The House Committee on Appropriations, presided by Vice Chair Doy Leachon (1st District, Oriental Mindoro), ensured on Monday that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) will get the P854 million budget for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite in January 2019.
Leachon gave the assurance, saying implementation of BOL is a priority mandate of the Duterte administration.
Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT TEACHERS Party List) confirmed that President Duterte led the ceremonial signing of the BOL on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Committee also tackled the P2.069 billion COMELEC deficit in its 2019 National and Local Elections budget, which is intended for payment of teachers’ honorarium and other benefits as mandated by the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA).
Tinio, being the principal author of ESRA, wanted to ensure that the deficit be provided in full.
Leachon guaranteed that the concerns of House Members and the COMELEC will definitely be attended to by the Appropriations Committee.
Leachon also conveyed that the COMELEC may consider charging the deficiency from the 2019 preparatory activities budget. This has been stated in a letter of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno to COMELEC Chairman Sheriff Abas.
“Would you also affirm to us how much the continuing appropriation is, because as we recognize under the Constitution, you have your fiscal autonomy. So with other allotments that remain unspent will form part of your continuing appropriation that can be reflected still for 2019,” explained Leachon.
COMELEC Finance Services Department Director Zita Buena-Castillon disclosed that the Commission now has a total of P850 million that can be appended to the 2019 budget -- P150 million from the continuing appropriation and P700 million excess allotment for the 2018 preparatory activities budget.
Tinio requested the COMELEC to formally relay to the Appropriations Committee the budget deficiency matter as soon as possible.
He said additional funds may be needed for the possible Charter Change national plebiscite. Abas said the plebiscite will require approximately P6 billion to P8 billion. Tinio noted that this will entail new appropriations.
“Paano po ‘yong sinasabi ng iba na isasakay na lang sa national and local elections? Pwede po bang gawin ‘yon kung sakali? Sabi nila, ‘we just attach an additional question.’ Would that still be possible given the timetable [for the preparations]?” asked Tinio.
COMELEC Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. affirmed that including additional questions to the ballots may be feasible. However, Abas said that COMELEC has yet to verify the additional budget that will be needed for this.
Also present during the hearing were Reps. Frederick Siao (Lone District, Iligan City) and Ciriaco Calalang (KABAYAN Party List) as well as COMELEC Commissoner Rowena Guanzon and Deputy Executive Director for Operations Helen Aguilar-Flores./ Monel Gonzales
http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=10799
Leachon gave the assurance, saying implementation of BOL is a priority mandate of the Duterte administration.
Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT TEACHERS Party List) confirmed that President Duterte led the ceremonial signing of the BOL on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Committee also tackled the P2.069 billion COMELEC deficit in its 2019 National and Local Elections budget, which is intended for payment of teachers’ honorarium and other benefits as mandated by the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA).
Tinio, being the principal author of ESRA, wanted to ensure that the deficit be provided in full.
Leachon guaranteed that the concerns of House Members and the COMELEC will definitely be attended to by the Appropriations Committee.
Leachon also conveyed that the COMELEC may consider charging the deficiency from the 2019 preparatory activities budget. This has been stated in a letter of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno to COMELEC Chairman Sheriff Abas.
“Would you also affirm to us how much the continuing appropriation is, because as we recognize under the Constitution, you have your fiscal autonomy. So with other allotments that remain unspent will form part of your continuing appropriation that can be reflected still for 2019,” explained Leachon.
COMELEC Finance Services Department Director Zita Buena-Castillon disclosed that the Commission now has a total of P850 million that can be appended to the 2019 budget -- P150 million from the continuing appropriation and P700 million excess allotment for the 2018 preparatory activities budget.
Tinio requested the COMELEC to formally relay to the Appropriations Committee the budget deficiency matter as soon as possible.
He said additional funds may be needed for the possible Charter Change national plebiscite. Abas said the plebiscite will require approximately P6 billion to P8 billion. Tinio noted that this will entail new appropriations.
“Paano po ‘yong sinasabi ng iba na isasakay na lang sa national and local elections? Pwede po bang gawin ‘yon kung sakali? Sabi nila, ‘we just attach an additional question.’ Would that still be possible given the timetable [for the preparations]?” asked Tinio.
COMELEC Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr. affirmed that including additional questions to the ballots may be feasible. However, Abas said that COMELEC has yet to verify the additional budget that will be needed for this.
Also present during the hearing were Reps. Frederick Siao (Lone District, Iligan City) and Ciriaco Calalang (KABAYAN Party List) as well as COMELEC Commissoner Rowena Guanzon and Deputy Executive Director for Operations Helen Aguilar-Flores./ Monel Gonzales
http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=10799
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