Following efforts to scrutinize the 2021 National Expenditure Program (NEP), particularly on the issue of “reappropriations” and “lump sum appropriations” involving infra projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the initial amount of P73.5 billion covering 2,933 items has now ballooned to P135.8 billion involving 5,913 projects, Senator Panfilo M. Lacson said on Monday.
This effectively increased the total questionable appropriations to P532.3 billion from the initial P469 billion that he exposed earlier including lump sums in the amount of P396.4 billion.
Considering the projects under “Operations” in the proposed budget of the DPWH that have a total appropriations of P613.1 billion, easily 87 percent or P532.3 billion is deemed questionable, Senator Lacson emphasized.
‘’Having said all that, a legal question needs to be addressed as we progress in our plenary budget deliberations,’’ he said.
‘’Will this kind of “errata” be allowed by the Senate, or Congress for that matter, if the items to be rectified do not involve simple typo errors or other similar minor errors like interchanged or misplaced items in the NEP?’’ Lacson pointed out.
‘’Therefore, if my colleagues will not allow such major rectification, we may see a 2021 GAA (General Appropriations Act) that is reduced by more than half a trillion pesos,’’ he added.