MANILA - Former Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno believes the planned P14.2 billion supplemental budget for disaster rehabilitation is meaningless. Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Diokno said he sees no point in rushing the funds when Congress is set to approve the 2014 budget soon. This means 2013 funds including the supplemental budget must be spent within that period or it goes back to the Bureau of Treasury. The supplemental budget aims to finance rehabilitation and reconstruction in calamity-stricken areas such as Yolanda-hit Eastern Visayas and war-stricken Zamboanga City. "Why are they in a rush? I think they want to look good. It's more of pogi points for them. I think they want to look as if they're doing something," he said in the interview. "There are only four weeks to go before the end of the year. They can do whatever they can do with the remaining balance of the calamity and the contingent fund, there's money coming from abroad and it will go through the Treasury and of course, there's money and non-cash.' "I think we'll be OK in the next 4 weeks. I don't think they will spend money without a plan. We need a plan first...So it goes back to Treasury. If you need a special appropriations bill for Yolanda, you can do that next year. All you have to do is wait for the next 4 weeks and there's a new budget." Diokno also said the recent Supreme Court ruling calling lawmakers' pork barrel funds unconstitutional raises a legal issue on the supplemental budget as it will be funded by unused pork. http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/19/13/sc-pdaf-unconstitutional He noted that the preparation of the budget should come from the Executive department and not Congress. "My position is that all appropriations bills shall be initiated by the Executive department. It is the Executive department that knows exactly how much resources are coming in and so the Senate and the House of Congress has no business coming up with a bill like that.," he said. "You are talking of loans. My objection there is why not raise the money domestically? That's tainted money. I am not sure that's a good idea. It might be declared unconstitutional again so they're not doing the right thing by rushing this supplemental budget. They can't spend that money anyway," he added.
