SEN. Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday called on the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to investigate the reported existence of a syndicate responsible for the illegal realignment of billions of pesos in funds in the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Cayetano made the pitch after “various sources” supposedly informed him that a group composed of DPWH insiders may be involved in an “expanded parking scheme” wherein the budget of a certain congressional district is slashed, but subsequently reinstated following negotiations in exchange of giving the projects to favored contractors.
Cayetano said Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, being the head of the DBCC, should look into this to find out the truth behind the allegation.
He said he has been receiving this information since he was Speaker at the House of Representatives.
“Ang sumbong sa akin ay binabawasan daw ang budget ng mga distrito, tapos kakausapin nila ang congressman doon na puwede nilang ibalik ang pondo pero sila ang mamimili ng project at contractor nila ang gagawa nito. Holdap ang tawag dito (The information which has reached me is that the budget for a certain district is slashed, and then they [the members of the syndicate] talk to the concerned congressman that they can reinstate the slashed budget, but they will be the ones who will choose the project and their choice contractor will be tapped to do it. It’s a stick up),” Cayetano said.
Cayetano said “parking” of funds was usually done at the bicameral level and in smaller amounts. But now, he said, the practice involves billions of pesos and has become more prevalent.
Cayetano said the budgets of several districts were cut in the 2023 National Expenditure Program — from as low as 24.41 percent to as high as 93.12 percent — but did not provide additional details.
The DBCC on Wednesday started to brief senators on the P5.368-trillion proposed national budget for next year.
Diokno told the Senate finance committee headed by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara that the Marcos administration will pursue a “robust economy, inclusive and resilient society” by protecting the purchasing power of families, aside from creating more jobs to revive the employment opportunities
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno told the Senate finance panel that the Marcos administration is committed to pursue a “robust economy, inclusive and resilient society” by protecting the purchasing power of families and creating more jobs now that the economy has opened amid the pandemic.
“The economic team’s proposed 2023 budget will fortify the country’s bid for a strong recovery and accelerated growth… With capable leaders and a robust economic plan, we are confident that we will achieve the Marcos administration’s bold socio-economic agenda,” Diokno said.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan were also present during the budget briefing.
