Budget watchdog Social Watch Philippines (SWP) has raised concern on the presence of various lump sum appropriations “that can be used for election purposes” in the proposed P3.002 trillion national budget for 2016.
Prof. Leonor Briones, former national treasurer and SWP convener, said the 2016 proposed budget is marred with lump-sum appropriations, such as special purpose funds, unprogrammed funds and automatic appropriations, as well as Priority Development Assistance Fund- and Disbursement Acceleration Program-like allocations.
She said the “overstatements, budget errata and redefinition of savings, remains a significant challenge in exacting accountability in spending the national budget under a development framework. We call on the citizens to join us in keeping the 2016 budget under close scrutiny especially in light of the election season which has actually started this year.”
Briones said despite the huge increase in budget allocation, reaching P10.34 trillion in the last five years, the government has been remiss in its commitment to reduce poverty based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
“The reckoning year of the MDGs shall conclude with alarming scenarios given the government missing its MDG poverty target of 17.2 percent by this year and its inability to achieve targets in 19 out of 28 indicators,” Briones said.
She said the Alternative Budget Initiative has urged Congress to intervene in budget deliberations, so the government can fund appropriate programs and projects that can improve people’s lives.
“We also want to ensure that the national budget will serve its purpose as an equalizer that addresses inequality and socioeconomic problems tackled by the MDGs,” Briones said.
She added: “Much is left to be desired in the 2016 proposed budget, which can be utilized for election spending purposes.”
“As the national budget will reach the P3-trillion threshold for next year, we urge the House and Senate to consider and endorse civil society alternative budget proposals, which aim to finance the MDG drawbacks that have long hampered our pursuit toward sustainable development, reduction of inequality and eradication of extreme poverty,” she said.