Scheme, however, has been delayed as a result of the resistance of House members such as those in the Makabayan bloc to reforms.

Destructive politics is the nature of President Rody Duterte’s critics, which is the case with the militant lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc who seem to exist only to oppose every move of the administration.

Many Filipinos, nevertheless, noticed that these partylist congressmen were never heard of in the reported communist-initiated attacks despite a holiday ceasefire between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Members of the Makabayan bloc chose to remain silent after the communist rebels broke their own ceasefire on the first day of the Christmas truce.

The Makabayan lawmakers were also mum when asked for their reactions to the views that either NPA rebels are no longer heeding the orders of CPP founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison or to the assessment that the armed rebels are not capable of being trusted.

They are, however, always around when it comes to demonizing President Duterte despite the obvious reforms taking place for the better.

The obstructionist Makabayan bloc members individually have done little in terms of legislation, but its members always hog the headlines in blasting away at Rody.

For instance, the demagogues have tried to obstruct the Budget Reform Bill, now a law, that installed cash-based budgeting meant to lessen the opportunity for pork barrel in the yearly budget.

The claim perpetrated by the rabble-rousers was that the bill serves to perpetuate provisions allowing lump sum funds prohibited by the Supreme Court decision outlawing pork barrel.

Rody’s critics claimed the law enlarged the President’s power over the national budget and gives him control over appropriations already approved by Congress that was exactly the opposite aim of the law.

The real intent, however, was to pin the President for the supposed retention of abusive budget practices as they said the law “actually corrodes and diminishes Congress’ power over the purse and does not reform the budget system to truly serve and cater to the needs of the people, which apparently cannot be achieved under the present system of governance.”

The cash-based appropriations that were developed to speed up projects listed in the annual budget, however, appear to be the bane of members of Congress who are inclined to use the budget in cultivating new forms of pork barrel.

Annual cash-based budgeting limits incurring obligations and disbursing payments for goods delivered and services rendered, inspected and accepted within the fiscal year with an extended payment period of three months.

The scheme will also eliminate underspending and institutionalize many of the reforms introduced and currently being implemented by the Executive branch.

Shortening the validity of appropriations to one year compels agencies to speed up the implementation of projects and programs.

Moreover, cash budgeting removed the concept of savings in the budget, which was used previously to accumulate discretionary funds.

The scheme, however, has been delayed as a result of the resistance of House members such as those in the Makabayan bloc to reforms. The estimate now is that cash budgeting can be fully implemented during the year that Rody will step down.

Credit the Makabayan bloc for the delay in reforms that seek to remove abuses in the use of the budget.