Press Release
September 15, 2008

ROXAS: LUMP SUMS IN 2009 TO BE SCRUTINIZED

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas vowed today to thoroughly scrutinize the proposed 2009 national budget, especially the appropriation of lump sums that have become easy prey to corruption under the Arroyo administration.

"Lump-sum equals scam. 'Yan ang natutunan natin nitong mga nakaraang taon, gaya nang nangyari kay Joc-Joc Bolante," Roxas, chair of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce, said in reaction to reports that another anomalous purchase program for hybrid and certified rice seeds, farm inputs and fertilizers under the Department of Agriculture has been discovered.

"Hindi na tayo papayag na lagi na lang tayong lokohin ng mga nangungurakot gamit ang budget na inaprubahan ng Senado't Kongreso. 'Yan ang sagot natin sa patuloy na mga anomalya sa gobyerno," he said.

The Ilonggo senator, who has always held a strong stance against lump-sum appropriations, said the latest discovery by the Commission on Audit on the anomalous purchases that were part of the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani program of the Department of Agriculture shows how funds did not reach their intended beneficiaries. According to the report, signatures on the disbursement of P218.7 million had allegedly been forged.

"Isang halimbawa lang itong bagong rice scam na nalalaman natin mula sa CoA. Imbes na tulungan ang ating mga kababayan noong nagkakrisis sa bigas at pataas ang presyo ng pagkain, lalo pang kinurakot itong pera nila. Dapat may managot dito," he said.

"Hindi nakapagtataka na tuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin dahilan sa nangyayaring pangungurakot sa pamahalaan," he added.

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