Malacañang on Sunday reiterated its claim that it has always obeyed the laws on the review and passage of the national appropriations, rejecting the criticisms by a militant group that the 2016 budget was filled with “pork barrel funds” and “lump sum allocations.”
“The government is always strictly adhering to the procedures on the enactment of the national budget as based on the Philippine Constitution and the decision of the Supreme Court in 2013 regarding the restrictions on pork barrel in General Appropriations Act,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
The Social Watch Philippines said that the 2016 national budget was laden with “pork barrel funds” and “lump sum allocations,” a claim that was also rejected by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.
“The approval of the GAA was made after passing a thorough scrutiny of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Executive also answered all questions, comments, and all attacks by critics regarding the national budget during public hearings in Congress,” said Coloma.
Congressional leaders responded to all allegations and comments of different groups against the approved GAA, Coloma also said.
Coloma said the 2016 national budget amounted to P3.002 trillion, about double the national budget in 2010.
Under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, there were several times the national budget was reenacted, which made it open to irregularities and anomalies, Coloma said.
“But under the leadership of President Benigno Aquino III, the administration worked on passing the national budget on schedule. This means, since Jan. 1 of every year, the national budget is already effective as well as other important reforms approved,” said Coloma.
Coloma said the highest budget allocation went to the Department of Education (DepEd). He said allocation to social services, poverty alleviation and human development also had the highest part of the budget, with 37 percent allocation.
Next was 17 percent for economic services such as infrastructure, said Coloma.