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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Solon credits Abalos for resolving P1.2-B fund transfer issue between DICT, MMDA

Solon credits Abalos for resolving P1.2-B fund transfer issue between DICT, MMDA

Published Jan 17, 2023 10:18 am

Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza has credited Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos for the return to the national treasury of P1.2 billion worth of funds that had been questionably transferred between two agencies.

DILG Chairman Benhur Abalos (left) and Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza (Facebook)


Daza, a senior deputy minority leader, was referring to the funds that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) had passed on to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The inter-agency transfer of funds for the project was supposedly meant for the National Capital Region (NCR) Fiber Optic Backbone Development and Network Resiliency project. This was a hotly-contested issue late last year, mainly due to Daza's whistle-blowing.

“Secretary Abalos’ efforts in reaching out to MMDA, I believe, contributed to the positive outcome,” Daza said in a statement. Abalos is a former MMDA chairman.

Daza also thanked the efforts of the House Committees on Good Government and Public Accountability and on Information and Communications Technology in bringing the details of the transfer out into the open.

“I’m happy to note that said funds had already been transferred to the Bureau of the Treasury last month. Clearly, the two house committees and their Chairpersons Florida “Rida” Robes (lone district, San Jose del Monte City) and Tobias “Toby” Tiangco (lone district, Navotas City) had done an excellent job. The people’s will has won,” the solon said.

During a Dec. 6 joint committee hearing—which was attended by officials of the DICT, MMDA, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)—it was revealed that the DICT’s internal counsel strongly advised against the transfer of the P1.2 billion, citing the principle of ultra vires, meaning that such an endeavor is “beyond the scope and power” of the agency.

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According to Daza, there's nothing totally wrong about downloading funds as long as the DBM approves of it and that the funds will be spent in helpful and meaningful projects.

“As with anything in government, please, let’s just do it right. Let’s do it for the peace of mind of our taxpayers," he said.

Moving forward, the House leader is hopeful that the practice of inter-agency transfers will be deeply scrutinized by the House of Representatives and DBM.

“I am aware that it is being done every now and then. However, there should be clearer guidelines and accountability,” he stressed.

Related Tags

paul daza DICT transfer MMDA funds DILG Benhur Abalos 11723 fiber optic backbone development DBM
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