Marcos root of budget issues, shutdown not remedy - ex-Finance official

Metro Manila, Philippines - A former Finance official blamed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for controversies hounding the budget law, and said a government shutdown will not happen.

In a rally at the Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) Shrine in Quezon City on Friday, Jan. 31, former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno said the president’s reaction to the petition challenging the budget law constitutionality was “exaggerated" and “disappointing.”

Marcos floated the idea of a government shutdown on Thursday, Jan. 30, when asked to respond about contingency measures on the petition filed by the camp of Vic Rodriguez, his former executive secretary, against the budget law.

Magno earlier told NewsWatch Plus that she and other complainants may file another petition in February.

“Itong budget na ito, kasalanan mo ito. Imagine mo. Hindi mo mininonitor. Tapos noong napirmahan mo, doon mo lang na-realize na substandard ito,” she told the president.

[Translation: This budget, this is your fault. Just imagine. You didn't monitor it. Then, when it was signed, that's when you realized it was substandard.]

Magno said the administration could explore remedies such as using the previous year’s appropriation.

“May room pa rin naman for current Congress na ayusin ito. So hindi maaring sabihin ng pangulo na bigla na lang mag shutdown na titigil ang gobyerno maraming remedies dito sana iexplore ng presidente at hindi iyon i-give up,” the former finance official said.

[There is still room for Congress to fix this. So, the president can't just say that the government will suddenly shut down. There are many remedies here that the president should explore and not give up on.]

Reenacted budget

Under a reenacted budget, the approved allocation from the previous year will take precedence.

The Constitution says this “shall remain in force and in effect until the GAB (General Appropriations Bill) is passed by Congress.”

This would mean the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation may tap a P61-billion subsidy from the 2024 budget law.

Agencies that were allocated higher budgets this year such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, may have to operate with lower funds.

Meanwhile, an additional P600 million may be allocated for the P26.1 billion “Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program,” which has been the subject of controversy for a number of groups and lawmakers.

“Kitang kita sa kasalukuyang porma ng national budget. Inuuna iyong ayuda na ipapamudmod ng pulitiko,” said Magno.

[Translation: It's clear in the current budget. Cash aid from politicians is the priority.]

Thousands of rallyists gathered at the EDSA Shrine on Friday to protest the budget and demand the fast-tracking of impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.