MANILA -- House appropriations committee chairman Karlo Nograles on Wednesday said the realignment of some PHP51.7 billion from the 2019 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is a welcome improvement as it would provide more funding for education and health services.
In a television interview, Nograles said the approved committee report seeking the realignment of DPWH funds would address the budget cuts suffered by state universities and colleges (SUCs), as well as agencies like the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH).
On Tuesday, the House, convening as a Committee of the Whole, approved the realignment of DPWH funds -- originally intended for regional infrastructure projects -- now allotted to various programs of other government agencies.
"Mas mabuti itong committee report na ginawa ng Committee of the Whole, kasi nakikita natin na from the reductions, napunta siya dun sa naging budget cut ng DepEd, sa mga school buildings, sa DOH na Health Facilities Enhancement Program, at sa SUCs, state universities and colleges (The committee report submitted by the Committee of the Whole is much better because we could see that from the reductions (of the DPWH budget), these were funneled to restore the budget cuts of the DepEd for school buildings, DOH for the Health Facilities Enhancement Program, and SUCs)," Nograles said.
"At least makikita mo na itong kukunin (you could see that these realignments) from here (DPWH budget) goes directly to these certain departments and items in the different departments,)” he added.
The realigned funds originally meant for DPWH regional projects are now allotted for the construction of Tech-Voc Laboratories under the Department of Education (PHP3 billion); farm to market roads under the Department of Agriculture (PHP3 billion); state universities and colleges (SUCs) capital outlays (PHP1.2 billion); human resources deployment (PHP3 billion) and health facilities (PHP3 billion) under the Department of Health; roads to tourist destinations (PHP10.8 billion), roads for trade and economic zones (PHP10.79 billion), and roads and bridges to decongest traffic (PHP10 billion) under the DPWH; and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund (PHP5 billion).
Nograles also dismissed claims that the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the executive branch, as well as the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), contained pork barrel funds.
The plenary budget deliberation started Wednesday after it was stalled since Monday due to claims of a multi-billion insertion in the budget of some lawmakers.
Lawmakers floated the idea that Nograles would be kicked out as appropriations chairman.
Nograles and Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. belied such rumor. (PNA)
