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BY Angelo S. Samonte and Maricel
V. Cruz Reporters
President Gloria Arroyo said she
will ask the bicameral conference committee tackling the 2008
P1.227-trillion budget to restore some P1-billion in allocation for
development projects in conflict-ravaged areas under the Kalayaan sa
Barangay program.
The President made these remarks
during the 72nd anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces of the
Philippines on Friday.
Both houses of Congress already
passed their respective versions of the 2008 budget bill, but
adjourned for the Christmas break without approving the 2008 budget.
The budget department said it is
prepared to adopt a reenacted budget for the first half of the year,
but said it will insist on an approved budget in the second half of
2008.
Slash in
discretionary funds
Opposition senators had wanted to
remove at least P30 billion of the President’s discretionary funds
from the P1.227-trillion proposed budget, which include presidential
intelligence and antipoverty funds, the P3-billion Kilos Asenso
fund, and money for the P1-billion Kalayaan sa Barangay programs.
Malacañang warned, however, that
the P17.8-billion slash in the P295.75-billion allocation for
interest payments made by the House would result in an “illegal”
increase in the 2008 budget submitted by the executive branch.
Majority Leader Rep. Arthur
Defensor of Iloilo assured that the Lower House would be willing to
approve a budget bill that is “very acceptable” to President
Arroyo just to avoid a reenacted budget.
Defensor made the remarks in
response to Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya’s statement that
President Arroyo will veto the 2008 budget if Congress would insist
on a P17-billion cut from the automatic appropriation for debt
service.
Defensor pointed out, however,
that the slash in the House version is not yet final, and can be
amended by the bicameral conference committee when it resumes
session next year.
In case Mrs. Arroyo vetoes the
budget, a two-thirds vote by the House and the Senate, voting
separately, is needed to override the President’s decision.
Meanwhile, the Senate wants to
put to rest fears that Malacañang will veto the 2008 budget if
Congress decides to reduce debt servicing.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino
Pimentel Jr. said “The capacity of the country to pay is the
primary consideration why lenders would extend to us loans that we
need, and we have to justify the loans from time to time,”
Pimentel said.
With report from Sammy Martin
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