Ping eyes realigning P68B skeleton project funds for calamity-hit areas: Isantabi muna mga ‘MPBs’

Instead of going to questionable multi-purpose buildings, some P68 billion in the 2021 budget could go to helping areas ravaged by recent calamities including Typhoons Rolly, Siony and Ulysses, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Saturday.

Lacson said part of the P68 billion could go to augmenting the Assistance to Local Government Units (ALGU) fund in the Special Purpose Fund, to bolster the resources of the LGUs concerned.

“So ang ating panawagan sa ating mga kasamahan, hindi totally i-abandon ang nakatiwangwang na proyekto. Tingnan lang mabuti at sa 2021, baka pwedeng isantabi muna ang sa MPBs na di talagang kailangan at nakita nating nasasayang. Ipag-augment natin sa talagang nangangailangan sa pandemya pati sa kalamidad,” he said in an interview on DWIZ radio.

“Na-triple whammy ang ibang LGUs, di lang double whammy. Gumastos sila sa COVID, tinamaan ng Rolly, ang iba tinamaan pa ng Siony tapos iba tinamaan pa ng Ulysses. Kumbaga sa heart attack na-quadruple bypass. Talagang matindi ang pangangailangan,” he added.

He said the current appropriations for Financial Assistance to LGUs in the 2021 budget bill is only P12 billion.

But Lacson stressed the LGUs that would get the additional funds would be selected ones, such as Cagayan, Isabela, Bicol, and other areas hit by typhoons.

“Bawasan natin para maging equitable at need-based ang paglalagak. Kung mas kailangan ng Bicol region, mas kailangan ng Samar, mas kailangan ng Catanduanes, mas kailangan ng Northern Luzon ang pondo, doon natin ilagay,”he said.

Lacson said the Senate has directed the Department of Interior and Local Government to submit a list of areas that would need the funds.

He said they will wait for the DILG’s submission by Monday morning, as the ALGU will be taken up in the afternoon.

Earlier, Lacson said at least part of the P68 billion should go to worthy programs including the national broadband program and to research and development, including the proposed Virology Institute of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Lacson said he expects the realignment of the P68 billion could cause big differences between the Senate and House versions of the budget bill.

“I just hope sa pangangailangan, ma-convince namin ang HOR kung pwedeng maski meet halfway o kaya maglagay ng adjustment sa dapat gagastusin sa isang taon,” he said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)