Media Vigilant: Online Reports Note Reenacted Budget’s Link to Corruption

THE PHILIPPINE Congress adjourned this year without approving the 2019 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Some senators blamed the House of Representatives for submitting the GAB late, citing their colleagues’ alleged “insertion” of pork barrel funds in the draft. When the House approved the bill only on November 20, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said he and his colleagues would be short of time for deliberations and floated the idea of operating on a reenacted budget next year.

Most of the media explained that a reenacted budget means that until the 2019 GAB is passed into law, the government will operate on the 2018 budget of PHP3.767 trillion. But some went further as necessary to help the public appreciate the implications of reenactment. CMFR cheers news.ABS-CBN.com and Philstar.com for doing the job.

Both reports said a reenacted budget does not allocate funds for new projects and programs. The two accounts also included sources from the academe who pointed out how the practice is prone to corruption, because it gives the president the discretionary power to realign un-programmed as well as unspent funds allocated to projects that have already been completed.

Joyce Cuaresma, University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance professor told news.ABS-CBN.com that the reenactment of the budget “may pave the way for the president to use un-programmed funds for other purposes, such as the upcoming midterm elections.” Cuaresma said the public would be on the losing end if the president does not prioritize projects for basic education or social services.

Dr. Francisco Magno, a political science professor at the De La Salle University, agreed. Magno told Philstar.com that “A reenacted budget means that there would be no expenditure plan to support new programs, including the delivery of public goods, services and infrastructure to foster inclusive growth.” 

Philstar.com also referred to the statement of Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who said the reenactment would likely result in “a five-month implementation gap for new projects, worsened by the 45-day ban on statespending” in light of the 2019 midterm elections.

The report added a most significant observation: A budget impasse last happened during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Philstar.com said, “Her administration operated under oldappropriations for three of the nine fiscal years that she was president, severely restricting infrastructure projects and services and casting doubts on the Philippines’ creditworthiness.”With the possible approval of the 2019 GAB only in February, the media as monitor of government need to be alert so the press can watch closely what fund realignments the president might make in the reenacted 2018 budget.