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By Maricel V. Cruz Reporter
The House Committee on
Appropriations on Monday began deliberations on the P1.227-trillion
national budget for 2008, with the minority questioning the supposed
$1.8 billion “for unspecified projects.”
House Minority Leader Ronaldo
Zamora of San Juan grilled Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr. on
what he perceived to be suspicious amounts itemized in the budget.
He feared that the amount could allow the Arroyo administration to
forge contracts with foreign firms, like the controversial
Cyber-Education Project of the Department of Education and the
National Broadband Network-ZTE Corp. with China.
“I just got the presentation
that we are borrowing $1.8 billion for unspecified projects. $1.8
billion distinguished colleagues!” Zamora told the committee,
headed by Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay.
Under the proposed budget, a
total of P682 billion is allocated for debt-servicing, comprising
almost half of the capital expenditures for next year.
Given this, Zamora said it
appears that the education sector is no longer the top priority of
the government.
Andaya did not categorically
answer Zamora’s query into the $1.8-billion borrowings. He also
said that the so-called Cyber-Education Project is “not in the
budget.”
“I have likewise read this
project in the newspaper, but from the Department of Budget and
Management standpoint there is no loan package to talk about,”
said Andaya, adding that there is no basis to have it reflected in
the 2008 budget under the Department of Education.
“But we will reflect it sooner
or later, Mr. Secretary on the budget, if needed?” Zamora asked.
Andaya said, “Mr. Chairman, I
cannot venture into an answer I haven’t seen any loan agreement at
this point in time.”
Zamora further said: “But when
we see the loan agreements, Mr. Secretary, and that includes the ZTE,
more than 330 million dollars, cyber education more than 400 million
dollars plus un-specified loans that were supposed to have been
signed in… aside from other contracts. How do we pay for that Mr.
Secretary?”
Andaya answered Zamora by saying:
“First of all, as regards to the 2008 budget Mr. Chairman neither
the ZTE is contained in the 2008 budget presentation.”
“I understand when the Budget
Secretary tells me that it is not in the budget, it is not in next
year’s budget, and should not be in the budget. For all of the
talk in the newspapers about kickbacks here, about illegal
conversations there, about impeachment proceedings, about this and
that individual, isn’t it time for Congressman Zamora to get a
plain and simple answer like, ‘Congressman Zamora you have nothing
to fear because there is no contract, there will be no contracts and
we will fall on our soil if we are found to be lying to the
Committee on Appropriations on this important issue,’” Zamora
said.
Having the $1.8-billion
borrowings unexplained by the budget department, Zamora called on
the government to reexamine its priorities.
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