Page 4 - Hello Philippines January 2016 'A' Issue

4 www.hello-philippines.com BUSINESS & FINANCE January 2016 – No. 01 • UK & Europe Edition

2016 budget peppered with pork, lump
sum appropriations – Social Watch
THE 2016 national budget signed
by President Benigno Aquino III into Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating While the National Expenditure
law is loaded with pork and lump sum Disadvantaged Workers Project
appropriations, according to watchdog under the Department of Labor and Program totals P3.002 trillion, more
Social Watch Philippines. Employment-Office of the Secretary
than P930 billion is allocated for
“Additional insertions were • P403-million increase for
introduced by both Houses of Congress the Training for Work Scholarship automatic appropriations. Special
and the Bicameral Conference Program under the DOLE-Technical
Committee. Concrete examples Education and Skills Development Purpose Funds amount to P408 billion
are farm to market roads which Authority (P2.206 billion from P2.203
are identified with legislators who billion) and Unprogrammed Funds total P67.5
claim credit for them during election
sorties,” Social Watch Lead Convenor • P1.248-billion increase for the billion, the budget watchdog noted.
Prof. Leonor Magtolis Briones claimed local infrastructure program under
in a statement. Department of Public Works and “Just like the current 2015 GAA, the
Highways-Office of the Secretary
Social Watch cited the other (P19.813 billion from P18.566 billion) 2016 GAA reinforces the redefinition of
revisions and budgetary adjustments
as follows: • P5.382-billion increase for the savings and authorizes the transfer of
protective services program under
• P326-million increase for farm- the Department of Social Welfare DAP-like or Disbursement Acceleration
to-market road projects under the and Development-Office of Secretary
Department of Agriculture (P7.377 (P6.698 billion from P1.315 billion) Program funds already declared by the
billion from P7.051 billion)
• P144-million increase for the Supreme Court as unconstitutional,”
• P987.930-million increase in the Tulong Dunong Program under the
assistance to indigent patients under Commission on Higher Education Social Watch alleged.
the Department of Health-Office of the (P1.130 billion from P986.231 million)
Secretary (P2.783 billion from P1.795 “Earlier, Social Watch estimated telephone calls. This is true for health as the incoming officials,” due to the
billion) • P662.538 million increase for the assistance, employment, and cash redefinition of savings provided for in
financial Assistance to LGUs under the P33.2 billion went to PDAF-like dole-outs. This trend further muddles the general provisions of the GAA.
• P2.54-billion increase for the Local Government Support Fund in the the flow of information to the public,
government internship program and Allocation to Local Government Units (Priority Development Assistance especially since there is no paper trail,” “The provisions of the 2016
(P862.538 million from P200 Million) it said. budget can easily be changed and
Fund) funds distributed across five transferred; projects can be stopped;
“Transparency is the hallmark new projects can be initiated because
agencies. Estimates from other groups of accountable budgeting,” it added, of redefinition,” Social Watch said.
demanding the government to release
are more or less similar to what we more details on the 27 amendments President Benigno Aquino III on
from the Bicameral Committee subject Tuesday signed Republic Act 10717 or
have arrived at,” Briones said. to “conditional implementation.” the P3.002-trillion national budget for
2016, the biggest fiscal appropriations
The group also slammed the It claimed that the 2016 budget on government record. n Jon Viktor
“will benefit the political objectives
supposed transaction protocol of the present administration as well Cabuenas / VS, GMA News / Published / December 25,

of legislators and government 2015 / 6:17 pm

agencies which eliminates proper

documentation. “The
‘Political objectives’.

practice now is for legislators to send

instructions to agencies just by text or

WB approves $500-M credit line for PHL disaster risk mamagement
THE World Bank on Wednesday “If not managed well, disasters can It will have a drawdown period of vulnerable countries in the world. 74 percent. Typhoons also account for

approved a $500-million credit line roll back year of development gains and three years and will be renewable up to Together, the 20 most vulnerable 62 percent of total damages and 70

for the Philippines to manage risks plunge millions of people into poverty,” four times for 15 years. countries face escalating losses of $44.9 percent of agricultural damages.

posed by natural disasters, which Konishi said. First in Asia. “Amounts repaid during billion due to climate-related natural The country is also highly exposed

the country may dip in to following a The credit line or the Second Disaster the drawdown period are available for disasters alone,” Finance Secretary Cesar to geologic hazards including

presidential declaration of a state of Risk Management Development Policy subsequent withdrawal,” the bank said. V. Purisima said in the same statement. earthquakes and volcanic eruptions,

calamity. Loan with a Catastrophe Deferred The Philippines was the first country “With the number set to multiply the bank noted.

The country may dip into the Drawdown Option (CAT-DDO 2) will make in the Asia and Pacific region to use this almost tenfold by 2030, amounting “Disasters can induce and

credit line following a presidential available $500 million to “strengthen type of financing option under the CAT- to $418 billion, we turn to innovative exacerbate poverty through the

declaration of a state of calamity. investment planning and regulations to DDO in 2011. financing mechanisms to boost our loss of lives, destruction of assets,

World Bank country director reduce disaster risks and help manage “This second CAT-DDO will provide the resilience,” he added. disruption of economic activities and

Motoo Konishi said the new credit line the financial impacts brought about by government with a platform for sustaining World Bank data shows that more trade, and indirect impacts on health,

signifies the bank’s recognition of the calamities. reforms and effectively implementing the than 1,000 lives on average are lost in mobility, gender equality, and access

Philippines’ comprehensive efforts to “CAT-DDO 2 gives the Philippines country’s disaster risk reduction and the Philippines every year due to natural to education,” Konishi said. n Jon

strengthen the country’s capacity for flexibility to use the funds as needed,” management program,” it said. calamities. Viktor Cabuenas / VS, GMA News / Published /

managing disaster risks. according to the bank. “The Philippines is among the most Of this number, typhoons account for December 23, 2015 / 7:56 pm

Maynilad Las Piñas septage treatment plant starts operations
MANILA - The Manila West Zone treat wastewater collected from the septage per day, and was built to serve Maynilad provides sanitation Maynilad, which is part of the is the

water services concessionaire Maynilad septic tanks of Maynilad customers in Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa and services (i.e., desludging or cleaning largest private water concessionaire in

Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) has the southern sections of the metro. Cavite. of septic tanks) for unsewered areas the Philippines in terms of customer

started operating its new septage The P363 million South Septage Partly funded by a World Bank loan, in the West Zone. Septage collected in base. It is the agent and contractor

treatment plant (SpTP) in Pamplona, Treatment Plant can treat up to 250 the South SpTP is part of Maynilad’s this manner is treated in SpTPs. of the Metropolitan Waterworks and

Las Piñas City, which is designed to cubic meters (or 0.25 million liters) of program to expedite the provision of On the other hand, Maynilad Sewerage System (MWSS) for the

sewerage and sanitation services in provides sewerage services (i.e., West Zone of the Greater Manila

Metro Manila. treatment of wastewater conveyed via Area, which is composed of the cities

This new facility is the third SpTP a sewer network) in sewered areas of of Manila (certain portions), Quezon

in the West concession. Other existing the West Zone. Wastewater collected City (certain portions), Makati (west

SpTPs of Maynilad are in Project 7, in this manner is treated in Sewage of South Super Highway), Caloocan,

Quezon City, and in Dagat-dagatan, Treatment Plants or STPs. Pasay, Parañaque, Las Piñas,

Caloocan City. The company’s continued Muntinlupa, Valenzuela, Navotas and

“With the South SpTP, Maynilad investments in the construction of Malabon all in Metro Manila; the cities

is able to enhance its operational these wastewater facilities help to of Cavite, Bacoor and Imus, and the

efficiency, since the turnaround time of reduce pollution loading in creeks and towns of Kawit, Noveleta and Rosario,

our vacuum trucks that collect septage rivers that empty out to Manila Bay. all in Cavite Province.

from septic tanks in the south has Maynilad earmarked P2.8 billion Maynilad is part of the MVP Group

now been considerably reduced. This for its 2015 wastewater program. Aside of companies, chaired by businessman

enables us to fast-track the provision of from the new SpTP in Las Piñas, the Manuel V. Pangilinan, who also heads

sanitation services to our customers in company is also currently constructing MediaQuest, the media holdings

the area,” said Maynilad President and STPs in Parañaque, Valenzuela, Pasay, company that controls InterAksyon. n

Maynilad’s septage treatment plant in Pamplona. CEO Ricky P. Vargas. Muntinlupa and Valenzuela. InterAksyon.com / December 23, 2015 / 3:32 pm