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DBM chief hit budget mishandling claims of Sara
By J.Lo
“We always respect wisdom of Congress if they want to make adjustments in budget,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman told reporters at Malacañang when asked to comment on Duterte’s allegation disputed Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that 2024 General Approriations Act (GAA) was “mishandled,” saying adjustments in budget proposals depend on Congress.
Duterte said “mishandling” of budget for 2024 was among her “long list of reasons” for resigning as chief of Department of Education (DepEd).
“And these reasons are in various categories personal, I would keep between me and the President… reason involving DepEd, there’s about budget and there’s also something about the nation in general,” Duterte said.
Duterte had issues with how 2024 national budget was appropriated by Congress.
But Pangandaman said DepEd under Duterte received “huge increase” in budget in 2024.
“In fact, from P711 billion in National Expenditure Program (NEP) it became P715 billion in GAA. ..what I can say is, DepEd budget was quite huge increase from its previous level in 2023,” budget chief said.
Pangandaman said government increased DepEd’s appropriation for this year to support department’s MATATAG Agenda. DepEd received P633.3 billion in 2022 and P676.1 billion in 2023.
Duterte claimed exerting efforts to correct “mishandling” of funds, but that her efforts were all for naught as no changes were made in the budget.
“Government might want to fund these infrastructure projects which are in accordance with master plan…or they are hesitating because a Duterte is sitting mayor and they would rather tear down what was already started?” Duterte added, referring to her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
Rep. Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol party-list, meanwhile, chided Duterte for being “silent” on problems of DepEd when she was still at the helm of the department.
“Did she even help our overburdened and overworked public school teachers…at one point, I can still vividly recall that she suggested holding Saturday classes only to catch up with targeted June school calendar opening, President Marcos politely declined, show some humility, Ms. VP…your complaints could have been addressed, and they could have resulted in more productive endeavors if you had raised them early on… don’t make government your punching bag,” Bongalon said.
La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega also lambasted Vice President for criticizing administration even if she herself had been remiss in her duty on many occasions.
“Last time we heard from her was when she left with her entourage at the height of Super Typhoon Carina, while the President and all of us were preparing for storm’s onslaught…stop complaining ma’am…let’s work and help each other to develop the country,” Ortega said on his social media accounts.
Pangandaman said state workers are expected to receive their pay hike as early as this month as government moved to implement latest tranche of salary standardization law (SSL).
She said DBM had already issued national and local circulars to start release process.
“These circulars will serve as guidelines on how to compute adjustments in salary, agencies can start adjusting immediately,” Pangandaman said.
Budget chief explained existing personnel services funds can be utilized for required salary changes, with any shortfall to be covered by Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF).
“But it all depends on how fast agencies will be able to process this,” Pangandaman said.
For 2024, DBM allotted P36 billion for MPBF for implementation of first tranche of SSL VI this year, and P70 billion under 2025 NEP.
Two more salary hikes are expected by 2026 and 2027.
SSL VI is designed to make public personnel’s salaries more competitive with those in private sector, and in effect boost productivity, enhance service delivery and improve overall government effectiveness.
Updated salary schedule applies to all civilian government personnel in executive, legislative and judicial branches, state-run corporations not covered by GOCC Governance Act, constitutional commissions and other constitutional offices and local government units.
Salary increase is not applicable to military and uniformed personnel and to individuals engaged without employer-employee relationship and funded from non-personnel services budget.
ISKUP! 