00:00 The two-week deliberation of the Senate on the 2024 national budget is now over.
00:06 In fact, the senators' rebuttal to the proposed budget of several government agencies reached until 4 a.m. earlier this morning.
00:16 The center of the news is Daniel Manalestas live.
00:21 Audrey, the so-called debate of the senators for the 2024 national budget is now over. You're right, their debate ended almost early in the morning.
00:32 But before that happened, Audrey, the budget of each government agency was very well-organized.
00:41 In the deliberation of the Senate on the 2024 national budget, one of the senators' rebuttals is the issue of confidential funds.
00:52 And it came out...
00:53 So initially they asked for 300 million, but now we were able to return 280 million.
01:00 But the committee was able to find a way so that we will still be able to supply the needs of the DICT for them to be able to do their functions properly.
01:10 But now in a line item budget so that it's easier for us to be able to monitor how it's implemented.
01:20 Some of the controversial transfers of confidential funds that the DICT first requested are for the development of their technology.
01:28 In the deliberation of the budget of the Department of National Defense, one of the issues discussed is the possibility of transferring military and uniformed personnel to pensions.
01:39 But the budget sponsor urged the DND not to include the new entrants of the armed forces for the contribution.
01:48 But the stand of the DND right now is even more noble because their stand is totally non-contributory.
01:58 Even the new entrants, there's no contribution.
02:01 So they have a bigger heart than us.
02:07 So you should include the other uniformed personnel, not only the military.
02:13 Because since you're a policeman, you're the chairman of the peace and order.
02:17 Since you as chairman of the peace and order in the Senate, you should include all of them, BGMP, PNP, jail.
02:28 I know that it's not enough.
02:30 It's not enough, Your Honor, but according to the Secretary, with the present resources that the AP has right now.
02:40 The deliberation of the DPR's budget became tense.
02:46 After Senator Rafi Tulfo approved the foreign trips of some officials.
02:52 What the DPR itself wants to know is where we will see that his foreign trips were fruitful.
02:59 Our benefactors are all foreign countries.
03:03 They give us funds, loans for these kinds of projects.
03:09 They seem very concerned about the environment.
03:13 So they're always foreign.
03:17 The climate change commission is always abroad.
03:25 Because of the environmental problems they always require.
03:33 It's more of not local, it's more of international.
03:39 Tulfo also pointed out the activities of the UMANOI in the Masungi Geo Reserve.
03:44 Well, can I see the list of who agreed to exploit our environment in Masungi?
03:54 I need the list of those people who agreed.
03:57 I know, but your selection process requires an IP.
04:02 They don't want to be followed.
04:03 So how did you select the IPs? May I know?
04:07 From the experts?
04:08 Maybe the IPs were not signed.
04:11 You know, even if it's IPs, it's also influenced.
04:17 It shouldn't be.
04:18 Oh, tell it to the Marines.
04:21 Sorry, tell it to the Marines. It shouldn't be.
04:24 Because the IPs are poor.
04:26 In my legislated protected area, it happens.
04:30 The barangays are influenced.
04:32 The IPs are poor.
04:34 They lack education, they lack knowledge.
04:37 And then we exploit them.
04:39 In the deliberation of the budget of the Department of Tourism,
04:43 the heads of the senators were heated after they learned information
04:47 that one of the DOT officials texted the senators and told them to stop asking questions.
04:55 Who are you? Who are you to tell us to stop asking questions?
04:59 Remember, if one of us tells the sponsor to defer the budget of DOT,
05:07 what will happen to you?
05:08 You cannot do anything.
05:10 My colleagues don't deserve that.
05:12 My colleagues, never mind me.
05:14 You can insult me, you can get mad at me.
05:16 But my colleagues do not deserve that treatment
05:19 from members of the government who are actually trying to sponsor their budgets.
05:24 It's unacceptable, Mr. President.
05:27 So, even if the distinguished head of PRA is not willing to answer or apologize,
05:38 I think we should hear from her, Mr. President,
05:41 what she wants, what she wanted to happen,
05:45 how she thinks this Senate as an institution would be better
05:50 if we will succumb to whatever she wants, Mr. President.
05:55 Notwithstanding that, imagine my shock and complete and utter disappointment
06:01 when I learned that she, in defiance of what I had been very clear to her about,
06:09 proceeded to send these inappropriate text messages.
06:13 Upon my learning of these actions, as brought to my attention by Senator Nancy Binay,
06:20 to whom I am very grateful for letting me know,
06:24 I demanded that she issue an immediate and personal apology to all of the Senators.
06:32 Senators will be leaving early for the period of debates for the 2024 proposed budget.
06:39 They are hoping that this will be passed by next week.
06:43 Audrey, I just want to clarify, not because the period of debates is over,
06:48 but the whole process of budget deliberations in the Senate is over
06:53 because it will still pass through the period of amendments.
06:56 This is the time where Senators can make their amendments to the 2024 national budget.
07:03 After the period of amendments, it will pass through their approval.
07:08 Senators will vote on the proposed budget.
07:11 After the approval and the vote of the Senators on the proposed budget,
07:15 it will pass through the Bicameral Conference Committee,
07:18 along with the lower house.
07:20 So, the process of this budget for 2024 is still long. Audrey?
07:26 Okay, Daniel. In the last weeks of this debate or budget deliberations in the Senate,
07:32 are there any government agencies that have realigned the budget?
07:37 [Music]
07:41 Audrey, what else is that?
07:44 We will find out in the period of amendments where the realigned funds will be official.
07:54 But, as some budget sponsors have said,
07:57 for example, in the budget of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education,
08:03 where the request for confidential funds has been withdrawn.
08:07 So, we will find out from that where the funds will be transferred,
08:11 the funds that will be used for confidential funds.
08:14 We will find out, Audrey, during the period of amendments. Audrey?
08:18 Alright. Thank you very much, Daniel.
