BASILAN Representative Mujiv Hataman has appealed to Congress to increase the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) next year to ensure the creation of jobs nationwide.

“Alam natin yung infrastructure sa DPWH, madaling maglikha ng trabaho sa distrito, sa munisipyo at sa probinsya… Malaking bilang ng trabaho din ang nabawas sa ating kababayan dahil sa malaking slash ng budget ng DPWH,” Hataman said during Tuesday’s start of plenary deliberations on the P5.268 trillion proposed national budget for 2023.

Hataman strongly pushed for an increase in the budget of the DPWH, which suffered a huge budget cut of P64.8 billion compared to 2022 figures.

Under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the national government to Congress, DPWH has a heavily slashed proposed budget of P717.31 billion, down by 8.7% from this year’s P785.24 billion approved budget.

Hataman raised the question after one of the sponsors of the proposed national budget, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, said in her sponsorship speech that one guiding principle in crafting the 2023 spending bill is “economic recovery”.

“Kanina, binabanggit nyo ‘yung infrastructure ay multiplier and engine ng ating economy, pero bakit dito sa NEP 2023 nagkaroon ng P68.4 billion slash sa budget ng DPWH? So ang ibig sabihin ba nito, malaki-laki din ang nabawas sa GDP contribution ng infrastructure natin?” Hataman asked.

Quimbo then responded by saying the infrastructure budget is not only lodged in DPWH but in other agencies as well.

In fact, Quimbo added, the proposed national budget also contains funds to enhance digital infrastructure, bringing the infrastructure allocation to P1.019 trillion in total.

“Nakita ko rin iyun. Pero kung susumahin, medyo nakakapagtaka pa rin ang bawas pagdating sa DPWH. Eh alam naman natin madam sponsor na tumaas ang ating poverty incidence, pero isa sana yan sa makaka-address o makakatulong dahil magcre-create ito ng jobs,” Hataman declared.

“At alam natin, tulad ho ng nabanggit namin sa inyo, sa aming distrito lalong-lalo na sa malalayong lugar, malaking trabaho ito para sa ating mga kababayan at makakatulong ito doon sa mahihirap nating kababayan na naging bahagi sa pagpapatupad ng infrastructure projects sa mga probinsya at distrito,” he added.

“Gusto nating malaman kung bakit iyun ang na-reach na decision ng DBCC (Development Budget and Coordinating Council) pagdating sa budget ng DPWH,” the Basilan solon stressed.

Quimbo says DBCC will yield to the wishes of Congress and that she is one with Hataman in saying that there is inadequate infrastructure spending.

She said she will support Hataman if he proposed to increase infrastructure spending.

“Kasi katulad naming malalayong lugar na napag-iwanan dahil sa mga gulo ng nakaraan at ngayon lang medyo natahimik, talagang napakahalaga ng infrastructure,” he said.