“Malacañang did not object to the proposal, but neither did it inform Congress that Mrs. Arroyo has more than enough funds at her disposal,” he said.

‘Disturbing’ findings

Binay said the findings of Professor Briones that Mrs. Arroyo had impounded P140 billion in funds from the 2008 budget is disturbing in the light of the national government’s precarious fiscal situation.

“The national government is already in a deficit, and it would have to resort to more borrowings if Congress would approve the P10-billion supplemental fund,” he said. He added that Malacañang could easily allay the concern of Congress and the public about its ability to respond to the calamity by saying that Mrs. Arroyo has more than enough money at her disposal.

Palace’s reaction

AT the Palace, deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez sidestepped the issue, telling reporters, “We’re not saying that [the P140 billion] actually exists, I don’t even know what they’re talking about; I think whether or not that figure exists, I think it would be better if the budget secretary or any budget official can answer that question.”

He noted that all sectors are pitching in to help the victims of Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, and the President had even opened Malacañang Palace to serve as an evacuation and relief center. The “P10-billion supplemental budget is Congress’s way of helping our citizens especially in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.”