Issues, Trends,

Concerns: National
Budget
President Benigno Simeon PNoy C. Aquino III

Ronel E. Cachero

DAP or Disbursement Acceleration

Program
The Aquino Administration introduced the
Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as a
reform intervention to speed-up public spending
and to boost economic growth. It is not a fund,
but a mechanism to support high-impact and
priority programs and projects using savings and
unprogrammed funds. DAP also enabled the
government to introduce greater speed,
efficiency, and effectiveness in budget execution.
Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of the
Philippines

Where did DAP funds came from?

The DAP tapped the power of the president over a) the use of
savings to augment deficient programs and projects; and b) the
use of unprogrammed funds.

Savingsare available portions or balances of

items under the General Appropriations Act (GAA)
which result from: a) the completion or final
discontinuance or abandonment of a program,
activity, or project; b) unpaid compensation for
vacant or unfilled positions and leaves of absence
without pay; or c) the implementation of
efficiency measures that enable agencies to
deliver services at lower cost. Such savings may
then be used to augment funds for programs,
activities, or projects which are included in the
GAA (i.e. nonexistent budget items cannot be
funded).

Unprogrammed fundsare standby appropriations which

are authorized by Congress in the annual GAA, and which
may only be used when a) revenue collections exceed
revenue targets; b) new revenues are collected from
sources not included in the program; or c) newlyapproved loans for foreign-assisted projects are secured.
Such funds can be used for new programs, activities, or
projects as long as these are consistent with the
purposes listed in the GAA for the use of unprogrammed
funds.

Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of the

Philippines

Where did DAP funds go?

Disbursement Acceleration Program(DAP) was a special spending program
under the Aquino administration meant to stimulate economic growth.
Implemented from 2011 to 2013, it pooled government savings and
realigned unused funds to 116 high-priority projects. The Supreme Court,
however, declared parts of the DAP unconstitutional.
Department of Budget and Management (DBM)reported through its website
the 116 projects that benefited from DAP. It also said that DAP funds
amounting to P144.38 billion* (around $3.36 billion), were released in 6
different tranches or batches from 2011 to 2013.
DBM also posted details on the releases to various departments and
agencies for each project.
Allocations by Department, Economic, GOCC Support, local projects,
upgrades, modernization and cross-border transfers are among the projects
where DAP funds go.
Source: rappler.com

DAP Unconstitutional
The Supreme Court, with a vote of 13-1-0, declared as unconstitutional President
Benigno Aquino IIIs DisbursementAccelerationProgram (DAP).
While the dispositive portion of the decisions states that the petitions against DAP
is partially granted, a court insider explained that the decision in effect declares
DAP illegal.
Actually, 4 parts declared unconstitutional which effectively covers the entire DAP.
Word partially grant was used because other prayers of petitioners like disclosure
of documents were not granted because they were moot, the insider said.

Source: inquirer.net