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Media ReleasesSWP demands full disclosure of 2020 budget amendments, asks for supplemental budget for key social programs | SWP PR 27 Sep 2019
SOCIALWATCH PHILS·SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2019 Social Watch Philippines (SWP), a budget advocacy group, supports Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson’s position on the budget and calls for increased transparency and accountability in the national budget-making process. Further, it asks for full disclosure of the details of the amendments and final allocation of the 2020 budget bill before it is sent to the Senate.
“Indeed, we cannot accept pork of any form and a simplistic EQUAL distribution of what's there for the taking as different areas have different needs,” Jessica Reyes-Cantos, Co-Convenor of SWP said. While it is important to avoid a scenario of a re-enacted budget and implementation and utilization nightmare by agencies, Cantos explained that this should not be at the expense of budget scrutiny and prioritization, “Congress should not be remiss in putting forward rational, equitable spending, project monitoring and accountability for agriculture, health, education, child protection and child labor prevention and elimination programs. Ironically, while having the most impact on the poor and marginalized, these areas continue to suffer from budget cuts or underspending or both. The budget cuts for health, strengthening child protection mechanisms in schools and child labor profiling and monitoring are quite worrisome,” Cantos continued. Cantos added, “(T) here might be a rainbow behind the clouds in Congress’ swift action on the budget. For one, it gives time for the Senate to go thru it with a fine-tooth comb. Second, it likewise gives time for CSOs like us to give inputs in the Senate budget deliberations process and hopefully, they will hear us out. Finally, it gives time for the House of Representatives to deliberate on and pass a supplemental budget which can possibly be sourced from the P283.55 billion unused appropriations in the 2018 budget. We do hope a certification of fund availability can be quickly provided by the Bureau of Treasury. The supplemental budget should support our rice, coconut and other farmers, hog raisers, and put out emergency health programs as cases of preventable diseases have sporadically resurfaced not just in the country but in the whole of Southeast Asia. It will also provide the fiscal space to finance programs and projects that will promote child’s rights, address violence against children and put forward the best interest of the child.” Social Watch Philippines (SWP) is a network of over a hundred civil society organizations and individuals engaged in research and lobby efforts in holding the government accountable for the fulfillment of national, regional and international commitments to eradicate poverty and carry out social, economic, and gender justice. SWP promotes people-centered sustainable development by proactively monitoring the progress and delivery of social commitments forged by the government and influencing the outcomes of policy decisions through citizen's participation in public finance.
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