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RENOVATION and construction work over at the Batasan Complex in
preparation for President Gloria Arroyo’s State of the Nation
Address (SONA) this month has earned the ire of some lawmakers.
There are members of the House of
Representatives who claim that the said renovation has a
P200-million budget approved by House Speaker Prospero Nograles,
taking note of the newly-installed scaffoldings inside and outside
of the main building, with hundreds of workers still laboring to
beautify the facade of the Batasan.
“Such spending at the House when the inflation
rate is at 11.4 percent [the highest in 14 years], [and] there are
weekly oil price increases and a looming P5 fare hike is simply
being insensitive to the needs of the people,” Rep. Carlos Padilla
of Nueva Vizcaya said.
“There are other matters of immediate concern
that deserves the budget more.”
Rep. Ruffy Biazon of Muntinlupa shared
Padilla’s sentiments and expressed his disappointment on the House
leadership’s priorities.
“The House leadership should have focused more
on things that could directly improve the performance of the members
of the lower chamber in their legislative functions by providing a
centralized database, networking and other amenities which could
ease up the work of each member,” Biazon noted.
Rep. Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis Party-list
said that the renovation was obviously done for the President’s
SONA set on July 28.
“It is expected that the President would
elaborate on her administration’s numerous accomplishments for the
past year during her SONA, but what people really would want to hear
from her is if her administration prioritizes social services. Is
this renovation reportedly costing P200 million part of her
administration’s priority?” Mariano said.
Mariano also criticized the hiring of additional
guards to secure the Batasan complex.
-- Jomar Canlas
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