THE House Committee on Ways and Means has begun reviewing the administration’s proposed $217.9 million budget package for fiscal year 2003.
Committee Chairman Stanley T. Torres said it may take a month before his panel comes up with proposed amendments to the package which “definitely will be cut especially on items that agencies can do away with.”
“We are now reviewing every agency budget and looking into the unnecessary expenses that have to be cut like cell phones, pagers and home-drive government vehicles—these have to be stopped if we want to truly implement the austerity measures promoted by the administration,” said Torres, R-Saipan.
He praised acting Labor and Immigration Secretary Joaquin A. Tenorio for initiating the cuts in DOLI’s communication and transportation expenses.
Last month, Tenorio disconnected several DOLI telephone lines and cellular phones. He also announced that the agency would no longer lease vehicles from the private sector. “That’s a noble decision. I hope all other agencies would do the same. There should be no more excuses if we really mean what we say,” said Torres.
