Progressive Lawmakers Deem 2011 Budget as Rushed, Misaligned and Regressive

Progressive Lawmakers Deem 2011 Budget as Rushed, Misaligned and Regressive

Published on November 13, 2010
When the session resumed on November 8, members of the House of Representatives were being asked to vote on the proposed budget. ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio stood up and asked if they could still look into the amendments that were considered and included in the final version of the bill. The request, however, was denied. 

By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
Bulatlat.com
 
MANILA — The P1.645-trillion ($37.63 million) budget for 2011 has been passed at the House of Representatives on its third and final reading by a vote of 175 for and 21 against last November 8. But progressive party-list groups, which voted against it, have not given up the fight and are explaining its flaws to the public.
In a press conference on November 9, progressive party-list representatives explained why they voted against the 2011 budget.
“It is a distorted budget, skewed against the people,” Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan said. She added that the voting took them by surprise because they were expecting that the plenary session would tackle the proposed amendments that were submitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

On October 16, House Bill 3101, or the General Appropriations Bill for 2011, was passed on second reading. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. explained that the budget was “meticulous, down to the smallest but important detail.” During the session break, however, progressive party-list representatives said that only a “small group” looked into the amendments that was supposed to be discussed during the third reading.

When the session resumed on November 8, members of the House of Representatives were being asked to vote on the proposed budget. ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio stood up and asked if they could still look into the amendments that were considered and included in the final version of the bill. The request, however, was denied..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20101113com3.html