Thoughts on The 2015 Budget

 

NEXT YEAR’S national budget has been capped at P2.606 trillion as the government looks to invest more to support continued economic growth and rebuild areas devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

This 2015 national budget will be principally acquired from tax revenues from property taxes, international trades, domestic goods and services & net income and profits.

 Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago maintained that next year's appropriations is not pork-free and is an election budget meant to influence the outcome of the presidential elections.

In order to fund the 2015 national budget, Department of Budget and Management will target the desired revenues in tax collections and non-tax revenues next year. As usual, these estimated revenues will fall short of the total obligations, so the government will likely resort to borrowing.

There is still no assurance that the budget is really free of any form of pork barrel. Only the president and the secretary of budget and management can give that assurance. Anyone who wants to juggle funds will find a way even if juggling is prohibited.

The Department of  Budget Department will fail again to submit reports on how it spent the funds of the people’s money. The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program of the DSWD has not made a significant impression in lessening poverty and hunger due to the pervasive graft and corruption in the government. Sec. Soliman must be saving a collection of various hair dyes from blondie to burgundy.

Traditional politician and the double-colored coat wearer Belmonte and lower chamber allies formulated and supported the therapeutic legislation of redefining the application of savings in the national budget. Redefining ‘savings’ will suit Pres. Aquino’s beleaguered Disbursement Acceleration Program, which was already declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Freedom Of Information (FOI) would give the public access to government records and alleged abuses (graft and corruption activities) in the government can be prevented. Although FOI bill is not an instant cure-all medicine to eliminate corruption because our country is a decaying culture of graft and corruption. Our nation is made of politicians who are skillful thieves and huge liars.

There are heaps and plenty of unscrupulous money to be fabricated in politics. FOI bill can be one step to control our congressional solons and find it very uncomfortable and difficult for them if people can examine how they spend their pork barrel.

Another remedy is to initiate and implement law to safeguard the people’s money.