Press Release
January 11, 2007

Transcript of Sen. Franklin M. Drilon's press conference on the budget

Q: On the breakthrough on the budget

SFMD: We have achieved a breakthrough in the national budget for 2007. We have broken the deadlock with a compromise proposal. After three meetings with our counterpart in the House, Cong. Joey Salceda, we have agreed on a compromise in order to break the deadlock over the P4.7 billion School Feeding Program under the budget. As agreed in the compromise formula, of this amount, P2.613 million will be allocated to the School Building Program of the DepEd. This will result in additional new classrooms of 5,400, which is on top of the 12,226 classrooms originally budgeted. The total shortage in our classrooms this year is almost 20,000. Only 12,226 was in the original proposal of the President. With this compromise, we will add 5,400 classrooms, costing P2.6 billion so that the classroom shortage will only be 2,961 units. The total allocation for classrooms in the DepEd is P5.313 billion. In addition, a P2 billion Nutrition Feeding program is incorporated in the budget of the DepEd. This is known as the Malusog na Simula, Yaman ng Bansa Nutrition Program, which will involve the distribution of food supplements such as milk, coco-pandesal and vegetable-based noodles in the public schools, to be consumed in the public schools.

Q: Hindi na rice?

SFMD: Hindi na rice. Because this program was originally envisioned to address the malnutrition problem of our school children. A rice distribution program does not address the malnutrition problem of our school children. Therefore, this project called Malusog na Simula, Yaman ng bansa Nutrition Program is designed to address the malnutrition problems of our school children. A total amount of P2 billion is allocated for that. Likewise, in order to address the gap or the need for new teachers, an additional budget of P873 million was given for hiring of new teachers. This will now bring the total budget for new teachers to nearly P2 billion. In these new hires, priority will be given to those in the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and general science. Because this is where there is inadequacy of teachers. As part of our compromise agreement, the bicameral committee agreed to retain the P400 million intelligence fund in the Office of the President, which we originally distributed to the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police. We maintained the P650 million confidential funds in the Office of the President consistent with the time-honored tradition of the Congress allowing Malacañang to determine the appropriation in the Office of the President. So that with this breakthrough, we expect to submit for the President's signature the budget before we adjourn on February 10. In other words, by February 10, the ratification and the printing should be finished. Right now, the technical staff is still working on the technical details of the budget so that we can come up with an agreed version shortly.

Q: How did you come up with a compromise?

SFMD: We explained to them that the original concept of the School Feeding Program was really to address the malnutrition problem of our school children. While there may be basis for a rice distribution program to address the hunger problem in the rural areas, that's a different program. The School Feeding Program should not be used for that purpose.

Q: Is there still a rice distribution program?

SFMD: There is none insofar as the budget is concerned.

Q: Wala nang importation of rice for that purpose?

SFMD: For the purpose of the School Feeding Program, no, there is no rice.

Q: In effect, wala na ang Food For School Program?

SFMD: That is the school feeding program.

Q: Sino ang nanaig?

SFMD: Walang nanaig. It's a compromise.

Q: Kailan kayo nagmi-meet?

SFMD: We met three times at the Club Filipino.

Q: When was the last?

SFMD: This morning.

Q: Baka ang feeling ni Joey Salceda, they got what they want.

SFMD: Hindi naman contest ito.

Q: Ilang senators, ilang congressmen?

SFMD: The panels authorized Congressman Salceda and myself from the very start, to thresh out the differences.

Q: So bicam will be finished by when?

SFMD: You can say that there is no more hindrance to the submission to the President of a budget before session ends on February 10.

Q: Paano iyung P10 billion rehab fund

SFMD: We are working on that as we talk here today. It's a realignment of the items in the budget because we do not want to exceed the President's budget. Therefore, there will be a redirection of certain expenditure programs in order to address the calamities brought about by typhoon Reming. That is being worked out. We recognize the need to address the needs Bicol and areas affected by Reming.

Q: Sa intel fund ng Malacañang , bakit kayo bumigay na?

SFMD: As we said, traditionally, we respect the allocation of Malacañang . The representation is that this P650 million is being distributed anyway to the major services in the Armed Forces.

Q: Naging madugo ba ang three meetings para ma-resolve ito?

SFMD: Hindi, paliwanagan lang. Hindi naman madugo.

Q: Gaano kalakas ang paliwanagan?

SFMD: Paliwanagan lang.

Q: P2.6 billion was suggested by who?

SFMD: I discussed it personally with Joey and it just came out in the course of the discussion.

Q: One-on-one kayong dalawa?

SFMD: Yes, because we were authorized by our respective panels. If you remember, when we sat down about the 2 nd week of December, when we started this, at the first meeting when we sat down, both panels authorized Joey Salceda and myself to represent the respective bicam panels. We have the full authority from the bicam panel.

Q: On the rehab fund

SFMD: It's not easy to look for the P10 billion because you have to look for the sources in the P1.126 trillion.

Q: Recto pointed out that because of the depreciation of the peso to the dollar, the Philippines stands to gain, what will be the effect?

SFMD: If that assumption is correct, that will reduce the programmed deficit by the same amount.

Q: Ano ang epekto ng two to three months reenacted budget?

SFMD: Why three months? There is none. One month lang, effectively.

Q: On Maliksi suspension

SFMD: I have no comment on that. He has chosen to go to the Atienza group.

Q: Hindi kayo nagkakausap ni Ayong Maliksi?

SFMD: Hindi.

Q: Sabi ni Gonzalez, sinususian n'yo lang daw si Ping Lacson kaya bumabanat sa kanya?

SFMD: Sinususian ko si Ping Lacson? Hindi ko pa nga nakakausap si Ping?

Q: Maceda said talks among the UNO, Nacionalista and Liberal are in the advanced stages.

SFMD: I just arrived two days ago. I have no information on that.

Q: Sa LP sino po ang nakikipag-negotiate?

SFMD: I do not know yet. I haven't talked to my partymates. I have been concentrating on this budget for the past three days.

Q: Si Kiko Pangilinan daw po ay tagilid na makapasok sa United Opposition

SFMD: Senator Pangilinan is a sure winner.

Q: Ipu-push n'yo ba iyon?

SFMD: We haven't discussed that point with the UNO. I am not aware of any discussion.

Q: Ilan po kaya ang ipapasok ng LP sa UNO?

SFMD: We have not discussed it. I have not discussed it with Mr. Maceda.

Q: Magsasarili ba ang LP?

SFMD: I have not discussed it with anybody because I just arrived three days ago.

Q: Kahit kay Senator Villar?

SFMD: I have not discussed it with Senator Villar.

Q: Malapit na ang filing

SFMD: Hindi naman ako ang kandidato.

Q: Local politics naman.. Iloilo?

SFMD: Huwag nyong pansinin ang local, national lang

Q: Iyung filing ng kaso kay Nani Perez

SFMD: To my recollection, that investigation is still open.

Q: Ni-refer daw sa Blue Ribbon Lacson has to refile it?

SFMD: He can always file a new resolution. There is nothing in the rules that prohibits Senator Lacson from filing a new resolution. I would encourage Senator Lacson to do so so that a fresh inquiry can be made into this.

Q: May time pa kaya?

SFMD: Bakit wala? We can continue the investigation during the break. Under our rules, the committee can continue with the hearings even during the break. That is a matter that is addressed to the discretion of the chairman of the appropriate committee.

Q: How will it be clarified?

SFMD: Ultimately, it will be clarified in the court when the evidence is presented.

Q: Tama ba yung extortion or plunder dapat?

SFMD: To me, it should've been plunder.

Q: Why?

SFMD: Because it is beyond P50 million; $2 million is P100 million. Obviously, a series of acts were undertaken to effect this on the basis of the affidavits presented.

Q: Ibig nyong sabihin sa series of acts, iyung pagta-transfer ng

SFMD: Including the incidents before that, yes, part of that is the transfers

Q: Does it make a difference that the one charged is a former justice secretary?

SFMD: It should make no difference because everyone is equal before the law.

Q: Si Mr. Jimenez, may liability rin?

SFMD: If it's an extortion, he has no liability.

Q: Plunder?

SFMD: The same, plunder. In other words, insofar as he is concerned, he was coerced into doing it.

Q: Kung bribery?

SFMD: The Ombudsman has taken the position that there was coercion. That is why she filed extortion.

Q: Government line now is

SFMD: That is a matter which would have to be tackled when the case goes on trial.

Q: Parang walang presence ang LP sa siksikan sa UNO?

SFMD: Bakit ka naman magsisiksikan sa UNO?

Q: Do you dignify the statement the statement of Gonzalez?

SFMD: Bakit ganoon na lang ba si Senator Lacson na sususian? (end)

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