Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 7) — The executive branch could generate as much as P160 billion for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) efforts by slashing the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of government agencies, two lawmakers said Tuesday.
1-PACMAN party-list Rep. Mikee Romero said the executive branch can realign a portion of all government agencies’ MOOE since most of them are not operating anyway due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Expenses under the MOOE include fuel, electricity, water, supplies and materials, communication, advertising, representation or dining out and entertainment, and travel.
“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,” he said in a statement.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, meanwhile, suggested cutting 10 percent of all government agencies’ MOOE. He also urged the executive branch to suspend the creation of new government positions, including additional diplomatic and consular posts to trim budgetary fat.
In a televised speech Monday, Duterte said the P275-billion budget allotted by the government for the COVID-19 crisis is not enough.
“I would like to be honest. The P100 billion per month, P300 bilion yun…Ang P100 billion budget or P270 billion for two months as their estimate, hindi talaga tatagal ‘yan [that won’t last long really],” he said.
Lagman said Duterte’s plan to stop P158.5-billion worth of infrastructure projects to generate savings could hurt the economy since construction is a main driver of growth.
Duterte shared his plan to discontinue some infrastructure projects in his second weekly report to the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee regarding the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
“Investors, both foreign and local, consider the adequacy of infrastructure as a major incentive for investment,” Lagman said.
