Press Briefing by PCOO Sec. Sonny Coloma
Presidential Communications Operations Office
Press Briefing Room, 2nd Floor, New Executive Bldg., Malacanang
17 May 2016

OPENING STATEMENT:

Noong nakaraang linggo ay nagtanong ang inyong kasamahang si Benjie Liwanag hinggil sa estado ng paggastos sa National Budget at nagbigay ako ng paliwanag.
Sa mga pahayagan ngayon, merong mga lumabas na ulat na parang hindi ganap na naunawaan ‘yung paliwanag at hindi makatotohanan ang mga inilahad. Kaya’t nais kong kunin ang pagkakataong ito upang magbigay nang dagdag na paliwanag. Ito po iyon:

Allegations of the government’s “mad rush to spend during the election season” leaving the incoming administration with “only 16 percent of the National Budget” are untrue and without factual basis. These statements only reflect a lack of knowledge and understanding on how the National Budget is actually spent.
The Aquino administration has always adhered to the principles of sound fiscal management in handling the people’s funds and shall pass on to the incoming administration a robust, liquid and financially-stable national coffers.
Last week, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced that it has already released about P2.5 trillion to government agencies, which represent 83.5 percent of the total P3.002-trillion 2016 National Budget, as embodied in the General Appropriations Act or GAA.

In our national budgeting process, the word “release” simply means “authority to obligate” what is in the GAA. It does not equate to disbursements or actual spending as the funds still need to be obligated first before these can be disbursed by the government agencies.

The complete budgeting process involves three steps: 1) Release; 2) Obligation; and 3) Disbursement.

After the budget is released, the concerned government agency must submit and secure approval for a work and financial plan from the DBM and this serves as the basis for obligating certain amounts for specific projects. Once these projects have been deemed obligated, the agency will secure Notices of Cash Allocation or NCAs from the DBM, which they would present to the Bureau of Treasury to obtain checks.
Out of the total National Budget, about P1.336 trillion or 45 percent are allotted for Personnel Services (P811.8 billion) and Miscellaneous and Other Operating Expenses (P524 billion), which are disbursed monthly — buwan-buwan lang po ito dini-disburse dahil buwan-buwan po ang pasweldo ng pamahalaan. Hindi po pupwede na ire-release ito o idi-disburse ito na lagpas doon sa kasalukuyang buwan.

At dahil nasa ika-limang buwan lang po tayo, hindi po mangyayari na ‘yung pasweldo para sa buong taon ay nai-release na o naibigay na. Hindi po mangyayari iyon.

Ulitin ko po, of the total National Budget, about P1.336 trillion or 45 percent are allotted for Personnel Services and Miscellaneous and Other Operating Expenses, which are disbursed monthly based on the existing work and financial plans of government agencies that passed through the scrutiny of Congress during the budget deliberations.

While it is true that releases have reached more than P2 trillion, total funds obligated and covered by NCAs or Notices of Cash Allocation reached only P464.33 billion as of the first quarter of the year. Out of this amount, P411.4 billion was utilized to get checks from the Treasury while the remaining P53 billion is still with the agencies.

Uulitin ko po, mauuna ‘yung release. Sa salita po natin, ang ibig sabihin ng release ay binigyan ng authority para po magamit ‘yung pondo. Susundan po ‘yan ng pangalawang hakbang: obligation. Iyong obligation, makukuha lang iyan kapag nakapag-sumite na at kapag nakakuha ng approval from DBM of the corresponding work and financial plan na patungkol doon sa gagastusin na ino-obligate. Kapag inapprove po ‘yan, bibigyan ‘yung ahensiya ng DBM ng NCA (notice of cash allocation) at pagkatapos ‘yung NCA na iyon ay pwedeng gamitin para kumuha ng cheke. Kapag nakuha po ‘yung cheke, doon at doon palang magaganap ‘yung sinasabi nating aktuwal na paggagastos o disbursement.

Maliwanag po ba? Wala pong aktuwal na disbursement doon sa unang-unang hakbang lamang na release. Baka lang po nagkakaroon ng kalituhan dahil doon sa pangkaraniwang pagkaunawa doon sa salitang release na para bang pinakawalan, hindi po ganun.

Kailangan lang po na maunawaan natin at hinihingi ko ang inyong tulong sa pagbibigay ng tamang impormasyon, makatotohanang impormasyon sa ating mga mamamayan dahil sagrado po ang pondo ng bayan.

Hindi po dapat ito pinaglalaruan sa aktuwal at maging sa kaisipan lamang. Hindi dapat na ito ay nagiging instrumento ng media spin o black operations.

Hindi po ba nakakaligalig naman para sabihin na ngayon pa lang — o pinakawalan na o ginastos na ‘yung 80 percent ng budget? Para naman yata pong napakairesponsable ng mga magsasabi ng ganyan at ‘yung mga mag-uulat ng ganyan na hindi man lang tinukoy ‘yung ating nauna nang pahayag hinggil dito.

Dapat lang po siguro ay maging makatwiran ang paglalahad ng impormasyon at ipaliwanag sa ating mga mamamayan ‘yung buong katotohanan at pawang katotohanan lamang.
In terms of Capital Outlay, the GAA requires all government agencies to comply with existing rules on procurement, such as a schedule of payments for payroll items and the schedule of payments for capital outlay based on the percentage of completion of a particular project.

Kanina po sinabi ko na dalawang items: personnel salaries at MOOE account for 45 percent. So doon sa 55 percent, kasama na po diyan ‘yung capital outlay. At ‘yung capital outlay, bago po iyan mai-release — uulitin ko po ‘yung paliwanag: first step lang po ‘yung release, which is simply an authority or an allotment. Iyong second ay obligation, kinakailangang magsumite pa ng approved financial plan para maibigay ‘yung obligation as evidence by an NCA o ‘yung notice of cash allocation. At pangatlong step lang ‘yung actual disbursement.

One of the budgetary reforms implemented by the Aquino administration in 2014 is to treat the GAA itself as the release document, which enabled government agencies to fast-track the implementation of vital projects and programs and sustain the growth momentum. All disbursements from the National Budget are subject to stringent auditing and accounting rules and regulations.
Dagdag na lang po, dahil meron ding tumutuligsa tungkol sa mga El Niño releases: Contrary to the claims of United Nationalist Alliance, the government has already released P842.5 million to augment the Quick Response Fund for El Niño-related programs such as the “purchase of family food packs for pre-positioning and disaster augmentation, cash or food for work programs, shelter assistance and additional relief supplies” for communities affected by El Niño.

Sana po ay naging sapat ang aking paliwanag. Sana po ay naunawaan ito. Kung meron pong hindi malinaw o nais pang linawin, handa po akong sagutin ‘yan at iba ninyong katanungan.

Marami pong salamat.

Q&A:

Benjie Liwanag (DZBB): Good afternoon, sir. Sir, how about ‘yung Intelligence Fund ng Pangulo? Pababa na po ang Pangulo, naubos na rin po ba ang Intelligence Fund kasi baka nagamit din po ito ay isa sa mga pinag-iisipan din po and we want to know straight from you, sir, kung sakaling meron pa po bang dadatnan na Intelligence Fund ‘yung susunod na administrasyon?

SEC. COLOMA: Wala akong specific na impormasyon on Intelligence Funds as an item of the Appropriation. Ang masasabi ko lang sa iyo ngayon, lahat ng mga paggugol o paggastos sa pondo ng bayan kabilang sa Intelligence Fund ay naaayon sa batas at sumusunod sa patakaran ng Department of Budget and Management at ‘nung Commission on Audit for auditing and financial rules.
At sa lahat naman po ng pagkakataon, tumatalima ang administrayong ito sa mga prinsipyo ng responsableng paggamit ng pondo ng bayan at lahat ng paggugol ng Intelligence Funds ay — tulad nga ng aking nabanggit — ay subject to audit, auditing rules and regulations at maibubunyag naman po ito.

Mr. Liwanag: Okay, another thing is the Presidential Social Fund, nagamit po ba ito sa El Niño or may pinaglaanan po ba itong Presidential Social Fund?

SEC. COLOMA: Iyon kasing sa El Niño, maaalala ninyo, noon pang August 2015 sinimulan iyon. Habang ini-implement nila ‘yung projects sa El Niño, gumagamit na ‘yung iba’t ibang kagawaran ‘nung mga katuwang o karampatang budget nila for those purposes. Halimbawa, kung ang involved ay Department of Agriculture, meron naman silang nakalaang budget for cloud seeding operations, small water impounding projects, ‘yung pagbibigay ng seedlings sa iba’t ibang mga areas na nagkaroon ng tagtuyot.
Iyon namang DSWD meron na ring mga regular na pondo iyan para sa mga cash-for-work or food-for-work at kung talagang mayroong extreme na kaso ng kaguluhan, meron din silang provision for purchases of food packs.

Kaya lahat naman ito ay regular na nakalaan sa mga budget ng mga departamento. Iyong Presidential Social Fund kasi hiwalay itong discretionary fund ng Tanggapan ng Pangulo. Sa aking pagtaya, hindi naman ito ‘yung ginamit na main source of funds dahil special purpose fund lang ito.
Mamaya, pagkatapos nito ay pwede akong mamahagi sa inyo ng ilang sipi o copies ‘nung summary ng 2016 budget. Mas mayroong detalyadong pagtuturing tungkol diyan: sa special purpose funds, calamity funds, QRF. Mas mayroong detalyadong impormasyon doon na maaari kong ibahagi sa inyo.

Celerina Monte-Del Mundo (Manila Shimbun): Sir, nag-try akong mag-compute, so iyong — out of P2.6 trillion na budget natin for this year, if ever, i-minus na natin ‘yung P1.33 even if — kasi allocated na iyon for the operating expenses — and then this P463 i-minus ko siya mga around P900 billion pa pero meron pa tayong automatic appropriation na tinatanggal doon, so more or less, how much pa ‘yung natitira na pupwedeng gastusin ng next administration, iyong pupwedeng i-disburse?

SEC. COLOMA: Hindi lahat ‘yan matutunghayan mo sa General Appropriations Act. Nakahimay nang into the fine detail kung saang ahensiya, ano ang purpose. Kailangan lang malinaw ‘yung appreciation natin and understanding doon sa tatlong bahagi ng proseso: release, obligation at saka disbursement.
Ang sinasabi dito sa atin, iyong latest update ng DBM, so far, ang nao-obligate pa lang nila ay ‘yung 400 something, then so much are covered already by NCAs, ‘yung iba ay hindi pa covered ng NCAs, nandun pa sa kanilang ahensiya.

Lahat naman ito ay magkakatugma-tugma kapag tinuos natin nang masinsinan.
Ms. Monte: So right now, you don’t have any figure kung magkano talaga ‘yung so far na kailangan pang — ‘yung i-disburse. Kasi wala namang problema tungkol doon sa first two, ‘yung release and obligation, so ‘yung sa disbursement?

SEC. COLOMA: Hindi kaya nga e, hindi aabot sa step number 3 kung wala pa sa step number 2. Kaya kung doon sa step number 2 nasa P400 billion pa lang tayo, e ‘di theoretically, P2.7 pa ang hindi nadi-disburse para umabot doon sa P3 trillion, hindi ba?
Kasi maliwanag naman, number 1, release; number 2, obligation; number 3, disbursement. Kung ang nasa obligation stage pa lang ay P400 something e ‘di i-minus mo na lang iyon.

Kaya ko lang minention (mention) ‘yung PS at saka MOOE, ‘yung Personnel Salaries at saka Miscellaneous and Other Operating Expenses na nakakabit sa Personnel Salaries ay tiyak ‘yon buwan-buwan talagang dini-disburse iyon ‘di ba? Kasi kinakailangan ng pasweldo sa mga government employees, public school teachers, policemen, Armed Forces of the Philippines soldiers. So iyon ang makeup ng ating budget.

Ms. Monte: So hopefully we could get kung magkano na lang ‘yung pupwede pang i-allocate or — ay no, i-disburse, sir?

SEC. COLOMA: Ulitin na lang natin. Number one is release, number two is obligation and number 3 is disbursement. Bago ka pumunta sa number 3, nasa number 2 ka muna. According to the Budget Secretary, ang umabot na doon sa number 2 na hindi kasama ‘yung PS at saka MOOE ay nasa P400 plus billion pa lamang. Siguro naman medyo maliwanag na iyon.

Hindi pa rin? Ulitin ulit natin: 1, 2 and 3. Bago makarating sa number 3 sa number 2 muna. Lahat po niyan ay transparent at open. Pwede po nating malaman sa anumang pagkakataon. Wala pong ikinukubli ang pamahalaan tungkol diyan.

Hannah Sancho (Sonshine Radio): Good afternoon, Sec. Confident naman po tayo, sir, na pagpasok ng incoming administration wala po silang masisilip na kahit anong irregularities under Aquino administration dahil balak po nilang mag-issue po ng FOI as EO po para maka-scrutinize daw ng public ‘yung operations po ng Executive?

SEC. COLOMA: We are very confident that any effort to evaluate and assess the propriety, regularity, veracity of all public financial and budgeting transactions will pass scrutiny.
Madagdag ko lang: Doon sa handbook na ipapamahagi ko sa inyo, nakalatag na rin kasi doon lahat ‘nung mga budgetary reforms na ipinatupad at pansinsin natin ‘no, this is the first time na ‘yung pinaka-basic ay natamo natin — that on the first day of the year, effective na ‘yung budget. Malayung-malayo po doon sa dinatnan na every year ay reenacted budget. Paalala lang po, baka nakalimutan na natin ‘yon.

Mr. Liwanag: Sir, going back, as part of the Transition Committee, pati po ‘yung budget, magiging bahagi ‘nung transition meeting with the incoming administration?

SEC. COLOMA: Lahat nang nais nilang maunawaan at malaman ay ipaalam sa kanila.
Mr. Liwanag: Is Secretary Butch Abad part of the Transition Committee?

SEC. COLOMA: Nakalagay na yata ‘yan doon sa AO (Administrative Order) 49. Si Secretary of Budget and Management. Sumasang-ayon si Ginoong (Alex) Calda na buong-buo ang pag-ngiti.

Weng Dela Fuente (Net 25): Sir, categorical lang po kasi masyadong teknikal pag-usapan ang budget. Pero may maasahan po or sabihin na natin na ‘yung susunod na administrasyon, may dadatnan ho sila na pondong magagamit?

SEC. COLOMA: Ulitin po natin: Nag-uumpisa sa release. ‘Yung release ay authority which is found in a law. The law is a Republic Act, the General Appropriations Act.

Kapag na-release, pwede nang pumunta sa number 2, obligation. Iyon pag-obligate, kinakailangan may sufficient justification in terms of a work and financial plan at dapat naaayon ‘yun doon sa nakasaad sa budget.

Kasi bago naman ‘yan ilagay sa budget, nagte-technical review pa ‘yan sa DBM. Hindi pwedeng kahit sinong opisina sabihin nila: “Kailangan naman nito, ganito ito, gagastusin, ganito.” Dumadaan ‘yan sa masusing pagtutuos o detailed analysis. Kapag nailagay na sa budget, panibagong justification through a work and financial plan.

Ulitin po natin: According to the DBM Secretary, ang humantong pa lang doon sa number 2 na obligation ay nasa 411 plus 53 — 464 billion. Hindi lang kasama diyan ‘yung monthly na PS at tsaka MOOE.
Kaya’t malinaw naman po, ilang percent lang ‘yung 464 out of 3.002 trillion, as of the first quarter of the year. If the first quarter of the year is one-fourth, hindi dapat na lagpas-lagpasan ‘yun to one-fourth of the total. Parang one-seventh lang ‘yun, ‘yung 464 would only be one-seventh or one-sixth of the total.

Ms. Dela Fuente: So hindi po nila pwedeng sabihin na wala kayong iniwan sa kanila? Klaro po ‘yun?

SEC. COLOMA: Hindi po. Dahil talagang makikita nila ‘yung balanse sa National Treasury na ‘yun talaga ang amount.

Reymund Tinaza (Bombo Radyo): Sir, just quick follow-up. Sir, we understand the processes pero may reports ‘yung Commission on Audit on some unliquidated cash advances doon sa Department of National Defense and even siyempre we expect also the other agencies to have these unliquidated advances as we speak. Sir, can we be assured that before stepping down or perhaps few more periods, those unliquidated cash advances will be liquidated properly?

SEC. COLOMA: Yes. At noon pong nakaraan ay nagkaroon tayo ng pagkakataon na makipag-usap sa dating Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration (DESFA) na ngayon ay nasa Commission on Immigration na.

At isinalaysay sa akin ni dating DESFA [Ronald] Geron kung paano siya nagsikap na masingil o mapa-account ‘yung mga datihan pang unliquidated cash advances mula sa nakaraang panunungkulan dahil sa kasalukuyan ay naging diligent naman doon sa pag-follow up ng mga cash advances para hindi lumaki ‘yung total; at lahat ng ito naman ay subject to auditing regulations.

Ivy Saunar (CNN Philippines): Sir, according to IBP, grave abuse of discretion daw ‘yung nagawa ni Pangulo when he appointed two Associate Justices to the Sandiganbayan na hindi kasama doon sa shortlist na ibinigay ng JBC. Any statement on that, Sir?

SEC. COLOMA: From the onset of this administration, President Aquino has ensured that all his actions are compliant with the 1987 Constitution and all of the laws of the land.

Although we have yet to see the reported petition of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines questioning the appointment to the Sandiganbayan of two justices, we wish to emphasize that the appointments complied with the Constitution and existing laws, as well as the requirements of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).
In fact, the justices were appointed took their oaths office before justices of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice (Maria Lourdes) Sereno who is also the Chair of the JBC.

Florante Rosales (DZRH): Sir, good afternoon. Ano po ‘yung tugon ng Palasyo sa “shoot-to-kill order” ni President (Rodrigo) Duterte sa mga awtoridad in case na lumaban ‘yung mga criminals o drug traffickers na hinahabol nila?

SEC. COLOMA: The President as Chief Executive is duty-bound to enforce the laws of the land, fairly and justly.

In his press conference yesterday, the incoming President clarified that the “shoot-to-kill” option shall be taken as a last resort or when criminal suspects actively resist arrest.
As a body created by the Constitution, the Commission on Human Rights is well within its duties to espouse adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights as it makes commentaries on these pronouncements.

Mr. Rosales: Just a quick follow-up, Sir. Hindi po kaya mauwi sa “Wild Wild West” ‘yung situation sa bansa kung ganito ‘yung kautusan at magkaroon ng mga patayan?

SEC. COLOMA: Ulitin na lang po natin: Sa kanyang pakikipag-pulong sa press kahapon, ang bagong halal o ‘yung Pangulo, incoming President clarified that the shoot-to-kill option shall be taken as a last resort or when criminal suspects actively resist arrest.
Iyon po ang natunghayan natin. Baka naman po makatwiran lang ‘yung ating pananaw i-base na lang natin doon sa aktuwal na sinabi.

Mr. Liwanag: Sir, how about doon sa, what can say about 1) death penalty; 2) a department for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army?

SEC. COLOMA: Tila sinagot na po natin kahapon ‘yan sa death penalty. Pero dahil tinanong mo ulit ngayon, sasagutin ulit natin ngayon.
Iyong tungkol sa death penalty kasi, ito ay ‘yung kasalukuyang batas hindi pinapahintulutan ‘yon ‘di ba? Hanggang life imprisonment lang ang pinakamataas na penalty for crimes punishable under the Revised Penal Code.

Kaya po kung mayroong ganyan panukala, ang nararapat ay ‘yung pag-amiyenda sa batas at ‘yung pag-amiyenda sa batas ay nasa kamay ng Kongreso.
Yaman din lamang at patapos na po ang kasalukuyang administrasyon at mayroon nang manunungkulan na bagong Kongreso na kung saan maaari naman silang kumuha ng pananaw ng iba’t ibang sektor ng ating lipunan, maaari silang magsagawa ng mga public hearings, maaaring pulsuhan nila ang saloobin ng ating mga mamamayan hinggil dito, siguro naman ‘yung tinig ni Juan dela Cruz ay maririnig ng mga mambabatas at gagawin nila itong batayan sa pagpapasya hinggil sa kung pormal na ipapanukula ‘yung pag-aalis o ‘yung pagbabalik doon sa death penalty sa ano mang anyo sa ilalim ng isang bagong batas.

Mr. Liwanag: Okay. And another the department for the — is open for the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army?

SEC. COLOMA: Okay. Every President exercises the prerogative to appoint Cabinet members who are deemed capable and trustworthy.

In exercising this power, the President must submit the appointees to the scrutiny of Congress through its Commission on Appointments, as provided by the Constitution.
While reviewing such appointments, Congress may engage stakeholders in dialogues that would surface concerns or objections, such as those that have been aired in regard to the incoming President’s plan to appoint nominees from the Communist Party of the Philippines.
Let this process unfold and bring about results that will truly serve the national interest. Meron din pong proseso para diyan.

Ms. Dela Fuente: Sir, part also of the plan is openness to have a coalition government with the Communist Party of the Philippines. How does the present administration see that?

SEC. COLOMA: Sa isang demokrasya ay kasama ‘yan sa dynamics, ‘yung pagkakaroon ng mga coalition.
At dahil nga tayo naman ay nasa transition na, we just prefer to focus on doing the transition work instead of engaging in debates.

Ipaubaya na natin sa susunod na administrasyon, sa bagong Kongreso, ang paghimay sa mga panukalang ‘yan dahil sila naman ang lulugar sa trangko ng ating pamahalaan.

Ms. Dela Fuente: Sir, has the President made up his mind what role will he be playing after his term ends?

SEC. COLOMA: Siguro sa dinami-dami ng mga panayam sa kanya, kapag binigyan niyo ako ng pagkakataon, isa-summarize ko na lang lahat ‘nung mga sinabi niya.
Of course, nangunguna doon sa kanyang nais gawin ay ‘yung mag-pahinga at mag-baksayon. At binabanggit din naman niya ‘yung kanyang nakita sa kanyang yumaong ina, si President Cory Aquino, na pagkatapos ng panunungkulan ay patuloy na naging — na lumahok sa ating mga democratic processes.

Siya ay nakiisa sa mga advocacy ng civil society, mga non-governmental organizations partikular sa mga micro and small and medium enterprises.
Huwag kayong mag-alala, magsasaliksik ako diyan at ipapamahagi ko sa inyo ang bunga ng aking pagsasaliksik.

Ms. Dela Fuente: Kasi during the campaign po kasi ‘di ba, sinabi din niya na he will lead the opposition if ever Secretary Roxas would not make it.

SEC. COLOMA: Baka naman mas mainam unawain natin ‘yung context. Meron kasing tanong ‘yun. Hindi naman ‘yun nakalutang na tanong lang.
Siguro Weng, if we have the chance, i-review natin kung ano actually ‘yung tinanong and in what context he said it.
Give me a chance and I will give you an answer, which I hope will be to your satisfaction.

Ms. Monte: Sir, how do you see or do you think ‘yung CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro) with the MILF would still be useful in the — sa next administration considering that the President-elect is considering to have this federalism?

SEC. COLOMA: Siguro ‘yung pagnanasa natin na maipagpatuloy ‘yung proseso ng kapayapaan ay nanatiling matingkad.
At sa lahat naman ng kanyang naging pahayag, parati namang nababanggit na meron siyang hihirangin na bagong Cabinet member hinggil sa proseso ng pangkapayapaan.
At siguro din naman, ikokonsidera na hindi naman ito starting from square one. Dumaan na ito sa maraming proseso, humantong na nga doon sa Comprehensive Agreement at meron na ngang draft Bangsamoro Basic Law na pwede namang ipagpatuloy ng bagong Kongreso.

So ang aking pananaw diyan, tiyak naman na bibigyan ng konsiderasyon ‘yung mga na-accomplish na on the road towards peace and will take advantage of the progress that has already been made. ‘Yun siguro ang mas malamang na magiging hakbang ng papasok na administrasyon.

Hindi naman siguro magiging hadlang ‘yung advocacy on federalism. ‘Yun naman kasi, considering our legal processes ,kailangan dumaan din ‘yan sa change in Constitution dahil wala naman sa ating kasalukyang porma ng gobyerno ‘yan. Kaya maaaring mas longer term ‘yung tungkol sa federalism.

Ms. Monte: Sir, on another issue. By Thursday, NEDA would be issuing the first quarter GDP growth of the Philippines. So how optimistic are you that we could still hit like more than six percent?

SEC. COLOMA: Baka mas okay hintayin na lang natin dahil wala naman tayong hawak-hawak na crystal ball.

Ang pwede lang natin pagbatayan by way of parallel, ‘yung 2010 — ‘yung 2010 na first quarter ay mataas at ang paliwanag na binibigay para diyan ay ‘yung sa election spending. Pero hintayin na lang natin instead of speculating.

Alex Calda (DZMM): Secretary, meron na po bang information kung kailan maghaharap ‘yung transition team at Duterte camp? Thank you.

SEC. COLOMA: Merong dalawa sa inyo na nagtanong nito at finorward ko kay Secretary Ochoa. Sagot naman sa akin: As of today, ay wala pang schedule.

Ang batid ko lang diyan, hinihintay lang namin ‘yung kabilang panig na magpahiwatig kung kailan nila gusto magkaron ng pulong. Pero narinig ko din sa kanilang mga pahayag na parang gusto rin nilang hintayin ‘yung pormal na proklamasyon.

Ano man ang scenario diyan, masasabi ko lamang ay handang-handa kaming makipagtulungan, makipag-ugnayan at makipagpulong sa kanila.

Maraming salamat. Ikinagagalak kong makita kayo sa malalaking bilang.