i MONDAYJANUARY6,2O2O

BudgeL water
on Rody's menu
By MJ Blancaflor
ahd Rio N. Araja
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is ex-
pected to sign the 2020 national budget
and arurounce a new development in fue
concession agreement between the gov-
emment and private water utilitv com-
panies ioday, Jan. 6.
Congress submitted the proposed
General Appropriations Act to the pal-
ace op Dec. 20 last year but the ceremo-
nial signing has been deiayed for a week
due to the President's '.thorough scru-
tiny," Presidential Spokesman Salvador
Panelo said. Next page

wield his veto power to get rid of those
insertions in the proposed budget that
,*yHg. were deemed unconstitutional.
MeanwhileTPanelo said the president
Senate President \lcente Sotto IIIear- would make an amouncement about the
lier said President Duterte will not veto
199'7 water concession agreement, but
any provision in the budget bill, even if was tightJipped on specifics.
some- lawmakers have elpressed hopes The President previouslv assailed the
that the Chjel Executive will get rid of
Manila Water and Mal,nilad for alleg-
supposed -pork insenions" made by edly taking advanuge of the concessioln
some members of the House of Repr+
agreements with "onerous provisions" to
sentatives. milk Filipinos by the billions.
Malacaflang earlier extended the valid- These provisions bar the
ity olthe 2019 budget up to the last day from stopping the privatesovemment
companies
of2020 to allow govemment agencies to ffom ralstng water
rates- -+onditions the
spend funds for their daily operarional two utilities used
to sue the philippine
costs. ciring the delay in rhe passage of govemment
before a Singapore-based ar-
thrs year's budget bill. bitral tribunal. Wben the tribunal ordered
Senator Panfilo Lacson earlier claimed the state to pay
Maynilad p3.4
that about 1,253 budget items worth and Manila Water P7.4 billion billion
to cover
P83 .2 I 9 billion were included in the pro- their "losses"
from being unable to raise
posed 2020 General Appropriations Act their
rates. Duterte became irate, thrcat-
as "source" of funds for pet prqjects of eoing the two companies
with charges of
, some congressmen. economic plunder.
The Palace has assued the public, The ofrcials ofthe water distribuiors lat-
however. that the ChiefExecutive would er.wrote lefl€rs
to the President expressing
their willingness to arnend the supposed
provisions of tlre I 997 water deal.
Majority Leader and Leyte Rep.
-Martin
-House
Romualdez said Sunday the sign-
ing into law of the 2020 bud;et would
mak€ it gasier to realize the president's
goal ofmaking life more comfortable for
Filipinos.
"The Presidenl has been working hard
to make a comfonable life for Filiprnos.
I he economic gr.owlh is attributed to
the sound economic policy of President
Dulerte who has been pursuing snuctural
relbrms needed to guarartee the coun-
try's economic takeofl" he said.
Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr added
that the national budget "guarantees a
better and more comfortable life for most
Filipinos."
"Our new budget for this year has been
designed to support a very strong, sus-
tainable, and equitable gowft to be felt
by ordinary Filipinos and an appropria-
tions that will make the countrv more in-
clusive than what it was rhe year before,"
he said.

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