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MANILA,
Oct. 6 (PNA) -- House Speaker Prospero Nograles has denied insinuations
that the government outlay for infrastructure development will be used
to fund the administration candidates in the 2010 elections as he
pointed out that the House of Representatives will faithfully pursue
its constitutional oversight powers to ensure that public money is not
wasted by irregularities during implementation.
He
noted there is a need for the government to invest on infrastructure to
pump-prime the economy and shield the country from the aftershocks of
the US financial tremor.
"There
is a total of P147.47-billion infrastructure outlay for 2009 which, if
implemented to the letter, could well help the country to sustain
modest economic development even with the current global economic
slowdown," he said.
"There
should absolutely be no malice on what the government intends to do
with the national outlay without necessarily putting our guards down in
ensuring that government funds are not put to waste. We have a global
financial crisis so this is not really the best time to put the color
of politics on the national budget," he added.
Nograles
pointed out that Congress' oversight powers would also strengthen
accountability and allow the Legislative branch to monitor the
Executive's implementation of vital programs, especially those that
promote food security, industry development, education and health, and
other socially sensitive social programs.
He
said it is for this reason that he created a special sub-committee on
Agency Financial Accountabilities that will be headed by Zamboanga del
Sur Rep. Antonio Cerilles, which will monitor and assess the
implementation of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and correct or
even avert abuses of power and exercise of discretion, particularly in
the disbursement of public funds.
The special panel will be under the committee on appropriations chaired by Quirino Rep. Junie Cua.
"Under
our watch, we are committed to put up all necessary safety nets in the
budget to ensure the full implementation of specific projects in a
transparent and public manner to protect taxpayers' money," said the
Speaker.
The
pursuit of infrastructure development is among the measures cited by
the economic managers that would help pump-prime the economy and shield
the people from the adverse domino effects of the international
financial crisis.
They
also cited the need for heightened tax collection and the promotion of
the absorptive capacities of government implementing agencies to
maximize use of available financial resources.
The
P147.47-billion appropriations are spread among the various departments
and agencies of the national government and local government units
(LGUs) including the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the
Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC).
The
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be getting the
lion's share with P99.72 billion, while the Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Program will have P20.7 billion in infrastructure funds.
Likewise, the Agrarian Reform Fund has P3.36 billion for infrastructure projects.
On
the other hand, the Department of Health (DoH) would use P1.5 billion
for potable water supply infrastructures, while the Department of
Education (DepEd) is allotted some P8.52 billion for its schoolbuilding
program.
The
Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) will have P14.85
billion, of which some P7.75 billion would cover airports and
navigational facilities, P151 million for ports and lighthouses, and
the rest of the funds will be used for other projects, while the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is appropriated some P1.16
billion in infrastructure funds.
The
LGUs are also allotted with P1.03-billion infrastructure budget, which
includes P631.37 million for the PRRC and flood control projects.
Of
the total P147.47-billion overall infrastructure outlays for 2009, some
P112.5 billion will be locally funded while some P34.96 billion are
foreign-funded programs.
Meanwhile,
Nograles is urging Malacanang to certify as urgent the proposed
amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) of 2001 to make it
"compliant with the current international anti-money/counter-terrorist
financing standards."
"The
global efforts to stabilize the financial markets and the sustained war
against terrorism dictates the immediate revision of Republic Act 9160
or the anti-money laundering law," he said.
The
House of Representatives has approved on second reading the amendatory
measure, House Bill 5077, and the certification of President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo would hasten its final passage by the House.
"A
certification by the President would allow us to fast track its final
reading approval even as the House plenary has started its floor
deliberation of the proposed P1.14-trillion General Appropriations Act
for 2009," Nograles said.
However,
Majority Leader Arthur Defensor explained that HB 5077, after its
earlier second reading approval, has been recalled by plenary to
undergo further "perfecting amendments."
"If
the President certifies the bill as urgent, HB 5077 can be approved on
third reading without waiting for the required three-day period
following second reading passage," he said.
Nograles
was among the principal authors of the consolidated bill along with
Reps. Rufus Rodriguez and Jaime Lopez, chairman of the House committee
on banks and financial intermediaries.
Key
provisions of the proposed measure include the coverage of "designated
non-financial businesses and professions as reporting institutions,
such as casinos, including internet casinos; real estate agents;
dealers in precious metals and stones; lawyers, notaries, other
independent legal professionals and accountants when they prepare for
or carry out transactions for their clients' money, monetary
instrument, property or other assets."
Likewise,
it expands the list of unlawful activities to include terrorism and
terrorist financing, trafficking in human beings, sexual exploitation
of children, corruption and bribery and environment crimes.
The
proposed bill also grants AMLC the authority to inquire on a bank
deposit upon the order of a court based on an ex-parte application.
It
also prescribes due process safeguard provisions in the implementation
of a freeze order, and provides a system of incentives and rewards and
provisions for the disposition of forfeited assets and retention. (PNA)
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