MANILA - Voting 175-6, the House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading the P1.541 trillion budget.

As of this posting, a copy of the final version of House Bill 6767 had not yet been released to the media, but House Speaker Prospero Nograles said there are no major amendments to Malacañang's budget.

"There are major movements, but I can't assure you in the bicameral conference," Nograles told reporters on Monday. Congress just resumed session after a three-week break.

Some congressmen questioned the "wrong priorities" set by government in the budget.

"The calamities that we have faced, from one crisis to another, only highlighted the fact that we have never learned or refused to learn from the lessons of history," said Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson. He was among those who registered a negative vote.

"The power to appropriate, the power to release and the power to use public funds judiciously and properly in line with our economic plans for national development--must begin somewhere, and this Congress is the place to begin. Hihintayin ba natin ang rebolusyon ng taong bayan pagkatapos ng katahimikan at kaapihan ng napakatagal na panahon bago tayo kumilos?" Joson added.

Even Abakada-Guro party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz, who voted to approve the budget, suggested that the House of Representatives should seek realignments in the budget during the bicameral conference.

"It's inadequate. The budget should be able to shield us from the lingering impact of the global financial crisis and be able to fund the reconstruction efforts," dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz said up to P73 billion in the proposed 2010 budget can be realigned for reconstruction efforts. Aside from moving various lump sum allocations, he also seeks the renegotiation of debt payments.

"We should negotiate with creditors, both foreign and local. It's possible we can refinance existing debts or defer payment--if not outright condonation--of debts. If these items are realigned together with the amount secured under rearrangement for the debt relief package, a total of P73.275 billion can be allocated for rebuilding and reconstruction, thus enabling millions of our countrymen to regain their lives," dela Cruz said.

The call to renegotiate debt payments was supported by Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano.

Zero Capital Outlay

The P1.541 trillion budget proposed by Malacañang for fiscal year 2010 is 8.1% higher than the P1.426 trillion budget in 2009.

However, as usual, the bulk of the increases will go to debt service payments (P340.8 billion) and to salary adjustments of government employees (P494 billion in personal services).

The allocation for capital outlay―allocation for new buildings and other long term assets, including equipment and infrastructure―was slashed by 21.5% to P183 billion from P233 billion in 2009. Several government agencies, like the Office of the Ombudsman, got zero capital outlay.

Various sectors expressed concerns that the 2010 budget does not fit the country's needs. Calls have been made to overhaul the 2010 budget and make it responsive to the disasters caused by storms "Ondoy" and "Pepeng" in Metro Manila and northern Luzon, respectively.

Critics of the budget said Joint Resolution No. 5, which  authorizes the use of the "Unprogrammed Funds" not exceeding P12 billion for the relief operations, rehabilitation, and reconstruction of areas affected by natural calamities, is not enough to address the damage wrought by the typhoons.

The resolution was signed by President Arroyo on November 3, Nograles announced on Monday.