MEMBERS of the House Committee on Energy, chaired by Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco (not in photo), discuss the priority bills of the Duterte administration with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi (front row, third from right) and other guests. KEITH CALAYAG

House Appropriations panel chairman and Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab yesterday warned against the possibility of insertions in next year’s national budget as he opposed the withdrawal of the 2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) by Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte.

Ungab, in a letter addressed to Villafuerte, Deputy Speaker Neptali Gonzales, Majority Leader Martin Romualdez and Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, said the withdrawal will only derail the approval of the GAB.

“Your proposal to withdraw and amend the General Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2020 will definitely derail the schedule and approval of the budget,” Ungab warned Villafuerte and the other House leaders.

He reminded them that the congressional staff is now busy preparing for the plenary and pre-plenary deliberations on the national budget.

“To prepare another set of General Appropriations Bill will require enormous time, effort and resources that will surely affect or delay the passage of the 2020 budget,” he stressed.

Villafuerte recalled the GAB from the plenary last Wednesday. He claimed that it was prematurely filed, saying Cayetano was made a co-author of the bill without his knowledge.

But Ungab said it has long been the practice of the House of Representatives to prepare the GAB immediately after the submission of the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

He also said that it is normal to include as authors of the bill the top House leaders, like the Speaker.

The Davao congressman also stressed that the GAB, which is prepared by the Committee Secretariat, is a “faithful copy” of the NEP.

The Executive department through the Department of Budget and Management submitted the NEP to the House of Representatives last 20 August.

The committee has since conducted hearings on the budget prepared for the various government agencies.

Ungab told Villafuerte that any changes in the NEP will raise doubts and questions on the budget proceedings conducted by the House of Representatives.

In an interview on the sidelines of the budget hearing on the proposed budget for the Department of Science and Technology, Ungab accused Villafuerte of trying to alter the GAB.

“He wanted to change the GAB. He instructed the staff and us that he wants to amend it, which I think is wrong,” Ungab said.

He disclosed that some members of the House are trying to reintroduce clauses vetoed by President Rodrigo Duterte the last time.

Ungab begged off from identifying these congressmen.

“They (congressmen) have been complaining… those whose insertions were vetoed the last time. But they cannot include them in the GAB. It is not the proper time for them,” Ungab said.

He also stressed the budget meant for the other agencies would be slashed if amendments are introduced in the GAB.

“Where will they get the money? How many billions of pesos will move? Where will you source the fund? Will you add more, or slash more?” the Davao solon asked his peers.

“All items have been itemized in this budget. So, will they cut from this itemized budget,” he furthered.

He advised his fellow lawmakers to sit down with the Executive department if they are serious in amending the GAB. The Executive department created the NEP.

Ungab, the 17th Congress’ Appropriations Committee chairman, said alterations in the GAB can only be made during the period of amendments on the bill.

“I’ve been with this Appropriations Committee for a long time, I know when insertions could be made. These are clear insertions if they plan to alter the GAB,” he said.

He also added that he doubts if the Executive will implement any item not included in its proposal.

“I doubt if the Executive will implement any item that is not within its proposal,” he said.

Ungab said the last briefing would be on 6 September and the preparation of the Committee Report will be on 10 September.

The plenary deliberations will start on 12 September.

Ungab said the House leadership is planning to approve the GAB on the third and final reading on 4 October.

Concerns about a possible repeat of last year’s delayed national budget cropped up anew after the measure’s withdrawal.

Ungab’s concern has basis since last year’s budget measure was also withdrawn before allegations of massive insertions or pork barrel dragged its passage — forcing a reenacted budget during the first few months of 2019.

There were reports that some lawmakers, both from the House of Representatives and the Senate, inserted about P95 billion as pork barrel.

Each of the nearly 300 members of the House of Representatives were supposedly allotted with at least P60 million.

On the other hand, then House Appropriations chief Rolando Andaya accused senators of introducing P75 billion in insertions.

The 2019 NEP was approved by President Rodrigo Duterte 9 July 2019 and was submitted to the House of Representatives which immediately approved the first cash-based national budget.

However, the ouster of Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez before the 17th Congress prompted the recall of the approved budget measure which was followed by the allegations of insertions.

In the end, Mr. Duterte vetoed more than P95 billion line items identified by the Senate as “pork barrel.”