Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday said that not all budget insertions or amendments are illegal, arguing they are a standard part of the regular budget process.
In a statement, Sotto said that the recent controversies hounding flood control projects have affected and generalized that all amendments as “illegal or improper.”
“Some of these amendments are for additional classrooms, farm to market roads and bridges that will benefit our people, especially those in the far flung provinces. Some of which were never funded and were tagged ‘for later release (FLR)’,” Sotto said.
He added that he “concurs” with the suggestion of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, Committee on Finance chairman, to do away with unprogrammed appropriations, which have been tinkered with by lawmakers.
Sotto said he will suggest to Gatchalian that all amendments must be presented on the floor during the 2nd reading of the budget bill.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito said not all amendments were “bad” especially if they are to help agencies and departments.
“One of our tasks is to introduce amendments after the budget hearings to support and further improve programs and projects. Amendments are not tainted as long as there is no post enactment intervention,” Ejercito said.
Sotto made the statement after Senate president pro tempore Panfilo Lacson said that almost all of the senators of the 19th Congress have made insertions in the proposed 2025 national budget which total to around P100 billion.
