House panel chair: Budget deliberations right on track despite Avisado's medical leave

House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Eric Yap on Monday ensured that the 2022 budget deliberations would not be delayed despite the medical leave of Department of Budget and Management (DBM) chief Wendel Avisado. 

"OIC naman po si Usec. Tina Canda. Matagal na siya sa DBM and I'm sure she is capable. Sec. Wendel naman is always one call away, kaya I think the budget deliberations is right on track," Yap told reporters. 

(Undersecretary Tina Canda is designated as the officer in charge. She's been with the DBM for quite some time and she's capable. Secretary Wendel is also just one call away so I think the budget deliberations is right on track.) 

The DBM had disclosed that Avisado is on medical leave from August 2 to 13 following a bout with COVID-19. 

According to the DBM, Avisado was hospitalized for eight days and quarantined for over a month due to the coronavirus.

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, for his part, noted that even with the physical absence of Avisado, "the DBM has an abundance of competent and capable career undersecretaries and assistant secretaries who can avail of existing telecommunication technology for his guidance and direction." 

"I cannot see any reason for the delay in the constitutionally mandated 30-day period after the July 26 SONA submission of the NEP (National Expenditure Program) to Congress," Lacson said in a message to reporters. 

"Same is the case when committee hearings of both the House Appropriations and the Senate Finance committees start their simultaneous public hearings on the national budget," he added. 

Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate on Sunday however lamented Avisado's medical leave after the government decided to impose a tougher lockdown in Metro Manila starting August 6, leaving the public's questions about a round of cash assistance unanswered.

Zarate also said the DBM has yet to submit the 2022 budget proposal, which is needed as the pandemic will continue next year. 

Stimulus fund

Malacañang said the proposed 2022  budget will serve as the country’s stimulus fund amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While he is on sick leave, he was able to submit [to us] the final proposed budget natin at pini-print na ang ating national expenditure plan for submission to Congress,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

“The national budget is the stimulus budget,” Roque added

“We do not know the provisions of the 2022 budget just yet, let us see them first,” he said. “If relief [provisions] are already in the 2022 national budget, hindi na kailangan ng supplemental budget (we will not need supplemental budget anymore),” he added.—With a report from Llanesca Panti/KG/LDF, GMA News