DHSUD's Del Rosario irks Drilon during budget hearing

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon got disappointed on how the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) defended its proposed budget for 2021 during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

The panel deliberation on the proposed P3.98 billion budget of the housing sector has been interrupted at its onset due to technical difficulties on the part of the DHSUD.

"No wonder our housing sector is in a mess," Drilon remarked.

DHSUD Secretary Eduardo del Rosario apologized for the glitch and proceeded to instruct Director Miles Rivera to present the budget.

After the presentation, Drilon said he was dismayed Del Rosario did not take the initiative to defend the agency's proposed budget.

"You know, Mr. Secretary, you have a new department. As a matter of creating a good impression, at least for me, I would have expected you to give us a briefing and present your budget rather than asking your director to present it to us," he said.

"I think the senators, the committee, deserve a little more than a briefing from a director... I just want to place of record my view—disappointment to be candid —about you not presenting the budget of the department," the senator added, noting that he does not mean to put down the director who presented.

As Drilon went on with his interpellation, he got frustrated that Del Rosario was not able to answer his questions clearly about the relocation of informal settlers.

"I'll be very candid with you, Secretary Del Rosario. I'm really disappointed that you cannot answer these basic questions and it is your director who keeps on answering," he said.

"I'm very supportive of your department. As my colleagues will affirm, I was already saying let's increase the budget of the housing sector and I can point out what possible sources there are but you have shown so far does not encourage me to push for your budget augmentation," he added. "It appears that you don't have on your fingertips a grasp of the housing sector needs at this point."

The minority leader lamented that the proposed P3.98 billion fund earmarked for the housing sector in 2021 is smaller than the intelligence and confidential funds in the entire national budget.

Dissatisfied, Drilon eventually cut short his interpellation and said he will instead ask questions during the plenary debates.

Del Rosario has not secured the nod of the Commission on Appointments yet. He was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to head the newly created DHSUD in January.—AOL, GMA News