Militant lawmakers speak on 'calamity fund'

BAYAN Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño on Monday questioned the P10-billion supplemental budget as calamity fund for victims of Tropical Storm Ondoy.

Last week, the government, through the Senate and the House of Representatives, agreed to approve the P10-billion which would be for the repairing of the damage brought about by the storm, aside from aiding the victims.

Sun.Star accepts donations for victims of Typhoon Ondoy

“We share the concern that there has to be additional budget... (However), we are not sure that a supplemental budget in the amount of P10 billion is the proper way to do it,” Casiño said.

He said there should be steps taken before the budget would be passed.

First, there should be an accounting of the P2-billion initial calamity fund for the year, Casiño said.

“Why was the P2 billion depleted? If it was not used properly in the past, there should be an assurance that the P10 billion will be used in the proper way,” he said.

It should also be determined why the proposed amount is P10 billion, where it will come from and if the funds can be sourced from the present budget, Casiño added.

“Will this come from additional tax?” he asked.

The lawmaker then recommended that the funds could be taken from the special purpose savings of the 2009 budget. “This way, this calamity fund won't be added to the deficit.”

Akbayan Representative Walden Bello, for his part, called for the fast passage of the Disaster Preparedness Bill that is still pending in the House.

“There is no more excuse not to push this immediately to the plenary for approval,” Bello said.

Earlier, Gabriela Representative Liza Maza pledged her unreleased P70-million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” to the Ondoy victims.

This is in lieu of the P20,000 contribution, which Speaker Prospero Nograles requested from each congressmen, for relief operations.

Gabriela lawmakers, along with the Bayan Muna lawmakers, have not been given their share of the PDAF since 2006. Akbayan has also not been given theirs since 2005.

Bello and fellow party-list representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel shelled out P20,000 each. Bello however said the Speaker should have consulted the House members first on the said request. (Justine Paredes/Sunnex)