Transcript of Interview of Senate President Franklin M. Drilon

November 26, 2013

Q: Medyo mataas ang survey ngayon, senyales ba yun na nakabawi na ang Senate?

SPFMD: Para sa akin, that is a motivation na lalo kaming magtrabaho. Ako ay natutuwa naman na kinikiala ng sambayanan ang ating effort to really bring back the Senate to where it should be, an important institution of democracy. Having said that, we realize that this is just one survey and we will continue to work hard in order that we continuously deserve the support of our people.

Q: On the P14.6-billion supplemental budget

SPFMD: Nag-usap kami ni Sen. Escudero, ang pagkakaalam ko magkakaroon ng hearing on the supplemental budget bukas at pati yung joint resolution kung saan in-extend namin ang authority doon sa calamity-related budget which will expire on December 31, 2013, unless we pass the joint resolution which will allow the budget to be extended for one year insofar as calamity funds are concerned.

Q: Once approved, pwede nang magamit?

SPFMD: Yes, pwede na because that is part of the 2013 budget. The National Treasurer has already issued the certification as to the availability of funds.

Q: Kaya bang ipasa ang budget sa 2^nd and 3^rd readings today

SPFMD: Iyan ang aming schedule, para sa ganoon ay maumpisahan na ang paghahanda sa bicam. It could be next week. We estimate that we should be able to send to the President the budget by the second week of December.

Q: Open po ba ang bicam?

SPFMD: Hindi po ako miyembro ng bicam.

Q: May malaking pagkakaiba ba ang version ng Senate sa House?

SPFMD: Hindi ko pa masagot dahil ngayon pa lang ang period of amendments. What is important ay yung mga sinabi ng Supreme Court na mga provisions na violative of the Constitution kung saan mayroon kapangyarihan ang mga mambabatas na makialam sa budget matapos itong maipasa. Dapat walang ganoon doon sa final version. Dahil sa sinabi ng SC na kaya ang PDAF ay nagging unconstitutional ay dahilan sa pagkatapos na pirmahan ang budget, mayroong mga provision doon na nagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga mambabatas na makialam sa execution. Iyan ay bawal sa ating Saligang Batas.

SPFMD: Mayroon na akong nakitang dalawag provisions na mayroong word na “consultation” (“in consultation with the representatives of the congressional districts of the province”. Iyan ay ating pag-aaralan para sa ganoon sa bicam ito ay mabigyan ng kaukulang solusyon.

Q: Na-organize na po ba ang ethics committee

SPFMD: Wala pa. we will take it up at the appropriate time. Right now we are busy with the budget.

Q: On the statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary that the typhoon Yolanda emphasized the need for more US presence

SPFMD: Ang importante ang lahat ng gagawin ay sang-ayon sa Constitution at walang permanent basing dito sa aitng bansa.

Q: On overseeing the P55.4-B rehab funds

SPFMD: We will exercise our oversight functions. Malaking pera po ang ating ilalaan sa kalamidad. Dalawang bagay po ang bibigyang pansin: yung tamang paggamit ng pera at ang absorptive capacity ng mga ahensya. Sa ngayon maglalagay tayo ng pondo tapos hindi magagamit sa mga biktima ng mga sakuna; sa ngayon pa lang, doon sa programmed appropriation, aabot na sa P55 bilyon mahigit maliban pa sa P7.5 billion sa calamity fund na pwede pa ring dagdagan. Malaking pera kaya ating titingnan at we will exercise our oversight functions on the ability of the executive to implement these projects on time and the proper disbursement of funds. We will also review in the middle of next year kung kailangan pa ng supplemental budget at kung sapat na ang inilaan natin at kung may kulang, handa tayong making sa executive branch basta may pagkukunan ng pondo.

Yung sinasabi kong P55.5 billion, maliban pa yan sa regular items sa 2014 budget na mayroong sa calamity funds na P7.5 billion at yung tinatawag na quick response funds. That is part of the regular appropriations

NOTES:

1.    Special Provision 2 of the DepEd’s budget states that “within thirty (30) days from effectively of this Act, the DepEd, in consultation with the representative of the legislative district concerned, shall submit to the DBM, either in printed form or by way of electronic document the following: (i) program of work; (ii) list of the fifty percent (50%) of the school buildings to be funded per legislative district, including the water and sanitation facilities, indicating therein the number of classrooms per school, the cost of the project and the DPWH District Engineering Officer where the funds will be released; (iii) details on the type, number and cost of school desks, furniture and fixtures corresponding to the school building to be constructed; and (iv) the request for Special Budget. The list of the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the school buildings shall be submitted to the DBM within six (6) months thereafter.

2.    Special Provision, 3 (c), Special Shares of Local Government Units in the Proceeds of National Taxes states that: “Thirty percent (30%) to the identified municipalities and cities in the congressional districts of a beneficiary province in consultation with the representatives of the congressional districts of the province.”