Thursday, October 15, 2009
Aanhin pa ang damo kung lunod na ang kabayo?
8:08 AM
A Commentary On The Proposed P10B Typhoon Fund
As typhoon Pepeng continues to devastate the northern part of the country, Malacanang presses for Congress’ approval of the P10 billion calamity fund to fast track the rescue and retrieval, as well as relief and rehabilitation typhoon-affected areas.
The P10 billion calamity fund Malacanang wants approved is actually a supplemental budget it has proposed for Congress’ approval in the 2010 National Expenditure Program (NEP) which was submitted through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
According to a top official in Malacanang, the supplemental budget is “badly needed” considering the severity of the flooding which came just as typhoon Ondoy, another devastating typhoon that hit and severely devastated Metro Manila has left the Philippine area of responsibility.
While it is true that funding disaster response is imperative, it is also important for the government to look for other source of fund, instead of waiting for Congress’ approval of the P10 billion it requested.
And since the top official said calamity fund is “badly needed”, why rattle Congress into approving a supplemental budget, which by the way, will widen the country’s deficit and add burden to the already burdened Filipino taxpayers.
What is Malacanang waiting for in release its so-called savings?
Aanuhin mo pa ang damo, kung lunod na ang kabayo?
Unlike race horses, which can be stewed after loosing too many times in race derby, the kabayo we are talking about here are people who are desperately asking for help. Either you do something about it, or forever lose their trust and confidence in you. Flood, which is associated to garbage problem, by the way, is in fact an election issue, which explains why relief goods being distributed have stickers of with those familiar names, and faces, of opportunist politicians. I don’t blame them for being what they are, for as long as the relief goods they distributed, are worth the votes of typhoon victims.
Some politicians are distributing small plastics containing two instant noodles, half kilo of rice, and a sardine to as many people, with their name tag in every plastic. Shame, shame, shame. It is better that they text na lang their constituents prayers for their safety rather than giving them less than P50/pack of relief. Hindi pa nakakasama ng loob.
Anyway, opposition lawmakers, including a few administration lawmakers, are already skeptical about the proposed supplemental budget for calamity, knowing now that there are readily available funds which can be tapped for disaster response.
Come to think of it, how can Congress approve a supplemental budget, when the 2010 budget has not yet been approved!
Funny but true. It seems the government is very optimistic that its proposed budget will be approved just like that.
Alternative budget advocates have been pressing the government to release part of the P140 billion government savings in 2008 to fund disaster relief and rehabilitation eve before typhoon Pepeng came in.
The P140 billion, according to the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI), are readily available funds which Malacanang can tap for the purpose. Malacanang, however, is at a lost for words in responding to such calls. One Malacanang official, without saying that such funds exists, says the fund may have been already used during the current year’s government operation.
P140 billion is P140 billion. With this amount, the government can step up its on-going relief and rehabilitation as a result of Ondoy, and can actually fund rescue or retrieval operation in the north as a result of Pepeng.
All Malacanang has to do is ask the Department of Budget and Management to come up with an updated report of the said 2008 savings, so as to know how much can be used for purpose of responding to the disaster.
Pres. Arroyo should act with dispatch on this issue. An hour meeting with DBM officials will do to know whether these funds still exists. And if not, she should start looking into it, immediately. Or at least, right after dealing with the devastation brought about by Ondoy and Pepeng.
What happened to these government savings is a matter of public interest and the people has the right to know where these monies went. Hopefully, not into the pockets of those pretending who doesn’t know they exist.
I strive to be perfect in spirit, unyielding in soul and humble in triumph...
As typhoon Pepeng continues to devastate the northern part of the country, Malacanang presses for Congress’ approval of the P10 billion calamity fund to fast track the rescue and retrieval, as well as relief and rehabilitation typhoon-affected areas.
The P10 billion calamity fund Malacanang wants approved is actually a supplemental budget it has proposed for Congress’ approval in the 2010 National Expenditure Program (NEP) which was submitted through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
According to a top official in Malacanang, the supplemental budget is “badly needed” considering the severity of the flooding which came just as typhoon Ondoy, another devastating typhoon that hit and severely devastated Metro Manila has left the Philippine area of responsibility.
While it is true that funding disaster response is imperative, it is also important for the government to look for other source of fund, instead of waiting for Congress’ approval of the P10 billion it requested.
And since the top official said calamity fund is “badly needed”, why rattle Congress into approving a supplemental budget, which by the way, will widen the country’s deficit and add burden to the already burdened Filipino taxpayers.
What is Malacanang waiting for in release its so-called savings?
Aanuhin mo pa ang damo, kung lunod na ang kabayo?
Unlike race horses, which can be stewed after loosing too many times in race derby, the kabayo we are talking about here are people who are desperately asking for help. Either you do something about it, or forever lose their trust and confidence in you. Flood, which is associated to garbage problem, by the way, is in fact an election issue, which explains why relief goods being distributed have stickers of with those familiar names, and faces, of opportunist politicians. I don’t blame them for being what they are, for as long as the relief goods they distributed, are worth the votes of typhoon victims.
Some politicians are distributing small plastics containing two instant noodles, half kilo of rice, and a sardine to as many people, with their name tag in every plastic. Shame, shame, shame. It is better that they text na lang their constituents prayers for their safety rather than giving them less than P50/pack of relief. Hindi pa nakakasama ng loob.
Anyway, opposition lawmakers, including a few administration lawmakers, are already skeptical about the proposed supplemental budget for calamity, knowing now that there are readily available funds which can be tapped for disaster response.
Come to think of it, how can Congress approve a supplemental budget, when the 2010 budget has not yet been approved!
Funny but true. It seems the government is very optimistic that its proposed budget will be approved just like that.
Alternative budget advocates have been pressing the government to release part of the P140 billion government savings in 2008 to fund disaster relief and rehabilitation eve before typhoon Pepeng came in.
The P140 billion, according to the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI), are readily available funds which Malacanang can tap for the purpose. Malacanang, however, is at a lost for words in responding to such calls. One Malacanang official, without saying that such funds exists, says the fund may have been already used during the current year’s government operation.
P140 billion is P140 billion. With this amount, the government can step up its on-going relief and rehabilitation as a result of Ondoy, and can actually fund rescue or retrieval operation in the north as a result of Pepeng.
All Malacanang has to do is ask the Department of Budget and Management to come up with an updated report of the said 2008 savings, so as to know how much can be used for purpose of responding to the disaster.
Pres. Arroyo should act with dispatch on this issue. An hour meeting with DBM officials will do to know whether these funds still exists. And if not, she should start looking into it, immediately. Or at least, right after dealing with the devastation brought about by Ondoy and Pepeng.
What happened to these government savings is a matter of public interest and the people has the right to know where these monies went. Hopefully, not into the pockets of those pretending who doesn’t know they exist.
Jonathan L. Mayuga
Adobo Lover
I strive to be perfect in spirit, unyielding in soul and humble in triumph...
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Humarri of www.watwatworld.com - who has written and posted articles on this website. .
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