Excerpt from the Senate hearing last October 12, 2016 on the proposed emergency powers for President Rodrigo Duterte to address the traffic problem in the Philippines. Senator Ralph Recto questions the source of funding of the P1.3T DOTr projects:

SEN. RECTO: You submitted a proposed list of projects. P1.3 trillion more or less. Ano yung funding source ng mga ito? How much is in the budget for 2017 sa DOTr?

USEC. DE GUZMAN: We submitted a list of projects and we also submitted a summary wherein we identified that the total budget of the proposed projects we submitted under the emergency power is about P1.2 trillion. We provided a table, a summary where we identified na ito po yung hinihingi sana namin sa special power budget lang.

SEN. RECTO: Usec, so that we don’t waste time. This bill is not a supplemental budget.

USEC. DE GUZMAN: Yes, sir.

SEN. RECTO: So what special power budget are you talking about?

USEC. DE GUZMAN: We are thinking, your honor, that since we cannot fund it under the GAA–the present funding with the General Appropriations Act–

SEN. RECTO: Ibig sabihin, you are admitting, Usec, that it is not found in the 2017 National Expenditure Plan.

USEC. DE GUZMAN: Yes, sir.

SEN. RECTO: So even if we give you emergency powers, there is no funding source.

USEC. DE GUZMAN: Yes, sir. That’s why, if possible, if Congress will grant us–

SEN. RECTO: No no no, that’s not the point. Hindi ba kayo nag-uusap ng DBM? Nanawagan na ako noong–kailan ba ‘yan–July, August, September press releases, sinabi ko na dahil pag-uusapan itong emergency powers, na ilagay na ninyo, mag-earmark na kayo ng pondo sa 2017 budget. This is not a supplemental budget, eh. This is not a General Appropriations Act, hindi ho ba?

USEC. DE GUZMAN: Yes, sir.

SEN. RECTO: So maliwanag na there is nothing in the budget for 2017 that will address in a significant way this list of projects that you want to undertake. There are only two funding sources. The General Appropriations Act, this one, which is the major, and the second is PPP. The PPP is not found in the budget. Ito yung sinasabi kong dumadaan ng NEDA at NEDA Board. Alam ko ‘yan dahil naging secretary tayo ng NEDA. Noong September, nagpasa ang NEDA board ng ilang proyekto. Doon sa listahan na iyon, halos kakaunti lang din ang nakalista doon — based on your list — maybe the significant one is your BRT. Is that correct?

USEC. DE GUZMAN: Yes.

SEN. RECTO: Ayan, pwede nating pag-usapan ‘yan a bit later on. But the main point I’m trying to drive at, at this point in time, ay itong listahan ninyo, sa katunayan, walang funding source sa ngayon.

USEC. DE GUZMAN: Yung iba po, inaadmit po namin na wala.