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‘Unlike Enrile, Drilon leadership to act on reforms’

Ayee Macaraig

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Sen Alan Cayetano says the Drilon leadership will propose reforms to tighten the use of the Senate's budget

'NOT JUST TALK.' Incoming Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano says unlike the Enrile leadership, the Drilon administration will not just talk about reforms but act to tighten the use of Senate funds. Photo by Rappler/Ayee Macaraig

MANILA, Philippines – Expect a Senate leadership that is more strict and frugal in the use of funds. 

Sen Alan Peter Cayetano all but confirmed his inclusion in the new leadership, saying the majority under incoming Senate President Franklin Drilon will push for “real reforms” in the use of taxpayers’ money.

In a press briefing on Friday, July 19, Cayetano revealed that the next Senate leaders are in talks about proposals to address the Senate fund controversy and the bloated oversight committees.

READ: P500M a year: Will Senate slash bloated committees?

He said the proposals will be presented to senators in the first two weeks after the opening of Congress on July 22 so the chamber can decide as a group.

This early, Cayetano already drew comparisons between the former and incoming Senate leadership. He is expected to be the Majority Leader while Sen Ralph Recto will reportedly become Senate President Pro-Tempore.

The difference between the Enrile and Drilon administrations is that the Enrile one talked about reforms pero sila nagpataas ng pondo ng Senate. Ang Drilon administration, gagawin,” Cayetano said.

“Mas matipid, strikto sa pondo, more transparent.”

(The difference between the Enrile and Drilon administration is that the Enrile one talked about reforms but they were the ones who increased the funds of the Senate. The Drilon administration will act on reforms. It will be more frugal, strict with funds, more transparent.)

Cayetano said while former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and former Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III kept harping about the need to review multi-million peso oversight committees, they did nothing about it.

“They keep talking about oversight committees pero sila ang gumawa noon. Diba kung Senate President, Majority Leader ka, pwede mo itigil, isulong?” (They were the ones who did that. When you are Senate President, Majority Leader, don’t you have the power to stop that or push for reform?)

In past speeches though, Enrile said the oversight committees were “not my invention” but grew because senators viewed them as “a form of entitlement.” Sotto said it was “awkward” to question the issue while they were in the majority. 

The majority will be composed of the administration coalition between the ruling Liberal Party (LP) of Drilon and Cayetano’s Nacionalista Party (NP). Enrile’s opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and so-called macho bloc will form the minority.

Cayetano and Enrile got into an ugly word war over the Senate fund controversy in January, and clashed over the reproductive health and sin tax laws.

Equal budget for all committees?

Cayetano, though, said that to be fair to the Enrile leadership, the Drilon administration decided to focus on tightening the use of funds because of the times.

“Since January to now, all the issues are about senators, our funding so we rise to the issue. There have been successive knockout punches on the expenses, Christmas gifts …. Yesterday, I went around and with the pork barrel issue, people don’t say you were not included there. They look at the Senate, the House as a whole so all of us are affected,” he said in Filipino.

Cayetano said part of the discussion is how to rationalize oversight committees, saying they have uneven and growing budgets. Drilon earlier told Rappler that he is supporting a review of the 35 oversight committees, which have a total budget of P500 million in 2013.

“Before, the major committees were Finance, Ways and Means, Blue Ribbon, they have their own office and magnitude [but] there were some committees whose oversight committees grew and the idea of major committees changed,” Cayetano said.

“The idea of the new leadership is that all committees are equally important. It’s not the name but how the chairman addressed the problems so [we’re discussing] how to equalize in terms of funding, staffing. That is one of the reforms.”

Cayetano said the Drilon leadership will ask senators to justify the need for the committees and the number of staff to ensure the efficient use of funds.

“The question is what’s the rationale, purpose for all of that? Ang nangyari over time, kanya-kanyang lakaran. Now there has to be a reason for it.” (What happened was senators pushed for their interests.)

Another reform is the liquidation of funds, which has been done through mere certification. He said talks are ongoing on the issue because expenses like office supplies have receipts but spending for the food and lodging of a witness, for instance, is another matter.

Cayetano said there are also discussions about avoiding the abuse of pork barrel following an alleged P10-billion scam but these are still in the initial stage because reforming the system will require the participation of the House of Representatives.

“Sen Drilon’s approach is not immediately what committees we want but what are the reforms we can push for,” Cayetano said.

‘Willing to reach out to Enrile’

Cayetano said the majority will engage the incoming minority in pushing for the reforms. “I assume any reform will cross partylines.”

Despite his swipe on Enrile, Cayetano said he is willing to reach out to the former Senate President, who is expected to become Minority Leader.

“I expect minor skirmishes depending on emotions and stands but if we can focus on issues, that will be okay …. The doors are open for any reconciliation, working together.”

Cayetano also thanked Sen Loren Legarda for statements of support, hoping they can “patch up miscommunication” during the election. Legarda accused Cayetano of orchestrating a black propaganda against her during the midterm polls.

Asked about criticism from the minority about his attendance record, Cayetano said he will do what the job demands.

“Let them try being in the minority first and then we compare notes.” 

As the officer in charge of the Senate agenda, the Majority Leader is expected to always be punctual and present.

To address all the controversies related to public funds, Cayetano called on Congress to pass the Freedom of Information bill, the whistleblowers bill, and to give immunity to witnesses.

Cayetano said he is pushing for a line item budget for the pork barrel, so lawmakers can specify in the General Appropriations Act which hospitals or agencies their budget will go to. 

“The pork barrel is a continuing discussion in Congress. It’s too big to ignore. There is public clamor for this.” – Rappler.com 

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