CONGRESSMEN sought the approval of a concurrent congressional resolution rejecting policies of the Department of Budget and Management that purportedly threaten the independence of Congress as a co-equal branch of government.
House leaders, including Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr., House Majority Floor Leader and Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II and Minority Leader and San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, filed House Concurrent Resolution 10 affirmed the fiscal independence of Congress.
Complaining that over the past 15, Congress was only allocated an average of ½ of 1 percent of the national budget, the congressmen assailed the DBM for policies that restrict the release and use of government funds.
“The present budgetary policies formulated by the Executive, through the [DBM], threaten [Congress’] independence, encroach on its exclusive domain and violate the principle of separation of powers, upon which the entire fabric of our constitutional system is based,” the proposed resolution read.
Belmonte said he is confident the Senate will support HCR No. 10 “affirming, ensuring and operationalizing the fiscal independence of the Congress of the Philippines.”
“The imposition by the DBM of restrictive policies, rules, procedures, guidelines and conditions relative to the release and utilization of appropriations, applicable only to executive offices and agencies, on the Congress of the Philippines, is an undue encroachment on the exclusive domain of the legislature and a violation of the principle of separation of powers,” HCR 10 read.
The resolution noted “the Judiciary and other constitutional bodies, to safeguard and guarantee their independence, enjoy the full control of their financial affairs while Congress is subjected to regulations similarly imposed on executive agencies.”
“The legislative power vested in the Congress of the Philippines is plenary, complete, unimpaired and subject only to such limitations as are found in the Constitution,” the resolution said.
In an effort to ensure and operationalize the fiscal independence of Congress, the HCR proponents said the following policies and procedures need to be adopted:
“a. The Senate and the House of Representatives (HRep) shall have full autonomy in determining the appropriations required for their operations. Their budget proposals shall be submitted to the Office of the President, through the DBM but shall not be subject to the same process of evaluation, budgetary guidelines and standards applicable to the other agencies of the National Government. The amount of appropriations as proposed and determined by the Senate and the HRep shall be included in the annual budget of the National government without reduction, alteration or modification.”
“b. The appropriations provided for the Senate and the HRep under the General Appropriations Act and other appropriations laws shall be fully and automatically released, together with the corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation, by the DBM, at the start of the calendar year, without condition, limitation or restriction.”
“c. The Senate and the HRep shall enjoy flexibility in the utilization of funds appropriated for their operations.”
“d. The Senate President and the Speaker of the HRep, in accordance with the authority granted to them under the Constitution to augment any item in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations, and within the limits provided by accounting and auditing rules and regulations may use their savings for the incurrence of obligations that will enhance the operations and services of their respective offices.”
“e. The Senate President and the Speaker of the HRep, in accordance with the authority granted to them under the Constitution to augment any item in the general appropriations law for their respective offices from savings in other items of their respective appropriations, may fix and determine the salaries, allowances and other benefits of their officials and employees and determine and address the budgetary requirements of their personnel, committees and service units as they may deem necessary given the exigencies and in the best interest of the service.”
“f. Unexpended year-end balances of approved appropriations for the Senate and the HRep shall remain valid and shall continue to be available for expenditure until fully spent. Cash allocations to the Senate and the HRep shall remain under their control and accountability, subject to accounting and auditing rules and regulations. Unexpended balances of the NCSs prior to their lapsing may be transferred to an authorized local bank account in the name of the Senate or the Hrep.”
“g. Fees, receipts and income received by the Senate and the HRep from other sources shall be deposited in an authorized local bank to be made available for any function, projects and activity.”
“h. Subject to accounting and auditing laws and rules, both Houses may adapt rules and regulations governing allocations, expenditure and utilization of funds appropriated for their operations.”