Lacson Pushes Use of Gov't Savings, Untapped Funds in P12-B Fund for 'Ondoy,' 'Pepeng' Victims

So as not to further bloat the country’s P230-billion budget deficit as of October 2009, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson has suggested that a P12-billion fund for victims of “Ondoy,” “Pepeng” and similar recent calamities be sourced from government savings and other untapped fund sources.

Lacson said the savings and unused funds may include the P200-million double entry for a stretch of the C-5 Road linking Sucat, Parañaque in southern Metro Manila to the South Luzon Expressway.

The P200-million “redundant appropriation,” which was the subject of a Senate ethics investigation, was included in the 2008 budget.

“From unreleased appropriations, I remember in 2008 there was a redundant P200 million, we can tap the P200 million. The life span of the budget is two years, so there’s P200 million in the 2008 budget. It is carried over to 2009, so right there we can get P200 million and probably we can locate other sources of other appropriations in the 2009 budget,” he said in his interpellation of the resolution for the P12-billion fund Tuesday evening.

“I am concerned we will further bloat this budget deficit,” he added.

He suggested other untapped fund sources may include the Motor Vehicle Users’ Charge (MVUC), as well as from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor). “We will not get money from national treasury. The MVUC proceeds don’t form part of the national budget and so is Pagcor,” he said.

Senate finance committee chairman Edgardo Angara earlier noted the bulk of the P12-billion fund would come from proceeds of the operation of the Malampaya natural gas facility.

On the other hand, Lacson said getting most of the funds from earnings in the operation of the Malampaya facilities will increase the budget deficit.

He noted the government relies on tax revenues and earnings from government-owned and controlled corporations or sale of assets, which go to the national treasury and form part of total revenue.

“If we deduct P12 billion for purposes of appropriating some funds for the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Public Works and Highways and so forth, it will increase the projected budget deficit. Somehow it has some effect on the budget deficit,” he said.

On the other hand, he said that if government does not appropriate the P12 billion, there will be an additional P12 billion in the treasury.

“If we borrow P230 billion assuming the budget deficit is pegged at P230 billion till yearend (we will need to) just borrow P218 billion,” he said.

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Lacson Pushes Probe on P2.32-M Video Equipment Purchase

Not wanting irregularities to hound his own backyard, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson pushed for a full investigation into alleged overpricing in the P2.32-million purchase of video equipment for the Senate's Public Relations and Information Bureau.

Lacson, who chairs the Senate accounts committee, said initial price comparisons showed the Senate may have paid more than double for the video equipment, which included cameras and accessories.

"In view of the foregoing may I respectfully request that an investigation on the matter be conducted by the proper Senate authorities in order to determine whether there is collusion between the supplier and that of the end-user resulting in this overprice, which may have prejudiced this institution, and if so, to file the necessary charges against the responsible officer or officers of the Senate," he said in a letter to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

He said he learned of the alleged irregularity from concerned Senate employees.

The transaction involved two sales invoices of Jhebtronic Trading Sales dated October 6, for P2,320,000. The invoices bore the signature of a certain Joe Andrew Garcia indicating the items were received "in good condition."

Among the items in the invoices were three Sony DSR-PD170 Camcorder (video camera recorders) worth P395,000 each, and three Sony NP-F970 InfoLithium L-series batteries worth P15,000 each.

But Lacson pointed out that another dealer, Henry's Camera and Photo Supply, sold the same model camcorder for only P175,000 each, and the L-series batteries for only P9,800 each.

A price comparison showed the same-model Sony camcorder cost $3,995 (P186,147) on Amazon.com; $2,569 (P119,702) on Power Seller NYC; and $2,599 (P121,100) at Dealcost.com and Fumfie.com. The battery pack cost only $105 (P4,892) on online shops.

On the other hand, Lacson said a comparison by his staff of the other items bought by the PRIB from Jhebtronic with prices offered by dealers on the Internet showed:

* Three Manfrotto 351MVCF carbon fiber lightweight video tripod kits, P140,000 per unit on Jhebtronic and $1,790 (P83,405) each on the Internet;

* Three Sony HVL-LBP LED light system units worth P80,000 each on Jhebtronic and $519.95 (P24,227) on the Internet;

* Two data video RMC-140 tally box/light indicators worth P70,000 each from Jhebtronic and worth only $479 (P22,319) each on the Internet;

* Two Benpro MP-98m8 5-section aluminum monopods worth P20,000 each on Jhebtronic and worth only $83 (P3,867) on the Internet;

* Three Kata CC-197 HDV camera bags worth P21,000 each at Jhebtronic and only $239.99 (P11,182) on the Internet; and

* Two Sony ECM-673 Shotgun/Boom microphones worth P45,000 each at Jhebtronic and only $219.952 (P10,248) each on the Internet.

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