Monday, September 21, 2020

House quarrel traced to unequal 'pork slices'. Inquirer Newsletter September 22, 2020

HISTORY WALK-THROUGH A mural depicting events of martial law on Monday, among other historic events, greets pedestrians at the newly-spruced up Lagusnilad underpass in Manila as the country marked the 48th anniversary of Ferdinand Marcos' issuance of Proclamation 1081 that paved the way for his authoritarian regime. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

World

US edges 200,000 coronavirus deaths

The death toll from the spread of the coronavirus in the United States was approaching over 200,000 lives on Monday, more than double the number of fatalities in India, the country reporting the second-highest number of cases in the world. —STORY BY REUTERS

Regions

Cebu corals destroyed by crushed dolomite

The extraction of dolomite rocks in the southern town of Alcoy in Cebu province has damaged the marine ecosystem in the area, according to the provincial government. An inspection conducted by the provincial environment and natural resources office (Penro) last week showed that corals within a 500-meter area of Barangay Pugalo’s waters were destroyed. —STORY BY Ador Vincent Mayol

Lifestyle Wellness

Watsons pharmacists specially trained to assist asthma sufferers

As a mother of a teenager and three younger kids, including 5-year-old twin daughters, Laoag City resident January Suguitan has her work cut out for her. She and her husband Charlie have to juggle feeding, clothing and teaching their children with making sure that they have enough asthma medicines on hand. –STORY BY Raoul J. Chee Kee

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House quarrel traced to unequal 'pork slices'.

Story by DJ Yap

What’s the House lawmakers’ beef with the pork in the 2021 budget?

The bone of contention in the P4.5-trillion budget proposal for next year is Malacañang’s “unequal distribution of pork slices” amounting to P397 billion in lump-sum funds parked in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), lawmakers said on Monday.

Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said her colleagues were quarreling over the apportioning of the so-called pork, which was “now sliced unevenly among districts and regions,” resulting in disgruntlement among members of the majority coalition.

Pork refers to discretionary and lump-sum items in the budget, usually inserted after enactment, a practice banned by the Supreme Court in 2013.

Not part of DPWH budget

The DPWH lump sum, according to the Makabayan lawmaker, is meant to go to infrastructure projects not included in the agency’s proposed budget in the 2021 National Expenditure Program, the precursor of the general appropriations bill.

“These allocations are primarily for the construction, repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, flood control projects, and not for the construction of hospitals and other health facilities,” she said.

“As it was before, so it is still now: Malacañang’s apparent ‘unequal distribution of pork slices’ may derail the passage of the 2021 proposed national budget,” Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said in a separate statement.

Editorial

Critical moment for digital push

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is causing many activities to be done digitally—or via the internet—to avoid physical contacts that may spread the virus. This has benefited many consumers who now get nearly everything they need delivered to their doorsteps.

Read full story: opinion.inquirer.net