Budget forged in fire
Credit to Author: ROLLY G. REYES| Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2019 17:10:54 +0000
The House of Representatives has withdrawn the 2019 budget it submitted earlier to the Senate for signing. I believe this is a goodwill gesture to break the impasse and hasten the much needed budget for the year. Making the first move, losing face to break the deadlock is a noticeable act of humility to hurdle the obstacles to grant President Rodrigo Duterte’s wish to accomplish his priority projects. A laudable move.
As Rep. Edcel Lagman said, “the withdrawal by the House leadership of its endorsement to Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd of the enrolled appropriations bill is to show good faith for the holding of immediate meaningful dialogues to finally resolve the impasse, and spare the economy and the people of the detrimental and adverse effects of a prolonged reenacted budget.”
Speaking as the leader of the “Magnificent 7” opposition bloc in the House, Lagman said, “I am supporting the House version of the 2019 General Appropriations Bill because I find it completely constitutional and legal.” He described the House version of the budget measure as “entirely compliant with the ratified bicameral conference committee report.”
What is the composition of the new team of budget negotiators?
Sotto said he had tasked Senate Finance Committee Chairman Loren Legarda and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Gregorio Honasan to represent the Senate. Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo directed Representatives Rolando Andaya Jr., Lagman and Ronnie Zamora to meet with their Senate counterparts to address the “contentious issues” of the 2019 appropriations bill.
We will now know who the real “obstructionists” are.
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This is what Sen. Richard J. Gordon said regarding the water crisis:
“When will Manila Water finish its projects? They should immediately look for other water sources. Maynilad has other water sources. They should also speed up upgrading their water collection and distribution system, check their pipelines for leakages. If pipes are leaking … there would really be an increase in their consumers’ demand, which is one of the reasons they cited.”
For weeks now, Gordon, as chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, has been delivering water tanks to hospitals and encouraging various government agencies to do the same. He is aware that the impact of the crisis is a matter of life and death. I have known this man to have been an advocate of fixing the blame rather than looking for someone to blame.
Meanwhile, Senator Gordon has allayed fears expressed by some over the requirement by the new Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act (RA 11235) for motorcycle riders to use larger front license plates, that the size of the plates might interfere with the operation of the two-wheeled vehicles. Citing the urgent need for a law to finally prevent the atrocities committed by criminals riding in tandem, he also pointed out that bigger license plates required could also diminish thievery of motor bikes around the city.
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Signing Executive Order 77, President Duterte has finally banned junkets for government officials and employees. I have said before that government officials and employees had been conducting fake team-building events and workshops. Seeing them always meeting around the dining table, partaking of sumptuous meals for the purpose of renewing their long-ignored “missions and visions,” or wining and dining with taxpayers who pick up the tabs, is disgusting.
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Here is one reason why PRRD is quite different from other presidents. He lambasted opposition Senate candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, calling him disloyal and a person without principle.
“This person is disloyal. During the time of Gloria Arroyo he was there, during the time of Aquino he was also there. He’s nothing. He pretends to be somebody. He’s a person without principle.”
I think Mar and his group got what they wanted. Consistently hitting the occupant of Malacañang day in and day out, finding mistakes in everything he does, is just a normal thing for him to do.
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Senate candidate Imee Marcos has been in a season of academic bashing for the past several months. According to the latest reports, her Asian Institute of Management (AIM) credentials are now being questioned. This is aside from her Princeton and the University of the Philippines records. It appears there is now a methodical effort grinding. Easy to spot the purpose.
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Olongapo used to be a model city and a haven for peace loving residents. It is sad to hear that their officials are now the subject of a graft case before the Sandiganbayan involving the lease and development of the Olongapo City Civic Center. Future investors may turn to other places if these accusations are proven true.
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Good work, good deeds and good faith to all.
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