Press Release
September 21, 2010

2011 BUDGET SHOULD GO INTO PRODUCTIVITY-ENHANCING SECTORS

In a recent radio interview, Senator Edgardo J. Angara expressed his concerns regarding the proposed 2011 National Budget, saying that it wasn't aimed towards the much needed productivity-enhancing sectors such as Agriculture and Science & Technology.

"Imbis na sa agrikultura o sa research natin ilaan, ay binawasan pa ang ating R&D and training funds," he lamented, indicating the reduced allocation to the Department of Agriculture from P58-B to P37.7-B.

Angara, vice-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, also said that the dominant theme of the 2011 budget seemed to be the establishment of a dole-out or welfare-oriented society which was not sustainable in a developing country like the Philippines.

"We cannot sustain and afford a system of dole out. Pero hindi nangangahulugan na hindi natin bibigyan ng cash transfer o ng subsidy yun talagang vulnerable and weak," he explained.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) received a 123 percent budget increase, getting a total of P34.3, to support the 4P or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

According to Angara, this huge budget boost is a cause of apprehension because the DSWD may not be equipped to oversee the allocation of such a big amount.

"Maaaring hindi handa ang DSWD sa ganito kalaking pondo, kasi napakalaking logistical burden nito sa capability and absorption capacity nila. Dahil nga na-devolve na ang personnel at organisasyon ng DSWD sa local government, wala silang national core na magde-deliver nitong welfare services na ito.

"Kaya ang kailangan natin ngayon ay pag-aralang mabuti ang mechanics at implementasyon ng programang ito. Dapat ay ma-refine, ma-focus at ma-target ang mga benepisyaryo nito para hindi naman masayang ang pera ng bansa," said Angara.

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