Yap: Only agencies can introduce amendments to OK'd budget bill

House appropriations chair Eric Yap on Sunday assured the public that only government departments and agencies, and not lawmakers themselves, will be able to make amendments to the 2021 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) that the chamber has approved on Friday.

In a Dobol B sa News TV interview, Yap pointed out that he did not allow any congressman to make amendments to the budget bill.

"Puro agency-initiated ito. Kaya ko laging ine-emphasize yun kasi bugbog na bugbog kami sa Congress. Laging sinasabi na parang nagpasok ng pork, nag-insert. Wala akong pinayagan na mag-insert na mga congressman at walang congressman na ganun," he said.

"Dapat bago mag-budget, kinakausap nila yung secretaries, hinihingi nila yung mga kailangan nila sa parochial concerns nila, and then yung secretaries ang magsasabi sa amin. Ang errata, galing lahat sa agencies, walang galing sa congressman," he added.

The House on Friday subsequently approved on second and third readings the 2021 GAB after it received a certification of urgency from the Office of the President.

After the approval, a small committee was created accept proposed amendments from respective government agencies.

Yap said the House will aim to submit the softcopy of the budget bill to the Senate, as well as to the National Printing Office for printing, on October 28.

While amendments can no longer be accepted after the third reading approval of a measure, Yap said the 2021 GAB is different in the sense that it was approved on second and third reading on the same day.

"Special case ito kapag na-certify as urgent ang budget, yung plenary deliberations mo after that you cannot have anymore days. Kasi urgent nga, kailangan i-second and third reading agad yan on the same day. And then you will form a small group na titingin sa mga amendments ng agencies," he said.

"Tulad nung Friday, deadline ng submission ng agencies, pero may mga agencies na hindi pa nakapag-submit. Ang amin naman, we have to give them leeway na kahit paano i-consider na bigyan pa sila ng additional [time] hanggang Monday to submit," he added.

Yap said that if they will be strict and no longer accept amendments from agencies after the deadline, then it could be detrimental to the people.

"Kung magmamatigas kami na deadline, finished or finished pass your paper, papaano naman yung spelling sa gamot, sa mga programs, hindi na-pass e nagmadali kami para lang mai-comply talaga sa takdang araw?" he said.

"Pagdating ng 2021 budget hindi nagamit dahil mali yung spelling, hindi ia-acknowledge. So paano yung taong naghihintay ng gamot, ng ospital, wala na?" he added.

Agencies will be given until Monday for submission of proposed amendments, and these proposals will be evaluated by House members in the small committee, Yap earlier said.  —LBG, GMA News