It took a smile and a handshake to seal a four-lane bridge project through a grant extended by China.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Loren Legarda said, unlike funding provided by other advanced countries, the Chinese government did not attach any string to the P1.2-billion Pantaleon-Estrella Bridge.

Legarda made the statement during interpellation of the proposed P555-billion budget for this year.

“It’s a Chinese grant… non-conditional grant, no strings attached… in exchange to a smile and handshake from Public Works Secretary Mark Villar,” said Legarda in reply to queries by Sen. Grace Poe.

Legarda stressed the need for the replacement of the existing bridge, which connects the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong, citing safety reasons.

She said the current bridge is already decades-old and it is overcapacity. It could also ease up traffic with its four-lane design, doubling the existing one.

“Public safety cannot be compromised,” Legarda stressed.

Poe has been criticizing the project, citing supposed complaints from motorists. She also expressed objection to the China Communications and Construction Corp. as contractor.

Legarda was also grilled over the P75 billion added to the original ceiling of P480 billion set by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) originally requested for P651 billion budget for 2019, similar to its budget in 2018.

However, the DBM set the DPWH budget ceiling at P480 billion.

Villar, through Legarda, admitted that he learned of the additional fund after seeing the DBM’s National Expenditure Program (NEP), which listed the DPWH budget at P555 billion.

Senators questioned the DPWH on what particular projects will be covered by the P75 billion and whether there was prior planning.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, however, maintained there was nothing irregular over the additional DPWH budget, since the NEP is still considered the President’s budget and subject to congressional scrutiny.

The senators went on a break, apparently to address the matter. Upon resumption of the session, it was agreed P75 billion will be deleted from the DPWH budget.

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno welcomed the petition for mandamus filed by House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. to compel the release of the fourth tranche of the government salary adjustments.

The Budget chief cited Section 11 of Executive Order (EO) 201, which governs the grant of compensation adjustments, which explicitly provides that the implementation of the salary schedule is “subject to appropriations by Congress.”

An unruffled Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO “The implementation of the fourth tranche compensation adjustment is on hold, not because the DBM decided so, but because we are constrained by the provisions in the very same EO that authorized the compensation adjustment,” Budget Undersecretary Janet Abuel said in a forum by top DBM officials.

Section 15 of the EO, in identifying the funding source for the salary adjustments, provided that, “The funding requirements of the compensation adjustment in FY 2017, 2018 and 2019 will be included in the proposed annual National Expenditure Program submitted to Congress for its approval. The DBM (…) shall then be (…) authorized to implement or adjust the compensation corresponding to the appropriations provided in the GAA (General Appropriations Act).”

In light of these legal provisions, the DBM is merely implementing the clear provisions of the said EO, Diokno said.

Regarding the wage adjustments of public servants, Malacañang said it is Congress and not the Executive branch that is holding up the approval of 2019 national budget.

The approval of a new budget law is necessary to put into effect the last tranche of the wage increases for government workers.

At a press briefing at the Palace, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo defended Diokno from the accusation that he is stubbornly refusing to release the fourth tranche of government workers’ pay increase as stipulated in the Salary Standardization Law.

“The one holding the increase hostage would be the House of Representatives, even the Senate. It would be Congress, not the Executive department,” Panelo reiterated, adding that since the 2018 budget is reenacted, there is “no basis” for the wage increase of government employees.

“What will be your basis? Where will you get the money? But as soon as the budget is enacted, that’s precisely why we’re urging graciously the House of Representatives to finish, as well as the Senate, to approve the budget,” he added.

In a related development, Andaya has already filed a petition for mandamus before the Supreme Court to compel Diokno to push through with the stalled salary hike. This, despite Diokno repeatedly insisting that would not be possible pending the approval of the 2019 GAA.

“Since there is already a mandamus petition before the court, it becomes sub judice. We will let the court decide. It will necessarily ask the respondent Ben Diokno to respond,” Panelo said.

“The explanation according to Secretary Diokno is that the fourth tranche is supposed to be included in the 2019 budget. And since there is no budget as of 2019 and the 2018 will be a reenacted budget and it’s not there, it can’t be done yet,” he added.

The official likewise repeated his call to the Senate and House to speed up the approval of the 2019 national budget so as not to further stall the priority projects of the government.