PHNO-HL; PNoy SCRAPS JUDICIARY ALLOWANCES IN 2013 BUDGET

PNoy SCRAPS JUDICIARY ALLOWANCES IN 2013
BUDGET

[PHOTO - PRESIDENT NOYNOY AQUINO]
MANILA, AUGUST 16, 2012 (PHILSTAR) By Jess Diaz - President Aquino
has scrapped the monthly allowances for justices and judges based on the
proposed P2-trillion national budget for next year now being scrutinized in the
House of Representatives.
Beginning next year, Aquino wants billions in fees being collected by the
judiciary from litigants and people getting clearances and other documents be
turned over to the treasury and made part of the general fund, instead of being
kept by the SC and used for the payment of additional allowances.
Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco and Court Administrator Midas Marquez
protested the scrapping of their allowances during a hearing on the proposed
P17.7-billion budget for the judiciary for next year by the House appropriations
committee. They said they want the allowances restored in the proposed budget
for next year.
The committee learned that SC justices are now getting gross monthly pay of
about P130,000 and should no longer be paid additional allowances ranging from
P30,000 to P50,000.
Some committee members said even President Aquino does not get such level of
compensation.
Marquez said the SC is also appealing for the restoration of funding for
unfilled positions as well as an augmentation of P374.5 million for the
procurement of furniture and computer cables for the planned courthouse in
Manila.
He said the judiciary could live with the Palace-recommended budget of P17.7
billion for courts, provided the additional requests are granted.
Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr., who heads a subcommittee in charge of
the judiciary budget, asked Marquez to submit a position paper justifying the
return of additional allowances and funds for unfilled positions.
Marquez said allowances for justices and judges are authorized under Republic
Act 9227 as part of compliance with the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) enacted
five years ago. Marquez said the law allows the judiciary to draw funds for
allowances from court fees.
He said the emoluments were to be part of the increased salary rates under
SSL III, since the national government could not provide enough funds for the
pay adjustments.
RELATED EARLIER REPORT
Aquino submits P2-trillion budget to Congress By
Norman Bordadora Philippine Daily Inquirer 2:22 am | Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

President Benigno Aquino has submitted to Congress the proposed
P2.006-trillion national budget for 2013, saying it is a crucial step in
improving the lives of Filipinos.
Mr. Aquino submitted the country's very first P2-trillion budget, which he
described as a "budget of empowerment," the day after he delivered his State of
the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday.
Malacañang officials said the administration expects Congress to pass the
budget measure before the end of the year.
"The expenditure program is consistent with our macroeconomic and fiscal
aspirations for the next fiscal year and in the medium term," Mr. Aquino said in
his budget message.
"Above that, this budget is a crucial step in our continuing pursuit of good
governance—governance that will give our impoverished countrymen the opportunity
to lift themselves out of their situations; governance that will ensure that
this country moves forward together," he added.
The 2013 budget represents 16.8 percent of the country's projected gross
domestic product (GDP). Based on a higher growth assumption of six to seven
percent, it is higher by 10.5 percent, or P190 billion more, than the 2012
budget.
Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad explained that 2013 budget intends to
sustain the fiscal momentum set in 2011 and 2012 to ensure long-term and
sustainable growth.
He said that in devising the 2013 budget, the administration wanted "to build
on the gains we have so far posted as well as encourage more robust and
inclusive fiscal growth in the coming year and beyond."
He said the government expanded the citizen engagement in designing next
year's budget.
"To truly empower Filipinos with this budget, we intensified civic society
and grassroots involvement in budget preparations so that the resulting
expenditure plan accounts for the needs of the ordinary Filipino," Abad said.

With the proposed 2013 budget, Abad said the Aquino administration sustains
its comprehensive support of the social services sector, which received a
13.9-percent increase.
The total allocation—which now stands at P698.4 billion—will be used to close
the delivery gaps in public education, health and social protection for the poor
and vulnerable in the next fiscal year, according to Abad.
The economic services sector has been allotted P511.1 billion, or an increase
of 16.4 percent from its 2012 budget of P439 billion. Abad said the increase
will support rapid, sustained and inclusive growth that will benefit all
Filipinos in a "direct, immediate and sustainable manner."
According to Abad, the general public services sector takes up the third
largest share of the 2013 budget with P346.1 billion allocation, higher by 8
percent than its current P320.3 billion.
He said debt services will receive P333.9 billion, while defense spending
will get P89.7 billion.
Net lending under the 2013 budget will receive P26.5 billion in allocations,
or an increase of 15.2 percent from the current budget.
DBM figures showed that the education department will continue to receive the
bulk of budgetary support in line with the President's agenda to improve the
quality of public education in the country.
With an allocation of P292.7 billion for 2013—up by 22.6 percent from
2012—the Department of Education will be able to "plug up" all resource gaps for
classrooms, teachers and textbooks by the end of 2013, officials said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways has the second largest share, in
line with the Aquino administration's goal of strengthening the country's
infrastructure base and fueling economic growth. It has a budget of P152.9
billion, or an increase of 21 percent.
The Department of National Defense will get a total of P121.6 billion, up by
12.5 percent from 2012, while the local governments department has been allotted
P121.1 billion, an increase of 21.3 percent.
The Department of Agriculture will get a 20.6-percent increase in 2013, its
total allocation rising to P74.1 billion. The agency aims to achieve food
self-sufficiency by 2013.
The Department of Health got the highest budgetary increase of 24 percent,
with P56.8 billion. The increase is expected to help the administration promote
its universal healthcare agenda for all Filipinos, especially the poor.


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved




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