Diokno has track record that speaks for itself —DBM

Amid calls to remove Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno over issues of alleged irregularity surrounding the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday said the Budget chief has an untarnished record of integrity and competence in serving the government.

"Secretary Diokno has a track record that speaks for itself. In his first stint as Budget Secretary, the DBM adopted the What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get Policy such that the General Appropriations Act (GAA) will serve as the comprehensive release document of the national budget," the DBM said in a statement.

"This limits intervention on the part of the DBM and enables line agencies to immediately implement their projects. Today, this policy is still in effect," the department said.

The House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 2365 urging Duterte to reconsider Diokno’s appointment, a day after the budget chief attended the Question Hour to answer queries from lawmakers related to the proposed P3.757-trillion budget.

Lawmakers said Diokno failed to sufficiently address the issue on the P75-billion augmentation in the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways for 2019.

The resolution also stated that Diokno was unable to explain how CT Leoncio Construction and Trading, a company that supposedly bagged billions of pesos in contracts across the country, also obtained projects in Sorsogon province, where his daughter's parents-in-law are running in the 2019 polls.

Diokno has since denied allegations of anomaly in the budget augmentation and that he supposedly used his influence regarding the allocation of P2.8 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Casiguran and Sorsogon.

"The DBM strongly supports Secretary Diokno and condemns the flimsy accusations hurled against him in furtherance of a political agenda."

President Rodrigo Duterte stood by his Budget secretary
and that the confidence reposed on Diokno remains unimpaired. 

"The Department of Budget and Management thanks President Rodrigo Duterte for the continued trust and confidence in Secretary Benjamin Diokno as his economic manager and Budget Secretary."

"He has served under three Presidents in the Department of Budget and Management, and has always upheld the highest standards of integrity, honor, and competence in public service."

The DBM also said that in the 2017 Open Budget Survey, the Philippines garnered a score of 67 out of 100, good for best in Asia and number 19 in the world.

"Furthermore, the DBM was hailed as the sole Freedom of Information (FOI) Champion Department in the 2017 FOI Annual Awards with Secretary Diokno at the helm. This year, the DBM was conferred three more FOI awards in recognition of its efforts to promote transparency and accountability."

"More so, under the leadership of Secretary Diokno, underspending has been eliminated."

From 13.3 percent and 12.8 percent in 2014 and 2015, respectively, underspending has been significantly reduced to 3.6 percent in 2016 and 2.9 percent in 2017.

"In fact, from January to September 2018, spending is above the program by 2.6 percent, marking a turnaround in the efficiency and timeliness of government disbursements," the DBM said.

It said that preparation of the National Expenditure Program remains the duty of the Executive branch, through the DBM.

"Meanwhile, Congress has the constitutional mandate to make amendments, should it deem fit, and ultimately authorize the General Appropriations Act (GAA)," it said.

"Finally, we urge both Houses of Congress to scrutinize and expedite the passage of the 2019 National Budget for the sake of public interest." —Ted Cordero/ LDF, GMA News