AFTER Depriving the Filipino people of their right to information
regarding the findings of the controversial Melo Commission, Mrs. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration again got a criticism from an
advocacy group for not divulging the specific items in the 2007 budget
that she intends to line veto.
regarding the findings of the controversial Melo Commission, Mrs. Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo and her administration again got a criticism from an
advocacy group for not divulging the specific items in the 2007 budget
that she intends to line veto.
"We demand the immediate disclosure of these budget items they (the
government) intend to line veto," said Freedom from Debt Coalition
president Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, adding that the P1.126 billion national
budget will come from the pockets of the Filipino people, who deserve to
be the recipients of their own taxes.
government) intend to line veto," said Freedom from Debt Coalition
president Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, adding that the P1.126 billion national
budget will come from the pockets of the Filipino people, who deserve to
be the recipients of their own taxes.
The group also expressed serious concern that some of the minor gains and
reforms pushed by civil society groups in the budget may be deleted or
nullified by Mrs. Arroyo and that both the House and the Senate may not be
able to approve or override the presidential veto because of time
constraints of the election campaign.
reforms pushed by civil society groups in the budget may be deleted or
nullified by Mrs. Arroyo and that both the House and the Senate may not be
able to approve or override the presidential veto because of time
constraints of the election campaign.
"It seems that Mrs. Arroyo only succumbs to international pressure, but
remains insensitive to the demands of the Filipino people. Aren't the
Filipino people the appropriate body to know the details of the Melo
report? At the same manner, aren't we the appropriate body to know the
specific budget items she intends to veto?" asked FDC president Ana Maria
R. Nemenzo.
remains insensitive to the demands of the Filipino people. Aren't the
Filipino people the appropriate body to know the details of the Melo
report? At the same manner, aren't we the appropriate body to know the
specific budget items she intends to veto?" asked FDC president Ana Maria
R. Nemenzo.
Last week, Mrs. Arroyo reportedly ordered National Security Adviser
Norberto Gonzales to release the Melo document to the European Commission,
the EU's executive body, and UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston. The two
international bodies expect to receive the document today. Gonzalez was
quoted as saying that the government is "after the truth, so we will have
to release it to appropriate bodies."
Norberto Gonzales to release the Melo document to the European Commission,
the EU's executive body, and UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston. The two
international bodies expect to receive the document today. Gonzalez was
quoted as saying that the government is "after the truth, so we will have
to release it to appropriate bodies."
FDC together with Social Watch Philippines and other civil society
networks supported and won the re-channeling of the controversial P4.7
billion school-feeding program to finance the building of additional
classrooms, distribution of nutritional supplements and hiring of more
teachers. The administration and its allies in the Lower House had
originally introduced this school-feeding program under the Department of
Education allocation, but this was exposed to be in fact a rice
distribution scheme thus raising suspicion it would be used for indirect
vote-buying at the coming May elections.
networks supported and won the re-channeling of the controversial P4.7
billion school-feeding program to finance the building of additional
classrooms, distribution of nutritional supplements and hiring of more
teachers. The administration and its allies in the Lower House had
originally introduced this school-feeding program under the Department of
Education allocation, but this was exposed to be in fact a rice
distribution scheme thus raising suspicion it would be used for indirect
vote-buying at the coming May elections.
"If they did it before, they can certainly do it again," said Nemenzo,
referring to the 2004 fertilizer scam, when the government "shamelessly
sourced out P728 million from the Department of Agriculture's farm inputs
program to fund Mrs. Arroyo's presidential campaign."
referring to the 2004 fertilizer scam, when the government "shamelessly
sourced out P728 million from the Department of Agriculture's farm inputs
program to fund Mrs. Arroyo's presidential campaign."
The line-item veto authority allows the president to sign an appropriation
bill into law but can single out one or more specific spending provisions
in that bill for a veto. Congress must act on the veto, whether they
approve or override it, within 30 days; otherwise the executive version
will be enacted into law.
bill into law but can single out one or more specific spending provisions
in that bill for a veto. Congress must act on the veto, whether they
approve or override it, within 30 days; otherwise the executive version
will be enacted into law.
FDC then challenged both Houses of Congress to override Arroyo's veto
should she decided to nullify these minor reforms. However, FDC admitted
that it would be difficult considering the current election campaign
period.
should she decided to nullify these minor reforms. However, FDC admitted
that it would be difficult considering the current election campaign
period.
"We encourage the Filipino people to protect our precious resources. The
task of developing a more democratic and participative budgeting system
begins with our efforts to thwart the government's scheme to once again
tinker with the peoples' money for its own convenience," Nemenzo said.
task of developing a more democratic and participative budgeting system
begins with our efforts to thwart the government's scheme to once again
tinker with the peoples' money for its own convenience," Nemenzo said.
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