Senate to cut funding for oversight panels

MANILA, Philippines – “The quickest thing to do is not to fund them.”

The Senate will cut down funding for bloated oversight committees as a short-term solution while they file bills to remove redundant panels created by law.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said the Senate is discussing funding only 20 or 24 out of 35 oversight committees, which have been criticized for duplicating the work of the regular or permanent committees and for being outdated.

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

“It’s not stated in law that you have to fund all of them. It is hard immediately to [abolish them]. You have to pass these laws taking away the oversight committees,” Recto told reporters on Wednesday, July 24.

Oversight committees are ad hoc panels created by law or Senate resolution to monitor the implementation of specific laws. While they are supposed to be temporary, the Senate extended the lives of many panels and raised their number and budget over the years.

Recto said having only 24 oversight committees is enough, with each senator heading one.

He also said that the budget for the oversight committees will be made equal. The current oversight panels have budgets ranging from P5 million to P37.879 million each, a potential source of conflict among senators.

Recto said the objective is to lower the Senate’s budget and to be prudent in the use of public funds.

“We have to be sensitive to public sentiment. That’s basically it. We’re representatives of the people, right?”

The Senate has drawn flak for the Senate fund controversy and the alleged multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam. 

Recto said if it were up to him, he will only retain relevant committees.

Senators and Senate insiders have told Rappler that oversight committees are only necessary for landmark laws or highly technical and legal measures. Yet this was not followed over time.

Recto said: “For example, the oversight committee on Special Purpose Vehicle Act, I don’t think that is still necessary. Why do we have an oversight committee on that?”

Recto said he wants oversight committees on issues like the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and traffic. He said senators must first agree on the issue.

“It’s going to be subjective. To some people, it is relevant. To me, it might not be.”

Serge leads panel on Senate funds

Rationalizing the oversight committees is one of the reforms to being considered by the new Senate leadership headed by Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Recto said the leadership is also looking at the issue of liquidation by mere certification, which became prominent following the Senate fund controversy in January.

The Senate President Pro-Tempore said the issue is still up for discussion because senators cannot liquidate all expenses by receipts.

He echoed Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano in saying that some expenses like those for witnesses in hearings cannot be liquidated by receipts.

“Clearly, the 100% [liquidation] by certification is wrong. We should change that. But to be zero, I think is hard…. Where should it be? We are discussing it. Should it be 10%, 20%, 30%? There should be some changes.”

In a separate interview, Cayetano revealed that Sen Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III is leading an ad hoc panel that is looking into the finances of the Senate because “he is great with details and numbers.”

“Most, if not all, of the senators gave their ideas on the reforms, not only on streamlining but more efficient, accountable and transparent use of Senate funds,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano said Osmeña has initial recommendations on the reforms the Drilon leadership will initiate, but it will be up to the Senate President to reveal these after the senators agree in caucus.

“The mandate given was efficient, transparent, and accountable use of Senate funds.”

Asked about the timeframe, Cayetano said the majority wants the reforms started within the year.

Minority to open books

Sen Jinggoy Estrada of the minority bloc said he is open to cutting the Senate committees, saying even some regular committees were created to accommodate some senators.

The former Senate President Pro-Tempore said though that the majority has yet to talk to his group about the proposals.

Estrada also responded to criticism from Cayetano that it was under the leadership of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that the Senate budget grew.

READ: Unlike Enrile, Drilon leadership to act on reforms 

“We can open all our books if they want to,” said Estrada, a staunch Enrile ally. – Rappler.com