Consumers Domain
The 2006 Govt Budget
"The deepest truths disclose themselves naturally;
don't even ask a hermit on the hill."
-an excerpt from a Zen verse
Several days ago, the General Appropriations Act of 2006 that defines National Government spending for the current year was passed in the Lower House. The ball is now in the Senate to scrutinize the proposed budget.
Gloria Arroyo upon this development remarked: "We are keyed in to enhanced governance, more investment confidence, jobs, broader infrastructure, and better social services -- as we strike out political instability and gather momentum for political change."
Those are nice words from an administration saddled with problems on legitimacy and mandate. But those words are clearly hollow. How could this government provide better social services and perk its economy up so it can generate jobs if around 50% percent of the intended spending will again be on the servicing of our debts?
One thing in the quoted statement of Arroyo above really strikes me - "as we strike out political instability and gather momentum for political change." This is a blinking neon sign that says "POLITICAL SURVIVAL". Striking out "political instability" simply means financing Arroyo's efforts to trample dissent and opposition to her illegitimate rule. "Political change" means pursuance of charter change or any other means to ensure her continued stay in office. Clearly this is one main objective of Arroyo's 2006 budget.
This column is now yielding its space for the press statement of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC). Every year, this coalition has been consistently waging an uphill battle to steer the budget and spending policies of the government to that which prioritize the needs of the people. I'm sharing the statement, entitled "On Gloria's 2006 National Budget: Using Peoples' Money for Political Survival", as it is exactly how people view the current budget.
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THE FREEDOM FROM DEBT COALITION (FDC) strongly condemns the approval by the House of Representatives of the Php1.05-trillion 2006 National
Government budget.
The real objective of the trillion-peso budget is not socioeconomic renewal or fiscal health; its real objective is the survival of the fledging Arroyo government.
Using the people's money, Mrs. Arroyo intends to buy off loyalties to ensure her survival. The 2006 budget gives each congressional representative Php70 million as pork barrel. The amount is a dramatic increase from last year's Php40-million Priority Development Assistance Fund.
Further, local governments will be enjoying for the first time their own version of pork barrel worth Php8 billion - Kilos Asenso Support Fund at Php5 billion and Kalayaan Barangay Program Fund worth Php3 billion. Undoubtedly, the budget will be used to mobilize support from local governments by transforming them into a vast machinery to push forward Mrs. Arroyo's version of charter change using the state-backed "Peoples' Initiative."
Using the people's money, Mrs. Arroyo will further commit us to the shackles of international creditors. Our lenders have automatic access to 32 percent of the 2006 budget. Add this to principal payments of Php382 billion and our total debt service bill for 2006 will amount to Php723 billion. Mrs. Arroyo will unabashedly court international support for her unstable regime at the expense of much-needed social services like education, health, and housing.
Using the people's money, Mrs. Arroyo's illegitimate government will continue to stifle dissent and criticisms. Php1.25 billion will be used for intelligence fund, Php650 million under the full discretion of the Office of the President. This amount surpasses the combined intelligence fund of the Philippine National Police, the Department of National Defense, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Department of Justice. Clearly, paranoia has been eating into the administration's sanity.
The signs are telling that this budget will only serve the purpose of this illegitimate government instead of the people's interests.
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