Villar says pork barrel issue in the 2008 national budget will be resolved

Senate President Manny Villar today expressed confidence that the Senate and the House of Representatives will be able to resolve differences in their respective versions of the proposed national budget, including the controversial provision on the alleged pork barrel insertions, and come up with a new budget for the year.

"We are already running on a reenacted budget. But I am sure the bicameral conference committee in their meetings will be able to reach an agreement so we can approve this year's General Appropriations Act," Villar said.

Villar said he believes Finance Committee Chairman Juan Ponce Enrile and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Edcel Lagman will be able to come up with a reconciled version of the budget bill which Congress can present for the president's signature next month.

Villar also strongly supports the need to scrutinize huge appropriations in the budget bill, including the alleged P13.5 billion increase in congressmen's pork barrel funds.

"Mabuti na rin at naglalabasan ang mga problema na iyan. Syempre kapag napapag-usapan ang mga pork barrel na ganyan, nagkakaroon ng mga pagkakataon para bawasan iyong dapat bawasan at ang mga nakakahiyang probisyon ay tanggalin," Villar said.

Villar said the approval of the national budget is the Senate's highest priority as the session resumes on January 28.

"Inaasahan na ng ating mga manggagawa sa gobyerno ang dagdag na sahod na nakapaloob sa 2008 budget. Marami ring mga imprastruktura ang nakalinya at kailangang mapondohan sa taong ito. Mabigat din kapag hindi naipasa ang budget kaya pipilitin namin ang aming magagawa para maipasa iyan," he said.

The Nacionalista Party president said a reenacted budget for a month will not cause serious repercussion on the economy and vowed that there will be allocations to finance new projects for 2008.