THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said over the week end that it would prioritize processing allocations to scholarships and hospitalizations from the P70-million worth of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of each member of the House of Representatives. “The DBM is giving priority to the processing if allocations for scholarships and hospitalizations because indigent students badly need these funds for their education and many Filipinos are in need of medical assistance,” the Committee Daily Bulletin, which was released this week, stated.
This developed during the briefing for the congressional staff by the DBM on the utilization of the project menu and the requirements needed to process the list of projects chargeable against the PDAF submitted by the legislators.
In the same meeting, the Budget department also discussed the process in facilitating the issuance of the Special Allotment Release Order and the Notice of Cash Allocation, which are necessary for the implementation of the projects.
The congressional staff members were also tasked by the DBM to closely and regularly coordinate with the implementing agencies to facilitate the implementation of their projects.
Deputy Minority Leader Rep. Danilo Suarez of Quezon earlier raised alarm over a syndicate using six fake guarantee letters under his name to get 37,000 medical help from Suarez’s PDAF.
The 2011 PDAF menu—prepared by the House Committee on Appropriations and the Budget department—includes assistance for the Local Government Unit programs concerning education (school equipment), health (assistance to indigents, additional ambulance, medical missions, insurance), livelihood, social services, rural electrification, water supply (pipes, tanks), public works (roads and bridges), irrigation, peace and order, housing and forest management.
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has earlier said that the P70-million PDAF for each lawmaker will be subject to certain restrictions, particularly banning them from using their PDAF to fund foundations and nongovernment organizations, including foundation or nongovernment organization owned by lawmakers.
Belmonte, who represents the Fourth District of Quezon City, also noted that the local governments cannot convert the PDAF that they will receive to intelligence fund. –LLANESCA T. PANTI REPORTER, Manila Times
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
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