2nd Sem

Special Fund for DOJ priority projects sought

Committee News A Publication of the Committee Affairs Department
OTHER NEWS «VOLUME 13 NO. 10 October 25, 2004

Special fund for DOJ priority projects sought
Committee Source: APPROPRIATIONS

UNDERSCORING the importance of introducing reforms in the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Committee on Appropriations headed by Representative Rolando Andaya Jr. (1st District, Camarines Sur) approved a proposal to constitute 20 percent of the revenues of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Land Registration Authority (LRA) into a special account to be used by the department for its programs aimed at enhancing its efficiency and effectiveness. The two agencies re under the administrative supervision of the DOJ.The move, which was initiated by Rep. Luis Villafuerte (2nd District, Camarines Sur), came at the heels of the Committee hearing on the DOJ’s proposed budget for 2005.In pushing for the approval of his proposal, Rep. Villafuerte averred that the department’s budget of P4.9 billion, which was recommended by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), was only one-eighth of one percent of the total budget of the national government. Such meager budget, he added, will delay the implementation of important programs and projects, particularly those that are aimed at instituting reforms in the department. The lawmaker pointed out that several major programs were not provided for in the proposed budget. One of these, he said, is the department’s information system strategic plan which is geared towards intranet linking of the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) and the other agencies under the DOJ.He said this is regrettable considering that computerization is essential in monitoring cases pending with prosecutors.The lawmaker stressed that the special account will be used specifically to complete the department’s computerization program, to improve the facilities of the DOJ Academy and to pursue the justice system infrastructure program.P4.9 billion budgetThe DBM-approved P4.9 billion budget for 2005 of the DOJ and its attached agencies is 46 percent lower than its original budget proposal of P9.2 billion.The P4.9 billion budget is divided between the OSEC with an allocation of P1.5 billion, and the department’s attached agencies, namely: Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR), P850 million; National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), P630 million; Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), P565 million; Land Registration Authority (LRA), P442 million; Parole and Probation Administration (PPA), P349 million; Bureau of Immigration (BI), P341 million; Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), P165 million; Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), P48 million; and Commission on the Settlement of Land Problems (COSLAP), P19 million.The OSEC proposes a P40 million budget for capital outlay, P33.8 million of which shall be used for the partial implementation of its different information technology projects. The remaining P6.2 million shall be used to procure new office equipment and to implement the electronic New Government and Accounting System (e-NGAS).The DOJ, however, lamented that it has a number of important projects which were not included in the 2005 President’s budget. Among these are the construction of 31 new hall of justice buildings nationwide under the Justice System Infrastructure Program (JUSIP), the on-going construction of the Manila Hall of Justice building, and the repair of the DOJ Academy at Clark Field, Pampanga.Budget ceiling exceededAs regards the current year’s spending by the DOJ, Minority Leader Francis Escudero (1st District, Sorsogon) questioned why it has gone beyond the ceiling set in the 2003 budget. He noted that the current year’s budget was merely a reenactment of the previous year’s budget, so the department cannot exceed its budget set in 2003. “May I know what is the legal basis for spending more in 2004 than the ceiling in 2003?” he asked.Lydia Resurreccion, DOJ assistant secretary for finance, responded by citing the agency budget matrix given by the DBM as the basis for all the disbursements of the department.When asked by the Committee chair, Resurreccion cited the same agency budget matrix in justifying the increase in salaries of non-permanent personnel in one of the agencies under the DOJ. Public attorneysMeanwhile, Rep. Douglas Cagas (1st District, Davao del Sur) observed that while the PAO gets a big slice of the DOJ’s budget, many of the public attorneys under it still leave the office to seek greener pasture.In reply, Secretary Raul Gonzales said that while the office is trying its best to keep its lawyers, it cannot prevent them from pursuing higher aspirations outside PAO. Gonzales also denied allegations of illegal collection of fees from indigent clients by public attorneys. He stressed that indigents are exempted from the payment of fees.Meanwhile. Rep. Eduardo Zialicita (1st District, Parañaque City) inquired about the status of the on-going computerization project of the LRA. LRA administrator Benedicto Ulep said that the project has been suspended due to the failure of the private contractor to deliver certain program services. He added that a notice of termination has already been issued to the private contractor.Ulep added the agency is currently preparing for another bidding of the project so that a new contractor can take over. The administrator also said the computerization project is expected to be finished in seven years.After an extended discussion, the Committee agreed to terminate the DOJ’s budget presentation and to refer it to the concerned subcommittee for further deliberation.lSource: Committee Administrative Support Service, Committee Affairs Department Page last updated on 25 Nov 2004


Disclaimer: This article was downloaded from the site:
http://www.congress.gov.ph/committees/commnews/commnews_det.php?newsid=64

posted by Graciella @ 1:26 AM