NAIS ng chairman ng House committee on public accounts na si Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor na ipaliwanag ng Department of Finance (DOF) ang P1.86 trillion na inutang ng mga ito mula Enero hanggang Hulyo 2020.

Ayon kay Defensor, tungkulin ng tanggapan ni Carlos Dominguez III na maging transparent sa inutang na ito ng gobyerno sa unang pitong buwan ng taong kasalukuyan dahil napakalaking halaga nito.

“People are asking questions about the borrowings, particularly where the money was used and why did we have to borrow at the time each loan was incurred. For the sake of transparency, the DOF should account for the debt for the first seven months,” ani Defensor.

Sinabi ng mambabatas na nauunawaan ng marami na kailangang mangutang ang gobyerno lalo na’t kailangan ang pondo sa paglaban sa pandemya sa COVID-19 na nagsimula noong Marso at hanggang ngayon ay pangunahing problema ito ng bansa.

“But for the understanding of the greater public, the DOF, together with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), has to explain to clear up issues. For instance, how much of the P1.86 trillion went to COVID-19 response measures, how much for infrastructure, how much for debt repayment, and how much for salaries, if any,” ani  Defensor.

Mahalaga aniya ang paliwanag ng DOF kung saan nagamit ang pondong ito dahil noong nakaraang linggo ay sinabi ni Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado sa House committee on appropriation na P389 billion ang inilabas ng mga ito na ginamit sa COVID-19 response.

Sa nasabing halaga, P266.53 billion ay mula umano sa PAPs o project, activities and programs noong 2019 at 2020 na hindi na itinuloy habang ang natitirang P102.06 billion ay mula sa special purpose at P20.48 billion naman sa regular agency appropriations.

Nagamit umano ang P211 billion sa financial assistant o special amelioration program (SAP) para sa 18 milyong mahihirap na pamilya na labis na naapektuhan sa COVID-19 pandemic sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 1 o We Heal as One act.

Dahil dito, nagtatanong ang publiko kung saan ginamit ang P1.86 trillion na inutang ng gobyerno dahil hindi pa ito  idinedetalye ng DOF.

“They can post these in their website, indicating the particular PAP, its funding and location. If residents feel strongly that a discontinued PAP is still needed in their community, they could push for its funding in future budgets by communicating to lawmakers, their local officials and even directly to the DBM,” ani Defensor. (BERNARD TAGUINOD)