THE House Committee on Appropriations yesterday rejected the inclusion of the Executive department’s P18.3-billion budget for unfilled positions in the special provision that would restore the P4.971-billion fund for the unfilled positions in the judiciary, Congress and other constitutional offices.
Administration critics have expressed concern Malacañang would use the P18.3 billion as its own pork barrel and realign the allocation for purposes other than filling vacant positions in the Executive department.
Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya Jr., chairman of the panel, batted for the status quo on the Executive branch’s fund two days before the House of Representatives was to vote on the 2012 P1.816-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading either tomorrow or Wednesday. Congress goes on Halloween recess this week.
Abaya, head of the small committee finalizing the version of next year’s national budget, stressed there is no need to include the Executive department’s budget for unfilled positions in the P101-billion Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Funds (MPBF) because Malacañang through the Department of Budget and Management has been strictly exercising transparency.
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