Walang pasok, gobyerno may P80B-P160B savings

MAY mahuhugot na P80 bilyon-P160 bilyong savings ang gobyerno dahil walang pasok sa maraming ahensya sa ilalim ng 45-araw na Enhanced Community Quarantine.

Ayon kay House Deputy Speaker at 1Pacman Rep. Mikee Romero sa P4.1 trilyong budget ngayong taon ay P1.6 trilyon ang maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).

“If we save 10 percent of that during the 45-day ECQ up to April 30, that will come up to P160 billion. If we save five percent, that is P80 billion in additional funds for financial aid to 18 million poor and near-poor families affected by the lockdown,” ani Romero.

    Sinabi ni Pangulong Duterte na maaaring kulang ang P275 bilyon na unang inilaan nito para sa ECQ.

    “Because of the ECQ that has forced many government offices to temporarily close and their personnel are compelled to stay home, the bureaucracy is naturally generating a lot of savings in funds for MOOE,” saad ng solon.

Dahil walang pasok ang mga ahensya ay may natipid sa gasolina, kuryente, tubig, supplies and materials, communication, advertising, representation/dining out and entertainment at travel expenses.

Lumiit din umano ang gastos sa gasolina ng mga ahensya na kailangan sa paglaban sa COVID-19 dahil sa pagbaba ng presyo nito. Noong Enero ang presyo ng kurudo sa pandaigdigang merkado ay $54-$55/barrel pero ngayon wala na ito sa $25.

“Since the administration’s economic team projected crude to cost between $60 and $75 per barrel when it proposed the 2020 budget, this means that the government is not spending tens of billions in appropriations for oil-related expenses,” dagdag pa ng solon.