(Eagle News)—-The senators can tell President Rodrigo Duterte what provisions he should veto in the proposed national budget if they really feel that what was ratified was “constitutionally-infirm and legally-flawed.”
House appropriations chair Rolando Andaya Jr. made the remark after Senator Panfilo Lacson, who had accused the House of “manipulating” the national budget even after its ratification by both houses of Congress, said Senate President Tito Sotto would not sign the bill for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature.
Lacson had therefore said “all indications point to the country having a reenacted budget at least until August.”
But Andaya reiterated the House was merely “itemizing” the budget so it would be easier to analyze.
“Hindi kami natatakot sa isang budget na malinaw kung saang mga lugar at ahensya, at kung anu-ano ang mga proyekto at mga programa ang popondohan,” Andaya said.
According to Andaya, “as far as the House is concerned, we have all the records to substantiate our stand and the legal basis, as well as the established traditions and practices to back us up.”
“Ano ba ang ikinatatakot ng mga senador sa itemized budget?” Andaya said.
The House appropriations chair said if the contested parts of the budget represent only 2 percent of the national budget, “then why should it jeopardize the uncontested 98 percent?”
“Why hostage the national budget over unfounded and unreasonable fear?” he asked.