Senate oversight committees, babawasan para makatipid

 News
Aug 102013
 

Mahigpit na binubusisi ngayon ng Senado ang panukalang 2014 national budget para makahanap ng paraan kung paano makatitipid para magamit sa iba pang gastusin ng pamahalaan.
 
Sa isang caucus, nagkaisa ang mga mambabatas na ibasura ang ilang congressional oversight committees na hindi na kailangan at tinatayang aabot ng P50 milyon ang matitipid ng Senado kada taon ayon kay Senate President Franklin Drilon.
 
Aniya, pag-uusapan pa ng kongreso kung anong mga komite ang tatanggalin at mananatili.
                           
Ang oversight committees ay mga komite na itinatag sa pamamagitan ng batas o resolusyon upang bantayan ang pagpapatupad ng isang batas.
 
Bilang nasa mayorya, pabor si Sen. Ferdinand Marcos sa nasabing reporma para malinaw sa publiko kung saan napupunta ang pondo.
 
“Yes, very much.  Ayaw naman namin na may duda ang tao dun sa paggamit sa pondo ng bayan,” saad ng senador, bagama’t maliit  ang P50 milyon na matitipid sa isang taon, dagdag pa niya.
 
“It depends kasi which accounts to look at. Pero kung titingnan mo yung oversight committees, magkakaroon ng savings na P650 million from  what the budget is from last year,” aniya.
 
Isa sa irerekomenda niyang alisin ang kaniyang dating oversight committee sa Special Purpose Vehicles (Act) sa nakalipas na kongreso, dahil tapos na ang scheme nito.
 
“On the other hand, may ibang oversight committee by mandate of law,  ‘di mo naman pwedeng i-cancel unless baguhin mo yung batas. But kung wala nang functions ‘di na popondohan – ganun more or less… it’s just trying to make sense of the system of committee and the use of oversight committees, wika niya.
 
“Those that are mandated by law di mo magagalaw yan unless we will amend the law. Pero yung mga talagang tanggap ng lahat na di na kailangan, di na nagagamit, e siguro pwede na i-reorganize yun, yung by resolution,  para maging maliwanag ang trabaho,” sabi ng senador.
 
“I’m sure the new Senate President will try to find as many savings as he can. But I think, more importantly, na rationalize nga yung ating committee system,” ayon kay Marcos.   — Linda Bohol /LBG, GMA News

Comelec to fine 11 senators-elect who erred in filing expense reports

 News
Jun 202013
 
Comelec to fine 11 senators-elect who erred in filing expense reports

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will slap fines on 11 of the 12 senators-elect who failed to comply with the requirements regarding the filing of their statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCE). In Minute Resolution No. 13-0775, the poll body en banc approved the memorandum of commissioner Christian Robert Lim that specified the violations of each senatorial bet in the 2013 elections, and the subsequent penalties. Lim is the poll body’s campaign finance unit head. Strict implementation, steep fines  Among the 12 senators-elect, only Alan Peter Cayetano has no deficiency in his expenditure report. Poll chief Sixto Brillantes Jr. urged the candidates to submit their deficiencies before June 30, the start of the term for the new senators. “We will be very strict in its implementation. Kailangang i-comply nila on or before June 29,” he said. According to Lim’s memorandum, the penalties shall amount to “P1,000 per day (not exceeding June 29, 2013) until they have corrected the deficiency in their submissions.” Brillantes said they would implement their memorandum of agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which prohibits local officials from assuming office without submitting their expense reports.  Up to Senate or House to bar non-compliants  Meanwhile, Comelec will submit a list of complying and non-complying candidates to the Offices of the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and DILG Secretary.  But Brillantes admitted they have no power to compel the Senate or the House to bar non-compliant officials from taking their posts. “Hindi Read More …

Enrile resigns as Senate President

 Entertainment
Jun 102013
 

MANILA, June 5 (Mabuhay) – Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has irrevocably resigned his post on the last day of the 15th Congress, citing the backlash he and his son suffered during the 2013 campaign period. In his valedictory speech, Enrile said: “I refuse to lend my hard-earned name as a convenient refuge to those […]

Lacson’s parting advice for Enrile: Avoid ‘rosy cheeks’

 News
Jun 092013
 
Lacson’s parting advice for Enrile: Avoid ‘rosy cheeks’

Watch your temper and avoid getting “rosy cheeks.” This was outgoing Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s parting advice to former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who still has three years left on his term as a senator. In a radio interview, Lacson explained that the “rosy cheeks” remark referred to high blood pressure. “Pinuntahan ko siya sa office niya noong after mag-resign [bilang Senate President si Sen. Enrile]. Umakyat ako sa opisina niya, pinasyalan ko muna. Isa lang ang advice ko sa kanya, ‘May tatlong taon ka pa sa Senado, huwag ka masyadong mainit ang ulo kasi nagro-rosy cheeks.’ Pag rosy cheeks tumataas ang blood pressure,” Lacson said on dzBB radio. Lacson is leaving the Senate after serving two consecutive six-year terms, the maximum allowed by the 1987 Constitution. Enrile’s second consecutive six-year term ends in 2016. Lacson said Enrile’s “rosy cheeks” had shown itself last year, during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, and when he had a heated exchange with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. “Nakakaalala rin, mahirap yan, traydor ang blood pressure,” he said. Lacson also belied claims by Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that Enrile’s irrevocable resignation last Wednesday was just “drama.” He said that when he went to Enrile’s office, he saw the staff was already packing and preparing to leave. Inkling Lacson said he had an inkling Enrile was going to resign when he saw Enrile’s privilege speech on the day’s agenda. Had he found out earlier, Lacson said he would have tried to dissuade Enrile Read More …

PNoy's link to Congress admits rift with Enrile but downplays its effect on bills

 News
Jun 062013
 
PNoy's link to Congress admits rift with Enrile but downplays its effect on bills

Enrile resigns as Senate president. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile delivers a privilege speech on Wednesday, June 5, to announce his irrevocable resignation as head of the chamber. Benjie Castro The head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) on Thursday admitted not being in good terms with resigned Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile but denied that it has caused the vetoing of bills in the 15th Congress. Secretary Manuel Mamba, who acts as President Benigno Aquino III’s link to Congress, said local politics in Cagayan have caused a rift between himself and Enrile, who also hails from the same province. “I can’t go directly to the Senate President. In a way, it has affected our coordination, but we tried for it not to be affected,” Mamba said in a phone interview Thursday. He added that he once attempted to reach out to Enrile, but the resigned Senate leader supposedly declined his invitation to talk. “I reported it to the President. Ang sinabi niya, basta, diyan ka. We just decided to let my undersecretary coordinate with the Senate. I’ll be the one concentrated with the House and the Palace,” Mamba said. GMA News Online is still trying to reach Enrile for his comment on this issue as of posting time. ‘Lack of coordination’ Acting Senate President Jinggoy Estrada, however, said he believes that the discord between Enrile and Mamba really took its toll on legislation this Congress. “There is really a lack of coordination on the part of the PLLO. Read More …