Where is the almost P300 billion in earmarked revenues, including the Malampaya Fund?
Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera asked this on Monday to Department of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi during the House Committee on Appropriations’ deliberation on the DOE’s proposed P2.6-billion budget for 2021.
“I am looking at earmarked revenues at nakalagay dito ang balanse niya (and it is stated here), as of December 31 is P277, 911, 438 and every year, may mga papasok tayo (there rvenue coming in). In 2019, actual na pumasok ay (revenue was) P31 billion and then we expect sa (in) 2020, P29 billion. My question po, is nasaan ang (where are the) earmarked revenues na ito ngayon (now)?”
Cusi was quick to respond that the custodian of the Malampaya Fund or the national government’s share from the energy resource development fund is the National Treasury.
“If you are referring to the Malampaya Fund that is with the National Treasury. We are just a collecting agency. We don’t keep that money. We don’t even hold that money,” he said.
Herrera clarified that she was not only referring to Malampaya Fund. “You have program expenditures, hindi naman po lahat ng earmarked from Malampaya (not all earmarked revenues come from Malampaya),” she explained.
Herrera’s manifestation prodded Cusi to relay to the House Appropriations panel that “all the collection goes to the national government.”
As an expression of support to Herrera, Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvardo, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, asked the DOE to submit the necessary documents that would shed light on his colleague’s query.
Cusi then assured the panel that they can provide the details concerning the Malampaya Fund.
“This is P300 billion in earmarked revenues, na we do not know kung nasaan po, at kung ano ang paggamit nito at katulad ng sinabi ni Secretary Cusi nagrerequest sila ng exploration vessel, so bakit hindi ito napapabigyan, considering na importante naman ang request (This is P300 billion in earmarked revenues, which we do not know where are these and how they are used and just like what Secretary told us, they requested for exploration vessel, why it is not being granted, considering their request is important),” Herrera stressed.
Herrera also asked the DOE to submit the list of its locally funded projects worth about P931 million.