052507: Balanced '08 budget: who will sacrifice?

WHO will bear the burden of balancing the budget in 2008? This is the question posed by civil society organizations led by Social Watch Philippines with the release of National Memorandum Order 100, better known as the Budget Call by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Aside from providing policy guidelines and procedures to heads of government agencies in the preparation of their respective budget proposals for 2008, the Budget Call contains the overall macroeconomic and fiscal policy framework and thrust for 2008-2010 within the context of the Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP).            The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) projected revenues and disbursements at P1.236 trillion for 2008. Though the fiscal program for 2008 increases the proposed expenditure level nominally, the rate of growth percentage-wise drastically declines from 13.1 in 2007, to 4.6 next year. “What worries us is that the government has already been underspending in education, health, agriculture and environment. Take education, for example” its share of the budget has been shrinking through the years. If we further cut expenditures we may indeed have zero deficit by 2008. However, there will also be fewer teachers, more students dropping out and no new classrooms,“ explain Prof. Leonor Briones, coconvenor of Social Watch at the second workshop of the project, “Crafting the Alternative Budget: The Journey Continues.” The task of crafting an alternative budget was initiated by civil society groups last year and was borne out of the necessity to have a national budget that responds to the needs of the people and to achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs, contained in the Millennium Declaration signed by nearly 200 UN members, including the Philippines in 2000, are specific targets in eliminating poverty worldwide by 2015. The goals include eliminating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, reducing infant and maternal mortality rates and ensuring environmental sustainability, among others. “We in civil society are keeping close watch of the budget process. Inspired by our gains last year in crafting an alternative budget, we will continue engaging agencies and legislators to see to it that the national budget is not merely aimed at economic growth, but more importantly, at the welfare and development of every Filipino,” Briones said.

 

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/0525&262007/headlines04.html