Albay Vice Governor Jesus “James” B. Calisin wanted restored the P1.5 billion earmarked for KILOS ASENSO that the House of Representatives slashed from the original P5-B budget.

        In a privilege speech delivered here on Tuesday, Calisin defended the restoration of the original P5-B saying it is the major component of the economic recovery program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo which will provide for the cash requirement of the present administration’s targets.

        He added the P5B was promised by PGMA to the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) who are going to undertake the implementation of the KILOS ASENSO program.

        Calisin called on other lawmakers of the province of Albay to sponsor four separate resolutions that would restore the P1.5 billion in this year’s budget.

        He said a resolution must be sponsored requesting the President to veto the cut from the P5 billion appropriated for the KILOS ASENSO program.

        He said these resolutions with similar tenor must be addressed to the House and the Senate, the Bicameral Conference Committee urging the lawmakers to reconsider and retain the P5 billion for the Kilos Asenso program for all the local government units (LGUs) as implementors.

        Calisin said he is optimistic with the response of the lawmakers who assured him that President Macapagal-Arroyo will urge for the restoration of the P1.5B cut when the Bicameral Conference Committee is convened.