Confi funds should be limited to select agencies — Abalos
Senatorial aspirant and former Interior secretary Benhur Abalos on Friday said confidential funds should be limited to agencies involved in peace and order.
“Ako ay naniniwala, pagdating sa confidential funds at ‘yang mga ganyang klaseng fund, it should only be for agencies na may kinalaman sa defense natin at peace and order na talagang kailangan ‘yan, no? Of course, you have to fight drugs, and of course ‘yung ating mga national security about the spies,” he said.
(I believe that when it comes to confidential funds and similar types of funds, they should only be for agencies related to our defense and peace and order, where they are truly needed. Of course, you have to fight drugs and address our national security concerns about spies.)
“All other agencies na walang kinalaman dapat tanggalin na po (they should be removed from all other agencies that are not involved),” he added.
During Super Radyo dzBB’s “Ikaw na Ba? The Senatorial Interviews,” Abalos was asked if state auditors issued a notice of disallowance against him in relation to confidential funds when he served as head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Abalos said the DILG did not receive any notice of disallowance during his stint.
Meanwhile, he said that some local government units may need confidential funds depending on the threat level and situation in their area.
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Traffic congestion
Meanwhile, Abalos said an effective mass transportation will address traffic congestion in the country.
“MRT, LRT, the subway, napakalaking bagay ‘yan. Kasi sa ngayon maski anong polisiya ang gawin mo… basta marami pa rin ang kotse, maski damihan mo pa ‘yung kalye mo, ‘yung tulay mo, it will help, yes, definitely… [but] at the end of the day talagang mass transport ang kailangan,” he said.
(MRT, LRT, and the subway are really important. Because right now, no matter what policy you implement... as long as there are still a lot of cars, even if you expand your roads and bridges, it will help, yes, definitely... but at the end of the day, mass transport is truly what we need.)
According to Abalos, though this is already being implemented, there should be continuous planning and funding of projects on the part of the government.
“If we have enough resources, ngayon pa lang hindi lang planuhin, gawin na, pondohan na ‘yung ibang sangay sangay nito. This is for the next generation,” he said.
West Philippine Sea
When asked about the issue on the West Philippine Sea, Abalos said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is handling it “very well.”
Marcos said Thursday he is willing to pull out the Typhon missiles of the United States in the country only if China will stop its aggressions in the West Philippine Sea.
Abalos added the country should never lose track of its win before the international arbitration tribunal in The Hague which rejected China's claims in the South China Sea in 2016.
“Nanalo tayo sa tribunal. Mabigat na panalo ‘yan. Let’s never lose track of that. Atin ‘yan,” he said.
(We won that. That’s a big win. Let’s never lose track of that. That’s ours.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News
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