Pimentel questions P149 billion in lump sum funds for ‘SIPSIP’ programs

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Wednesday questioned the over P149 billion in lump sum funds allocated as support for infrastructure programs and social programs—dubbed "SIPSIP" by the Department of Budget and Management—lodged under the proposed 2023 national budget's unprogrammed appropriations.

During the Senate's first day of plenary deliberations on the P5.268-trillion proposed budget for next year, Pimentel asked how did the DBM come up with a very specific amount of more than P149.690 billion when there were no details provided in the budget measure.

"Wala kaming nakitang kahit annex na [We are not seeing even an annex] submitted to us, Mr. President. Even if we say that this is a standby appropriation, what if we are able to raise the amount to finance these standby appropriations, saan po pupunta [where will it go]? As of this date, blind pa po ako [I am still blind] on how the P149 billion will be spent," Pimentel said.

Budgetary items that fall under unprogrammed appropriations will only be funded if there are excess revenues or government collections, or if the government receives funds from loans or grants.

Senator Sonny Angara, who defends the 2023 General Appropriations Bill, said that these lump sum funds will give some flexibility to the government.

"My impression, Mr. President, the way it's currently worded, it gives some flexibility to the government which has been crucial in the past few years," Angara said.

He added that just like the Bayanihan 1 and 2 Laws, which were enacted to respond to the country's COVID-19 pandemic response, the funds will give  agencies the leeway to implement infrastructure projects and social programs.

"So in this case, if it's support for infrastructure projects and social programs, there is a wide latitude for the government to supplement any of these programs should the need arise in the future," Angara said.

But Pimentel said he is sensing that these programs and projects were just lodged under the unprogrammed appropriations because there were no sufficient details for these projects to become a line-time appropriation.

"Had these been a line in the programmed appropriations, my feeling is [it's] insufficient in detail that it becomes a lump sum, which is questionable. And then is it cured just because it is now in the unprogrammed appropriations which has a chance to be funded?" Pimentel said.

Pimentel asked for the formula that was used to come up with over P149 billion lump sum for SIPSIP.

"Pero yung SIPSIP kasi sir, by its nature, support for infrastructure projects, social programs. How did the DBM arrive at a very specific amount of P149.690 billion—may butal pa nga e. That means there must have been details which were totaled," Pimentel said.

Angara said the DBM came up with the figure based on the historical amounts provided in the previous year.

"My impression, your honor, is that it's not a precise science and they just go by historical and by need," he said.

Citing DBM Undersecretary Tina Canda's statements, Angara said SIPSIP is one of the budget sources to supplement the disaster fund for the rehabilitation of areas hit by Typhoon Odette.

This is the reason why the DBM placed a larger amount for SIPSIP for 2023, Angara added.

Under the 2022 budget, there was P13.191 billion provided for SIPSIP.

Still, Pimentel said there should be a basis for the over P149 billion funds for SIPSIP as the amount was very specific in the budget measure. — BM, GMA Integrated News