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House members favor piecemeal budget
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Posted on Jun 06 2005
Some House members, particularly those from the minority bloc, favor passing a piecemeal budget, believing that it would secure the budget of key agencies such as the Public School System.
“We’re drafting a budget bill now for PSS. I’ll soon introduce it,” said House Ways and Means Committee chair Norman S. Palacios yesterday.
Sen. Joseph Mendiola, who chairs the Senate Committee on Fiscal Affairs, said he prefers passing the entire budget for fiscal year 2006.
“Why can’t we do the entire budget? I want to pass everything,” asked Mendiola in a separate interview yesterday.
Mendiola expressed concern on “the lack of progress” in the budget process.
“Nothing is happening. It’s already June and we’re not yet meeting. We’re supposed to call agencies to know their budget situation but there’s nothing. I’m very concerned,” said Mendiola.
By law, he said the House is tasked to initiate moves on the budget.
Palacios said he has already informed his Senate counterpart on the status of the budget process.
“I already told Sen. Mendiola that the House is contemplating on doing a piecemeal budget,” said the congressman.
At the same time, he said he would soon introduce the budget bill for FY 2006. “We’re finalizing the House Concurrent Resolution,” he said.
The Babauta administration earlier submitted a $225.8 million proposed budget for FY 2006. The proposal contains proposed revenue generating measures that is projected to raise some $19 million for the government.
These include a proposed $6,000 poker license fee increase and diversion of local poker fee funds, as well as Tobacco Control and Tobacco Settlement funds, to the General Fund.
The administration said that existing resources would only generate $206 million in view of the projected decline in revenue from the garment sector.
Mendiola had warned that the proposed poker fee hike would not pass the Legislature. He also cautioned that, while the use of local poker fees may be possible, he was worried over its impact on the scholarship and other programs that currently tap into the account.
