Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday released a statement of support, he and 37 other top officials of Negros Occidental have signed, in support of President Benigno Aquino III on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) issue.
         
The Negros officials, in their joint statement, said they are expressing their full support for the President in his resolve to appeal the decision of the Supreme Court declaring the DAP unconstitutional.
         
“With due respect to the High Court, we believe that their decision on the DAP failed to take into account the realities of the budget process,” they said.
     
The decision will expectedly hinder the country’s growth as it will compel the government to undergo the same lengthy process before it can make use of public savings to address the urgent needs, they said.
    
 “Things simply do not stay constant while the annual budget is awaiting its approval – prices rise, interest rates escalate, and opportunities go before an appropriations act is approved. By the time the savings have been appropriated by Congress, it may be too late for the executive to act as the emergency situation may have already escalated into a worst case scenario,” they pointed out.

For an ordinary Filipino, the government’s inability to act during the pendency of an appropriations bill is simply unacceptable, they said.
         
The Negros Occidental officials said they hope that the SC will take a second look at the DAP issue with an open mind and greater consideration of the realities that are happening on the ground.

They also commended the President “for his eagerness to make government attuned to the needs of its citizens by exploring ways of making the budget process more responsive.”

The President’s decision to appeal the SC proves his readiness to stand for what he believes will benefit his people, they said, adding “That is the mark of a true leader. For that, we give him our support.”
         
A responsive budget system is vital in ensuring that the government will be able to immediately address the needs of its people, they said.
         
One measure of the responsiveness of the budget system is its ability to channel savings where they are needed, the Negros Occidental officials said.

“Oftentimes, despite due diligence in planning, things do not go the way government expected them to be due to events which even the most prudent person never have foreseen. It will, therefore, help if there is a mechanism such as the DAP that will allow government enough flexibility to use public savings according to what current and future conditions may demand,” they said.
         
They said Negros Occidental is very fortunate to have enjoyed the generosity of Aquino, whose programs through the DAP have benefitted the poorest of the poor in the province.

In the President’s program on 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) alone, close to P3 billion was appropriated to Negros Occidental, on top of the over P1 billion for agricultural enhancement and productivity, infrastructure and healthcare, among others, they said.
         
The joint statement was signed by Marañon, Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva (Neg. Occ., 2nd District), 11 board members - Rolando Ponsica, Salvador Escalante Jr., Miller Serondo, Johnna Ko, Victor Javellana, Jose Benito Alonso, Renato Malabor, Alain Gatuslao, Pedro Zayco Jr., Helen Zafra and Mark  Cui;
         
Nineteen mayors: Ramon Torres of Bago City, Patrick Escalante - Cadiz City, Isidro Zayco - Kabankalan City, Juliet Marie Ferrer - La Carlota City, Alfredo Marañon III - Sagay City, Emmanuel Aranda - Binalbagan, Cicero Borromeo - Candoni, John Rey Tabujara - Cauayan;
         
Melencio Yap Jr. - Escalante City, Hermilo Aguilar - Hinigaran, Ernesto Estrao - Hinobaan, Alberto Nicor Jr. - La Castellana, Lourdes Escalante - Manapla, Andrew Montelibano - Murcia, Jose Maria Alonso - Pontevedra, Mario Magno - San Enrique, Richard Jaojoco - Toboso, Romel Yogore - Valladolid, and David Albert Lacson - EB Magalona;

Acting mayors Maria Gina Lizares - Sipalay City and Francis Malabor - Isabela, Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, Department of Interior and Local Government provincial director, Frank Carbon - Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, and Roberto Magalona - Hotel and Restaurant Association of Negros Occidental director.*CPG

back to top