ILIGAN City ― While we were going about celebrating the highest point of the monthlong fiesta on Friday. Sept. 29, the "great" USA was in turmoil. For there was a federal shutdown, that is if.
The "if" of a shutdown though did not materialize. Because Congress there came up with what they called a "stopgap solution."
Now, what is a shutdown? It means that it is not open. And what is not open? The money of the government. And what if the government's money is not open? Well, it's that kind of joke which says, "maayo pa ang kuwarta kay dunay tawo pero ang tawo walay kuwarta."
The House of Representatives there on the side of the Republicans (R) it was learned did not want to continue giving aid to Ukraine. By now we have heard much about Ukraine, Russia's favorite whipping boy and it has whipped it for more than a year now.
"We must instead spend the moolah on defending our southern border," said those who were against the move, and mostly Republicans And so, the danger of a federal shutdown.
But the Democratic members of Congress there came up with a temporary solution. And how permanent is temporary? Forty-five days. Supported by some Rs in addition to all the Democrats, the measure averted a shutdown. With the Democrats feeling "winners" of the showdown. A D of New York, one Jamaal Bowman was reported to activate the fire alarm in the House. And other members of Congress asked whether there was fire.
I told this happening to Mike, my nerdy friend. And he said: "There was a fire. But not literally."
Here in our government too, there is a showdown of sorts. And maybe a fire too. This is regarding the "Confidential" and "Intelligence" funds. Especially of who else, but Sara. How much? It is "too much" according to 3 party list reps, And especially others; like Senator Riza Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel, and some others. It did not help that the Commission on Audit revealed in a report that the OVP had consumed last year's intelligence funds in a matter of eleven days. SC Justice Antonio Carpio said that the use of these funds "without " really accounting for them is "against the Constitution" and that the thinking of the COA and the Department of Budget Management on the matter is not very appropriate.
I heard a lawyer here say the other day that the VP had "punched" a sheriff in Davao City. And now she is in punching mode on the intelligence and confidential funds. "Don't do that, Panyera," he had said. "It's not yet too late.''
Not to be outdone in talking points, though, Inday Sara said that critics of these funds are "enemies of the nation."
The budget for next year\'s intel and confidential funds totals P650 million. That is, for the DepEd and the OVP. And how about the other government units, both local and national?
It was learned that in this city of Iligan, such funds total P100 million. Now, how about the other units all over the country?
With such some sort of showdown, will there be some changes in the management of this country's finances? Almost half of the 5.7 Trillion of which come from loans, or 2. trillion something pesos. This is for next year.
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