UNDERVIEW

Mike Guimbatan Jr.
Congressional insertion

A lawmaker during the recent budget hearing was irked by the use of the term “congressional insertion” instead; he said the proper term should accordingly be “congressional initiative”.

But what is in these simple terminologies “insertion and initiative” that stirred murmurs from the congressional gallery. Actually the two terms are not related but can be used as a verb such as “to insert the initiative or to initiate the insertion”.

To lawmakers, the term insertion and initiative are one and the same in use. It simply means the power to impregnate the annual budget with unprogrammed expenses that appears legitimate because it is consistent with a line agency’s program but in reality is not a priority area of expense based on planning principles.

Under normal planning and budgeting system, the national government from above downloads policies or major program areas for the various line agencies to convert it into specific program activities. On the other hand, the grassroots level from below proposes specific projects consistent with the national policies.

These grassroots projects will be validated and prioritized from the barangay to the municipal then provincial until the Regional Development Council who formally indorses to the Central government in Manila the priority projects for funding. The national government proposes funding then forwards to Congress for their approval. Once approved, the President then implements through the various line agencies.

Budget hearing and approval is the only time when congressmen and senators become very powerful because they hold the key to the purse. The term “budget” originates from “bulga” which means purse. While lawmakers function is primarily to make laws, they also obediently follow the “golden rule: He who has the gold makes the rule”. That explains why they have the power to insert any budget.

There is insertion when a certain project receives funding even if it has not been indorsed from the various planning levels. But why are some people not happy with insertions? The impregnated budget would then give birth to poor implementation and possibly corruption.

For example, a Session road to Magsaysay concreting could be inserted with an approved Session road improvement or Magsaysay road pavement. In short, there will be double programming and budgeting. Others show a little improvement or extension to justify the budget.

Another example is when a non priority program such a road opening to the private ranch of an official will be included in the DPWH program through the initiative of that official. However there are also good projects properly implemented and these projects are inserted by lawmakers like a waiting shed, an overpass, a barangay hall, road projects, farm subsidy among others.

What only makes the insertion bad is when the project bears the name of the sponsor like “This project was funded through the initiative of Congressman …”. Others simply put their initials like “V” for Vagio City. But people should be clarified that the money used comes from the sweat and blood of the taxpayers.

Not all congressional insertions or initiatives are dubious. There are very poor congressional districts who receive only drops of the national budget when based on equal sharing of wealth. The Cordillera provinces are an example of districts that need congressional insertions to cope up with developments from neighboring provinces.

Unfortunately, not all congressmen can avail of the Insertion scheme. Only congressmen who have the guts to question almost everything presented in Congress gets the attention. Line agency heads normally approach the “Noisy” congressman and offer something in return like projects to buy their silence. Another strategy by one former Cordillera congressman is to hold office at the DPWH until the Secretary gets pissed off and give in to the request for an insertion just to get rid of the unwanted visitor.

While the poor provinces of the Cordillera region badly needed insertions, very few congressmen can influence an insertion. Congressmen “C and D” are very good at this. In fact, even the share of one silent Congressman from an equal sharing insertion is often generously used by sister provinces.

Therefore, if the congressional insertion will generally benefit the district as a coping up mechanism, encourage your congressman to keep on inserting but be part of a watchdog to ensure that the inserted project is a development need of the community.