Press Release - Win transcript | Senate media interview of Senator Win Gatchalian on the unprogrammed funds, West Philippine Sea, better living condition of the Filipinos in 2024, Malampaya issues,

ON THE UNPROGRAMMED FUNDS

Q: Unahin ko na po sa budget. Isa po sa hot topic sa budget is unprogrammed appropriations, sabi po ni Sen. Pimentel unconstitutional daw po ang idinagdag na P450 billion doon sa unprogrammed appropriations dahil sumobra sa ceiling na supposed P5.7 trillion, your take on that?

SEN. WIN: The way I understand it, yung appropriations, ito ang inaaprubahan lahat ng dapat pagkagastusan. So that's about P5.7 trillion. The unprogrammed since hindi pa alam kung darating ang pondo inilalagay muna sa unprogrammed. The unprogrammed kasi in simple definition--it is contingent, to let's say, there is an additional tax measure that will come in, in the middle of the year then the unprogrammed will come in. But in terms of appropriations, what is appropriated is P5.7 trillion. So that's the way I understand the budgeting.

Q: For you, pwede namang increase ang unprogrammed appropriations at di kailangan isali sa total na P5.7 trillion?

SEN. WIN: Wala pa siyang corresponding income. In other words, wala pang, typically binabangga yan eh. For example, merong revenue na papasok tapos merong paggagastusan so binabangga-bangga yan. But in this case, wala siyang revenue na kabangga so nasa unprogrammed pa siya. Now, over the years, let's say may bagong tax measures na papasok tapos may bagong revenue, dyan lang siya papasok. So that's the way I understand that this unprogrammed is supposed to work.

Q: Former Senator Lacson is saying bad practice, bad precedent daw po ito kasi what can stop lawmakers daw from adding for example daw P1 trillion na unprogrammed sa mga susunod na budget cycle?

SEN. WIN: What's important here is realistic ang unprogrammed. Kagaya ng sinabi ko isa dyan na pinagkukunan ang tax measure. Kung walang bagong tax measure na papasok next year, then there's no point in increasing unprogrammed to an unrealistic figure. So hindi porke't unprogrammed siya walang nakikitang pagkukunan. So, it is also important that there are revenue measures that are being discussed and hopefully that will be appropriated in the year. It has to be realistic as well. So Importante pinag-uusapan, pinagdedebatehan, saan ba ang source nitong unprogrammed.