THE judiciary requested on Thursday, September 10, 2020, an additional P6.58-billion budget which will cover the expenses of all courts nationwide.
According to Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez, the judiciary initially proposed a P55.88-billion budget for 2021, but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) slashed this to P43.54 billion under the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
“Doon po sa aming proposed 2021 budget, originally, we had P55.88 billion, and when I say proposed budget for the judiciary, lahat na po ng courts ito - Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, kasama na po ‘yung Presidential Electoral Tribunal,” Marquez told the lawmakers.
“Ang binigay lang po sa NEP ay P43.54 billion so mayroon po tayong variance or difference na P12.34 billion,” he added.
Marquez asked Congress for an additional P6.54-billion budget for 2021.
“Out of the P12.34 [billion] variance, gusto po sana naming hilingin dito po sa House of Representatives, an additional P6.58 billion instead of the variance na P12.34 billion na binigay sa NEP,” he said.
“Hindi na po namin hihingiin ‘yung kabuuan na P12.34 billion, instead we will just be pleading for P6.58 billion,” he added.
The judiciary seeks to allocate P5.07 billion to the Supreme Court and the lower courts, P15.35 million for the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, P994.5 million for the appellate court, P406.4 million for the Sandiganbayan, and P98.5 million for the Court of Tax Appeals.
“After this hearing, we will formally write the House of Representatives to formalize our motion for reconsideration, including the breakdown for our P6.58 billion,” Marquez said. (SunStar Philippines)