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House panel rejects return of P95-B infra projects of congressmen


The House Committee on Appropriations thumbed down the request of at least 60 congressmen to restore in the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020 the P95-billion worth of projects vetoed in this year's appropriations.

Panel chair Isidro Ungab made the remark after the approval of their committee report on the 2020 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

In an interview with reporters, Ungab said it was difficult to include the lawmakers'  requests in the proposed 2020 national budget, saying that it would reduce the allocations already set for various departments, agencies and offices in the government.

"If you are going to include that in the 2020 budget, it's a huge amount, it may affect the department na babawasan mo. In other words, operations of the department mababawasan, mahirap i-entertain talaga yung kanilang request," he said.

"I have to be frank na mahirap talagang ma-entertain kasi kung ipasok yan, the department ay mababawasan o maaapektuhan," he added.

Ungab, however, said he recognizes that these projects whose allocations were either slashed or vetoed were beneficial to the constituents of these congressmen.

"May mga nagsasabi na yung natanggal sa budget ay under construction na bridge, yung continuation na-slash o na-cut, so hindi mapagpatuloy yung bridge. Valid yan," he said.

Ungab said they would have to sit with the executive branch to appeal for the restoration of these allocations.

"Of course, call ng executive department ito na makikiusap tayo kasi from among those na-slash and na-veto, meron ding mga projects na nakita ako na valid din naman," he said.

"Siguro from there, pwedeng piliin then i-recommend either sa 2021 budget, or kung may available funds, pwedeng magpasa ng supplemental budget. Makikiusap tayo sa kanila na huwag lang ipilit and don't be so impatient," he added.

The House of Representatives will commence on Tuesday the plenary debates for the 2020 GAB.

The chamber is aiming to approve the 2020 GAB on final reading by October 4, before Congress goes on a month-long break. —LDF, GMA News

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