How can we call the preparation of the national budget “execution-ready” when it allows appropriations for “blank” items, or those lacking key details?
Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson posed this question Thursday to the Department of Budget and Management in response to the statement of DBM Secretary Kim Robert de Leon that the 2027 budget is execution-ready.
In Filipino: Lacson sa DBM: Bakit Tinawag na ‘Execution-Ready’ ang Budget Preparation Kung May Lump Sums?
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Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday questioned a “uniform” P180-million lump sum allocation for evacuation centers in each of the country’s 17 regions totaling more than P3 billion – as well as an apparent heavy allocation for “ayuda” or social services – under the proposed 2027 national budget.
Lacson said his and his staff’s scrutiny of the National Expenditure Program showed the proposed evacuation center allocations lacked key details, including specific locations where they would be built.
“We observed that each of the 17 regions was given a P180-million lump sum for evacuation centers. There were no details on where they would be located. The P180 million was uniformly distributed to each region,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZXL radio.
“Was there any study to determine if a region needed more evacuation centers? There seemed to be none. That is not acceptable. There were no specifications or locations. Each of Regions 1 to 17 was simply given P180 million for a total of more than P3 billion,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson Kinuwestiyon ang Tig-P180M Alokasyon para sa Evacuation Center Bawat Rehiyon, ‘Ayuda’ sa Panukalang 2027 Budget
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