Corrupting the budget

By Reni M. Valenzuela

Instead of improving our life as a people, “budget” worsens things for us as a nation. Here’s why and how:

Hurrah! It’s budget deliberations time in Congress and it is time again for committees to go through similar routines/motions, year in and year out, by posing questions, believing answers, nodding, and ultimately approving proposed budgets (as they are, easily). Useless.

It is unwise (or moronic) and idolatrous indeed of the government, under whoever presidency it may be, that government officials always tend to approach the problems of the country in ways far from realities or the root causes — as though “budget” is God or the sole, single, solitary solution, a one-stop, magical, miraculous answer to all our problems. Bow. 

The budget department, one administration after another, has been benevolent and unsuspecting toward government agencies that submit to them their proposed budgets, and thereby made itself as one of the worst (as usual) performing agencies of the government.

If the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has no power, ability or guts to independently scrutinize, moralize, revise and/or disapprove budgets, then it has no reason for its being. What is the word “Management” in its name for? DBM ought to be an important, integral part and partner of the people in fighting corruption. But, save budget, should I say, by abolishing DBM. Let the Commission on Audit or Department of Finance do instead the job, if the job is that easy and cheap.

The rich and super rich, I believe, will be willing to give all, even more, to uplift our country by way of paying taxes without increasing taxes — if they know for sure that their taxes would go to the people or human beings, not to crocs, sharks, wolves and vultures.

Don’t be naive (or fooled), dear legislators. The ball is now in your hands. Our officials are not angels, including all of you. Remember, we are a corrupt country with the soulless and shameless abounding in “public service.” Hence, think twice, thrice and hard. Be wise and wiser. Dig deep and deeper. Look into the “heart” of every “budget,” more than what’s on paper and lips.

Be wary as much as you can in probing and approving each proposal.  Why is the budget big, exceptionally big or abnormally big? Why is it unexplainable and “unauditable”? Why does it have to be secret or confidential? Who, in particular, will dispense the budget?

Find out what’s behind, underneath, above and beneath each single centavo. Is it needed or needed only for stealing and kickback purposes, a source of corruption and/or for future election campaigns spending “budget”? Dumb, fruitless, futile elections.

Be extra cautious, especially of “budgets” for departments and agencies that don’t do their jobs well and clean like the Department of Baha (flood) and those whose jobs are meaningless like certain task forces. Question even yourselves, our honorable congressmen and senators. Where did your pork barrel funds go and where will they go again? Will you do that? You won’t, but do it.

As a matter of fact (and prudence), it is the Commission on Audit, Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Department of Interior and Local Government that need the biggest budget alongside agencies that administer and promote healthcare, education, infrastructure, small business, job creation and agriculture. I say kudos to COA, BIR and DILG for being the performing agencies that they are today, among a few others. They seem to know the direction and destination they are going to, targeting chiefly the biggies, the avaricious and masterminds — the core of the problems.

In contrast, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict or NTF-ELCAC  is one agency that is working ever hard to make itself appear “relevant” and “useful.” From its inception, the sense for its nativity and existence is seen to be just in the budget, no more no less. Rodrigo Duterte created this task force upon the persuasion of some “concerned”  souls with motives only known to them, personal, private, confidential, and dubious.

Note how massively the previous administration is being rejected and despised nowadays, for being “responsible,” vis-a-vis the devil Pogo, deadly “drug war,” red-tagging, Quiboloy kingship, WPS crisis, fake news, gambling proliferation, human trafficking and sanctioned official stealing, to name a few. And, ergo, behold how the BBM administration has been doing good by moving away from the dark, ugly shadows of the immediate past.

The communist insurgency in the country is almost gone, naturally gone, even prior to the creation of the NTF-ELCAC . What the Department of Defense needs to do is simply call for a peace talk as a “final blow,” with a handful, remaining insurrectionists, “a few remnants” (per military report) who may just be waiting and ready to surrender, if given the chance. Is it any wonder why the NTF-ELCAC  is opposed and adamant to peace talks? Wonder too where their heart is.

Seriously consider the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC , dear BBM, as it has been clamored, time and again, by various sectors, including yours truly, and as proposed by the UN special rapporteur last February when she visited our country. Do it, Mr. President, and there will be no need for the duplication of works/function of the Department of Welfare and Development (DSWD) and/or local government units, I mean the creation and implementation of livelihood projects for chosen barangays and the distribution of ayuda – by the NTF-ELCAC  Elcac. Incongruous. Dump patronage, dumb “politics.”

“Local armed communism” in the country will soon be done and gone completely, truly ended, and the NTF-ELCAC  will have nothing to do with it whether or not it remains a task force with a “budget” (forever). To God be the glory.

The foregoing are just examples, just a few reasons (among others) why “budget” is menacing, why it has become more a problem to Filipinos than a solution. Don’t we realize that crooks and the greedy see and treat the “budget” as a patron saint or god to answer their prayers and “needs”?

On the part of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), why will they solve the endless massive, great flooding when it would mean (for them) ending their yearly gigantic, huge “budget” — by several billions of pesos, shared with private opportunist contractors?

The same goes in the matter of constructing/repairing roads by LGU officials in partnership/cahoots with DPWH racketeers. Hindi talaga nila titibayan ang mga kalsada sapagkat ayaw nilang maghintay nang matagal para sa susunod na “road paving” projects. Dapat masira yan habang sila ang nakaupo. Simentado na nga ang kalsada wawarakin pa nila — upang ispaltohin o pagkakitaang muli, muli, at muli… Nakatatawa, ngunit nakaiiyak sapagkat isa siyang malala at nakababaliw na kabalintuaan.

Bakit nga ba lulutasin ng ating mga “lingkod bayan” ang problema nating mga Pilipino kung ito ay mangangahulugan ng pagkawala ng kanilang “budget,” malaki, malobo at nakapaglalaway na “budget.”

To those who will approve (and sign) the budget: It’s your turn to flicker and shine: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise. Redeeming the time because the days (“budget” days) are evil.” – Ephesians 5:15-16

Bad-get.

Email: renivalenzuelaletters@yahoo.com