FDC In The News: ABI Press Conference on 2008 Budget

The Freedom from Debt Coalition joined the Alternative Budget Initiative consortium’s press conference on the 2008 NG budget yesterday, 12 March 2008, at the UP NCPAG. Fr. Ben Moraleda represented the Coalition and was interviewed by ABS-CBN 2 and GMA 7. Below is the article that came out in the front page of BusinessMirror today.

BusinessMirror
13 March 2008, Page 1
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/03132008/headlines05.html

Next step: Watch spending
By Fernan Marasigan
Reporter

WHILE civil-society groups recognized the signing of the P1.23-trillion national budget for 2008 as a major gain because of the people’s participation in it, they called on the people to be vigilant and continue guarding the fund so as to end, and not just moderate, the corruption which usually occurs during spending.

“Kailangan natin itong bantayan baka saan na naman mapunta ang budget na ito na ipinagyayabang na mataas na mataas, kasi [kahit] i-approve ito, ang fiesta dito ay sa pag-release ng pera. Ang pag-release ng pera ay hindi transparent. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang detalye sa pag-release ng pera, ano ang basehan sa pag-prioritize ng projects etc.,” said Prof. Leonor Briones of the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI) during a news conference at the University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Wednesday.

“Kailangan i-monitor natin ito. So we call on the people to continue guarding the fund. Finally, bantayan natin na hindi mahulog sa korupsyon itong P1.2 trillion na ito. We might have an increased budget but we also have increased opportunities for corruption and stealing. Only continued vigilance will end and not just moderate the corruption that is prevalent in these times,” Briones added.

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