Akbayan Partylist today called for the passage of two important budgetary reform measures dubbed as the Bantay Budget Bills, which are the Savings and Augmentation Bill (HB 11389) and the Freedom of Information Act (HB 11491). According to the group these two measures were the public’s safeguard against misuse of the national budget and ensuring transparency in government.
Akbayan Partylist Representative Perci Cendaña said the Savings and Augmentation Bill was necessary to ensure that savings in the budget would not be appropriated to a purpose that is not in line with the guidelines set forth by Congress in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“Nililinaw natin ano ang ‘savings’ at saan lang pwede ito gamitin. Kung agency head ka, hindi ka pwedeng lumabas sa guidelines ng Kongreso. Kung hindi, kaso ang aabutin mo,” according to Rep. Cendaña.
Rep. Cendaña added, “Under the bill, pwede lang gamitin yung savings para punan yung kakulangan sa pondo ng isang aprubadong proyekto. Bawal gamitin ang pera sa isang proyekto na wala naman sa GAA.”
Akbayan First Nominee Atty. Chel Diokno also reiterated the need to pass the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill to encourage citizens’ vigilance against abuse. He also lamented that requests for information by the public were not being approved hence the need for institutionalizing the right to information.
“The FOI Bill not only ensures transparency but also accessibility of information from concerned government offices and agencies. Marami tayong natatanggap na reklamo na kahit makatwiran naman ang request at kahit walang kinalaman sa national security ang hinihinging impormasyon o datos ay hindi pa rin ito inaaprubahan at ibinibigay ng ahensya ng gobyerno,” according to Diokno.
Diokno also urged “Hindi dapat ganito ang maging kalakaran sa ating pamahalaan. Kailangang maging bukas ang gobyerno sa kahilingan ng mamamayan na siya nitong pinagsisilbihan.
Diokno concluded, “Napakahalaga ng impormasyon sa makabuluhang partisipasyon sa lipunan. Kapag may access sa impormasyon ang mamamayan, pinalalakas nito ang karapatan at kakayahan nilang panagutin ang pamahalaan, humingi ng mas maayos na serbisyo, at pangalagaan ang mga institusyong demokratiko.”
