By Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz & Bernadette D. Nicolas
MALACAÑANG and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Tuesday maintained that there are adequate funds for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite slated on January 21 and February 6.
Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo and Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno belied the statement of House Majority Leader Rolando G. Andaya Jr. that there is no budget for the plebiscite. Panelo also said Andaya’s claims were “misplaced” and “without basis.”
“Unang-una, kung walang pondo eh ‘di sana kinansel na iyon. ‘Di ba? Sana ni-reset na iyon, pinostpone na. But obviously tuloy, so may pondo. [First of all, if there are no funds, it should have been canceled, right? It should have been reset, postponed already. But obviously it will push through, so there are funds],” he said.
As the government has funds for the BOL plebiscite, the DBM made an assurance that it will push through as planned.
“In the 2018 General Appropriations Act [GAA] and the 2019 National Expenditure Program [NEP], P111.8 million and P95.8 million are allocated, respectively, under Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses [MOOE] for the conduct and supervision of elections, referenda, recall votes and plebiscites in the budget of the Commission on Elections [Comelec],” Diokno said in a statement.
“Furthermore, the Comelec has prior years’ continuing appropriations [from 2015 to 2017] amounting to P409.5 million as of end-September 2018, which they can tap to cover the funding requirements of the plebiscite,” he added.
The DBM said the Comelec may also use unobligated allotments amounting to P10.4 billion as of end-September 2018 for preparatory activities in the national and local elections lodged in the built-in appropriations of the Comelec.
“Now, to appease concerns that there is not enough money for the Bangsamoro plebiscite, the Comelec may also request for more funding through the Contingent Fund, subject to approval of the Office of the President, in case the above cited sources are fully utilized,” Diokno said. “We want to give peace a chance in the Bangsamoro region, and we are prepared and willing to fund this exercise to the fullest.”
On Monday, Andaya said the DBM “forgot to include” the P857 million needed for the BOL plebiscite in the P10 billion allocated for the Comelec in the 2019 national budget.
Malacañang confirmed through a schedule sent to Palace reporters that the President will attend the Peace Assembly for the Ratification of the BOL in Cotabato.
Panelo is optimistic that the President can persuade people in Cotabato to vote for the ratification of the BOL, which aims to end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao since “the President’s voice is a powerful influencing voice.”
He also said the President will abide by the decision of Mindanao voters. “If despite the support and campaign, the overwhelming majority or even a slight majority says they are against it, the President cannot do anything but to comply with the sovereign voice of the people in Mindanao.”
‘Peaceful exercise’
LAWMAKERS from Mindanao on Tuesday expressed confidence that the BOL plebiscite on January 21 and February 6 will be held peacefully.
Deputy Speaker Bai Sandra E. Sema and Anak Mindanao Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan also told reporters in a news conference that the Philippine Army and Philippine National Police (PNP) are monitoring the peace situation in the region.
“Our Army and our PNP are on top of the situation, considering that the Moro National Liberation Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front are also part of those securing the areas [where the plebiscite will be held],” Sema said.
“There will always be threats, but as to how it will be dealt by our security forces, we have 1,000 percent confidence in them,” she added.
Sema said Muslims, Christians, lumads, and people from other faiths will hold a prayer rally for peace and unity on Friday in Cotabato City “to pray for peace, harmony, and the success of the ratification of the BOL.”
With this, Sema filed House Resolution 2404, declaring January 18, 2019, as “a Day of Prayer to pray for peace in the Bangsamoro Homeland as the voters prepare to ratify Republic Act 11054, or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”
On the same day, Sema said different cause-oriented groups in Cotabato City will walk from Sinsuat Avenue to the Oval Ground of the Cotabato City State Polytechnic College where the Grand Rally for the BOL, expected to be the biggest inter-faith rally in the region, will be held.
“We ask all qualified voters to participate in the plebiscite on January 21 and February 6 and be part of this historic event that will unify all people in the Bangsamoro Homeland,” she said.
“The Organic Law guarantees, among other things, the right of the Bangsamoro people to practice their religion and conform to their way of life even as the corresponding rights of other Filipinos within the Bangsamoro Homeland are preserved and protected,” Sema added.