Senator Panfilo Lacson proposed Wednesday the realignment of P63-billion funds from the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed 2021 P659-billion budget to make allocations responsive to priority projects.
The senator said P42 billion would be from the P68-billion earmarked for multi-purpose buildings in different districts.
In an ANC interview, Lacson clarified that the realignment of DPWH’s budget is “not because all of the multi-purpose building projects are marred with corruption but because these are not priority projects.”
The other P20 billion to be removed from the infrastructure budget were allocated for the right of way, double appropriations, and overlapping projects.
Lacson said the realigned budget of DPWH would be used to increase the allocations for the national broadband program to P12 billion from the current P5.9 billion. Around P8 billion would be given to the P5-billion Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health.
A special-purpose fund amounting to P20 billion would also be earmarked for the local government units hardest hit by super Typhoon Rolly and Typhoons Quinta and Ulysses, Lacson added.
“Most of it will be used for evacuation and quarantine facilities, but some of the amount will also be spent for livelihood, for those who lost their houses,” Lacson noted.
The senator said additional funding would also be given to flexible learning options through this proposed multi-billion realignment of the DPWH budget.
Lacson wants P63-B realignment from DPWH’s proposed budget
Last week, Lacson revealed a double allocation worth P6.832 billion in the proposed 2021 national budget of DPWH.
The senator revealed that congressional district representatives’ insertions ranged from P620 million to P15.351 billion.
Lacson added he discovered double appropriations in the following proposed projects:
- Kennon Road to Bypass Road Baguio City (P53 million)
- Iguig Bypass Road in Cagayan (P51.9 million)
- Balagtas Flyover in Batangas City (P166.3 million)
- MPB site development in Barangay Carmay East in Rosales, Pangasinan (P177.5 million)
- Convention center in Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental (P174.3 million)
The Senate is expected to open the period of amendments for the proposed P4.5 trillion 2021 national budget. It is expected to be approved on the second and third reading also on Thursday.