The special provision provides that transfers may only be done upon the recommendation of the budget secretary and approval of the President
How much "leeway" should the chief of the Philippine military be allowed in adjusting its funding to the changing needs of operations?
Bayan Muna partylist Representative Carlos Zarate kicked off House deliberations on the Department of National Defense budget on Tuesday, September 9, by seeking the deletion of the provision that supposedly turns up to P26.253 billion ($599.5 million) in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) budget into the "pork barrel" of the AFP chief.
Zarate is referring to a "special provision" in the proposed 2015 National Expenditure Program (NEP) that authorizes the chief of staff to "reprioritize" the funds of general headquarters and major services – Army, Navy, and Air Force – for personnel services (PS), Miscellaneous and other operating expenses (MOOE), and Capital Outlay (CO).
"It appears the insertion of this provision in the NEP is apparently creating a pork barrel intended for the AFP chief. For this year, the total is P26.253 billion," said Zarate.
Fellow Makabayan lawmaker ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio likened it to the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) of Malacañang. The Supreme Court had ruled as unconstitutional certain executive actions under the special spending program.
Zarate lamented the powers given to the chief of staff "even without the approval of Congress." The special provision, however, provides that this may only be done upon the recommendation of the budget secretary and approval of the President.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin deferred to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to respond to the question.
DBM Assistant Secretary Tina Canda, who was at the hearing, explained: "The AFP has specific collateral allowances only known during budget execution. The chief of staff is given leeway to realign within Personnel Services items of expenditures, especially identified for the armed forces."
Zarate noted it also applies to MOOE. The special provision also applies to the Capital Outlay but only after the second quarter
Canda explained the chief of staff may only move funding with the expense class, meaning he cannot move money out of Capital Outlay to fund MOOE or Personnel Services.
"We do not allow inter-changes from one expense class to another," said Canda.
Zarate said he will move for the special provision "in the proper time."
Manila Second District Representative Zenaida Angping, House committee on appropriations vice chairman, interjected saying the same is allowed in other agencies including State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
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