Congress Watch
Weekly Summary
October 9 - 15, 2010
Budget Hearings
Arroyo grills DSWD during budget hearing
In her first budget session interpellation, former President now House Rep. Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo grilled the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) over its whopping P21.9 billion fund for the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. The CCT program was pioneered during Mrs. Arroyo's presidential term.
Arroyo pointed out loopholes of the project stating that the government is not ready for such an “ambitious” project. Surprisingly, she garnered support from both the opposition and the administration legislators who also questioned the big budget for the CCT program, dubbed “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.”
In the proposed 2011 national budget, the DSWD budget doubled from P15 billion (2010) to P34.3 billion next year.
Other Bills
Drilon calls for cutting bonuses and allowances of GOCCs
Sen. Franklin M. Drilon, chairman of the Senate finance committee, filed a bill to put a limit on Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCC) members’ allowances, per diems, and bonuses.
The senator took the action following the Senate investigation on the excessive pay and perks received by the board members of certain GOCCs. Drilon asserted that the board members are only entitled to receive bonuses not more than the two month pay of a GOCC executive officer.
Congess calls for amnesty of Magdalo soldiers
Majority of members of the lower House signed a joint resolution calling for amnesty to those involved in the in the Oakwood Mutiny of 2003, the February 2006 Marine stand-off, and the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007 including their supporters.
House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tanada, author of House Resolution 524, said that there are 300 to 600 officers who will be benefitting from the amnesty including Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who as Navy lieutenant led the Oakwood incident.
Meanwhile, in the upper House, 17 senators signed a similar resolution allowing amnesty to Magdalo soldiers.
References:
Casayuran, Mario B. (2010). Limit to GOCC Members' Bonus, Allowance Sought. Retrieved October 15, 2010 from http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/282238/limit-gocc-members-bonus-allowance-sought.