By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE administration has no plan to extend the austerity holidays, which will be observed until Sept. 30, 2007, but it may implement more “painful” cost-cutting measures, according to Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr.
“Right now, we don’t have any plan to extend austerity holidays,” he said, “(but) we are in a new fiscal year and we are expecting less revenues. We are carefully monitoring everything and we will make adjustments if necessary… and these adjustments may be even more painful.”
Reyes said government agencies and departments must anticipate the implementation of more cost-cutting measures.
The House minority bloc has pre-filed H.B. 15-210 to repeal the austerity holiday law, or P.L. 15-24.
The House minority said the administration should instead ban all travel unless it involves an emergency or is federally funded, and stop the hiring of non-essential personnel.
Reyes said the administration will agree to the law’s repeal once “we have good collections, more revenue and a strong economy.”
He added that repealing P.L. 15-24 is unnecessary as it is only temporary.
According to the House minority bloc, the government, despite statements that it is in severe economic trouble, has continued to hire non-essential employees even after the enactment of P.L. 15-24.
There have been over 100 new employees hired by various government agencies and departments since June last year, the House minority lawmakers stated.