The Senate is keen on scrutinizing once again all funds allocated for flood control mitigation but there is a necessity to also inquire into the government’s programs on climate change and climate adaptation, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said on Sunday, November 3.
The Upper Chamber is also keen on scrutinizing the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.’s (PhilHealth) proposed budget for 2025 particularly regarding its unutilized excess funds which amount to billions.
Escudero, in an interview on Radio DZBB, pointed this out saying senators are now preparing to scrutinize that in the upcoming budget deliberations on the Marcos administration’s proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for next year, as well as other important issues.
DPWH’s flood control projects
Senators are bent on investigating how local government units (LGUs) and the national government have been utilizing their respective flood control projects noting how the current flood control mitigation programs seem to have been ineffective following the devastation brought about by severe tropical storm "Kristine."
“We plan to scrutinize the flood control projects of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways). But that is not the only problem. The problem is, we haven’t asked about the studies related to climate change and climate adaptation? How thick our seawalls should be? How high should our seawalls should be? Should that depend on each province, for every river, for every sea? I don’t know the answer to that,” Escudero said in Filipino during the radio interview.
“So part of the budget deliberations on the flood control projects of the DPWH would be scrutinizing the programs, knowledge and research of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) regarding the matter,” he said.
PhilHealth’s use of excess funds
Escudero also said the Senate is keen on scrutinizing the budget of the PhilHealth in light of the recent temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court regarding the transfer of its excess funds worth P89.9 billion to the National Treasury.
“The question really is, why does PhilHealth have so much excess funds when we see a lot of our citizens do not actually obtain any benefits from PhilHealth?” he pointed out.
“That is one of the things PhilHealth should clarify and answer to in the upcoming deliberations. Because if we are going to add to the budget of PhilHealth, but they’re not going to use it, then we lose especially if there is inflation,” he lamented.
Ready to sponsor budget bill
Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said she is ready to sponsor the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on Tuesday, November 5.
After that, the finance panel will start the interpellations on November 6 to 19, followed by deliberations on the budget of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) among others.
To expedite the budget proceedings, Poe said the Senate will hold sessions on Thursdays.
“We are anticipating the budget to be passed into third and final reading on November 26. By then, we expect the bicam (bicameral conference committee) to be held between November 28 to 30,” Poe said in an interview over Radio DWIZ on Saturday.
“Usually, the Senate is on track with the schedule and if we look at last year’s schedule, it’s nearly the same. So I think we can reach our goal of having the budget signed into law before the end of the year,” she further said.
Apart from an early approval of the budget in the bicam level, Poe said the Senate is keen on keeping the budget proceedings transparent.
“Even I was also surprised during the last bicam on the budget, but it was good then that I didn’t sign that document back then, because I wasn’t privy to the last minute changes done during the bicam,” Poe pointed out.
“So I am one with Senate President Chiz, who also wants and is pushing for a more transparent proceedings on the budget and making the contents of the budget available to the public especially when it comes to the bicameral report,” she stressed.