Balancing the budget

IN congress, it was proposed that P1.64-trillion be alloted for the national budget for 2011. Prior to the budget hearings, Malacañang, directly stating that the government under a tight national budget, said that the different government sectors can be sure of the government’s full cooperation in its continued pursuit of transparency and accountability to the public.
Among the different local agencies that have laid down their proposed budgets were the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
According to Supreme Court Spokesman Midas Marquez, Malacanang’s proposed budget of P14.3 billion against the P27.1-billion proposed budget of the judiciary will leave no funds for components such as personnel services, retirement fees, health allowances for workers, and the budget for capital outlay, and the building of the Manila Hall of Justice.
Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo of DILG, on the other hand, proposed a budget of P86.9-billion for 2011—an amount 32 percent higher than this year’s budget of only P65.6-billion; he says it is in line with the Department’s openness to reforms and changes to be more effective in service.
He also added that of the P86.9-billion, P69.4-billion is allocated for the Philippine National Police (PNP); the P21.3-billion increase will then be alloted to the recruitment of 3,000 police offi cers, procurement of 15,000 short fi rearms, 350 patrol jeeps, 365 motorcycles, and 1,844 communication equipment.
For 2011, the Malacanang has proposed a budget of P11-billion—an amount almost P2 billion short of this year’s DFA budget of P12.7-billion.
The fund pays for the legal fees of lawyers hired to defend migrant Filipino workers in jail, especially those charged with serious offenses according to DFA Undersecretary for Migrant Worker Affairs Esteban Conejos.
Lawmakers like Minority leader Edcel Lagman, Nueva Vizcaya Representative Carlos Padilla, and Zambales Representative Ma. Milagros Magsaysay were sympathetic with the DFA’s low budget but wondered why DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo is not complaining.
Romulo, in his defense, said that he understands that the government is under a tight budget. Furthermore, he disclosed that the DFA is willing to abide by the decision of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to cut the DFA’s budget by almost 40 percent.
He also added that he fully supports President Aquino’s austerity program that is why DFA will not be asking for an increase in the budget and will instead urge his department to do its best “to make representations to comply with the law.”
There is nothing is wrong with tightening our belts. In these austere times, being able to meet the national budget means being able to control and be mindful of every penny spent.
As for the local government, while cutting the budget may seem to be a wise decision; it also has to recognize the things that will be sacrifi ced if direly-needed funds are cut inappropriately. Being economical can also mean being practical—testing one’s ability to bring out his innate resourcefulness on how to make ends meet without sacrifi cing too much. (AJPress)
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( Published September 10, 2010 in Asian Journal Orange County p. 6 )