ROXAS PUSHES ANEW P100-B BUDGET REALIGNMENT PACKAGE
SENATE LEADERSHIP, ECON MANAGERS BACK PROPOSAL

With a new Senate leadership, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas is pushing anew his proposal for a P100-billion realignment package for the 2009 budget to address the impact of the worldwide financial crisis.

"Even before this change in leadership, I spoke to Senator Juan Ponce Enrile on the need to overhaul the National Expenditure Program according to what our people need the most now. Malacañang's proposed 2009 budget is ill-equipped in dealing with the global crisis," said Roxas. Prior to his election to the Senate presidency, Enrile chaired the Senate committee on finance, handling the national budget.

"I trust that Senate President Enrile's experience in finance has enabled him to appreciate my proposal to focus on specific sectors, such as food, health and education," he said.

The Ilonggo senator noted that in last week's budget hearing, the President's economic team had admitted that the economic meltdown would hit the country hard, but could not state what measures are to be put in place.

"Huwag nating isiping okey lang tayo at sapat ang tulong na mabibigay ng budget sa ating mga kababayan. Inamin na nga ng economic team ni GMA na matatamaan talaga ang mga ibang sektor, pero wala silang masabi kung ano ang safety nets para dito (Let's not just think that we're okay and our budget is enough to help our people. GMA's economic team has admitted that some sectors will really be hit, although they couldn't say what safety nets are to be put in place for this)," Roxas said.

He noted that Budget Sec. Rolando Andaya has stated to the media that the economic team supported Roxas' proposal to abolish funds such as from the road users' tax - whose collections can only be used for road maintenance and improvements - in order for these to be used for social services instead.

"Natutuwa ako na sinusuportahan ang aking panukala ng ehekutibo. Kapag naipasa na ang budget ay sisiguraduhin namin na ginagamit ang pera na ito sa tamang paraan (I'm pleased that my proposal is supported by the executive. When the budget is passed, we will make sure that the money is used properly)," he said.

Roxas' P100-billion realignment package consists of the following:

1. A one-time income tax credit or refund for up to four million fixed-income workers worth P5,000 each, or a total of P20 billion;

2. P20 billion as additional budget for the education sector, of which P4.2 billion be spent for classroom building; P3.8 billion for teachers' salaries and training; P4.2 billion for desks and furniture; P200 million for school books; P7.2 billion to finance an extra year of high school, pursuant to SB 2294; and P400 million for maintenance and other operating expenses;

3. P12 billion funding for the government's health peace corps program, which would provide 45,000 barangays with health care services and benefits;

4. P10 billion to the DSWD's Conditional Cash Transfer program, twice the current amount of P5 billion, to provide greater financial assistance to those who need it the most;

5. P10 billion in agriculture support, including programs to provide fertilizer support and rehabilitation and maintenance of 1.4 million hectares of irrigated land nationwide;

6. P15-billion allocation for the Development Bank of the Philippines to provide assistance to boost capital and productivity of small enterprises;

7. P3 billion for OFW support; and

8. P10 billion on top of the budgets of various agencies implementing the Cheaper Medicines Act that was principally authored by Roxas.