THE House of Representatives will not expand the reprogramming authority of Gov. Juan N. Babauta until it has the records of the funds that have been reprogrammed by the executive branch based on the governor’s current 25 percent cumulative reprogramming authority.
“One needs to logically question why would he need (reprogramming authority) in excess of the 25 percent. Had the governor reprogrammed in excess of the $50 million already that he is requesting for the reprogramming authority beyond what is stipulated in P.L. 3-68?” asked House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider, R-Saipan.
Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente earlier said that the governor needed additional reprogramming authority to be able to operate the new landfill at Marpi. This, he said, “is a very serious concern” for the solid waste management program.
But Hofschneider said the House would like to see first “all those reprogramming of funds since Jan. 14 before the House would consider the reprogramming authority beyond the 25 percent.”
As far as the landfill is concerned, which under the existing budgetary act has no funding, the speaker said “it is not permissible under the law” to reprogram funds for the project.
Benavente, in a separate interview, said that if the Legislature would have no other way to grant additional reprogramming authority, “we will find other means” to be able to acquire the needed equipment for the rehabilitation of the Puerto Rico dumpsite and the eventual transfer of waste to the Marpi landfill.
He said the government at present needs to purchase equipment “to expand the life” of the dumpsite and for the opening of the landfill.
He said that if the executive branch would purchase equipment for the Solid Waste Division, they will have to reprogram funds from the Department of Public Works.
Hofschneider said that aside from the governor’s 25 percent reprogramming authority, the Department of Public Works, just like other departments, has 10 percent authority to reprogram funds. He said this may be enough to address the needs of the solid waste program for the landfill.
“They may look at full-time employees who have not been encumbered and move the FTEs to DPW under the landfill operations and then use the governor’s reprogramming authority to supplement the budget of DPW,” he said.
The speaker said this will ensure that the movement of funds under the current reprogramming authority is consistent with the law.
