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Minority Leader Rep. Edcel C. Lagman proposed compromise solution to diffuse the looming confrontation between SC, the Presidency and Congress

Press Release
  • Rep. Edcel C. Lagman
  • 22 September 2011
  • Mobile Nos. 0916-6406741 / 09189120137

  

          Revert the funds for unfilled positions to the Judiciary, Congress and Constitutional Commissions but rein its utilization by special provisions.

          

          House Minority Leader and Albay Representative Edcel C. Lagman proposed this compromise solution to diffuse the looming confrontation among the Supreme Court, the Presidency and the Congress on Malacañang’s inclusion in the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) of the appropriations for unfilled positions which were traditionally components of the respective Personal Service (PS) budgets of the co-equal departments and constitutional bodies which enjoy fiscal autonomy.

 

           In a letter dated 20 September 2011 to Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, concurrent Chair of the Appropriation Committee and the small committee tasked with effecting amendments to HB No. 5023 or the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), Lagman proposed that the “funds for unfilled positions in the Judiciary, Congress and Constitutional Commissions shall be reverted to the respective PS outlays of the subject agencies”, but adopting “special provisions to assure transparency, proper utilization and non-diversion of funds.”

 

           If the Lagman proposed amendment is approved, the subject funds will be regularly and automatically released but subject to special provisions.

 

           The Minority Leader proposed the following special provisions:

           1.  Funds allocated for unfilled positions shall be utilized exclusively for operationalizing unfilled positions;

           2.  The earmarked funds cannot be used to augment Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), purchase of equipment and/or financing operations; and

           3.  Any savings at the end of the fiscal year in the appropriations for unfilled positions shall be carried over in its entirety to the following year’s agency budget and cannot be realigned to support other activities or expense items.

 

            In the initial meeting of the small committee on 21 September 2011, Rep. Abaya undertook to seriously consider Lagman’s proposal.