Noynoy: Congressional pork barrel stays

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino will keep pork barrel allocations but will make sure they are equitably distributed and wisely spent.

“It can be used as an equalizing factor. Everybody is entitled to his share. Nobody will be deprived of (his) share,” Mr. Aquino said in his first press briefing yesterday.

Pork barrel funds are widely considered a major source of corruption, and a spiteful Arroyo administration had deprived opposition lawmakers of their share.

But unlike his predecessor, Mr. Aquino assured all the 270 members of the House of Representatives and the 23 senators that they would get their allocations. A House member is entitled to P70 million a year in pork funds – officially called Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) – while each senator gets P200 million annually.

Mr. Aquino also clarified that the reported P40-million cut in the PDAF of congressmen was just a “personal opinion” of Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada III, a fellow Liberal Party stalwart.

The President also revealed that his predecessor, now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, had used up “more than 60 percent” of the country’s national budget, even if there are still five more months remaining for the fiscal year 2010.

“The releases were more than 60 percent, and most of these went to personal services. Dito lang ay magtataka ka na, na gumastos sa mga hindi dapat pagka-gastusan (This alone will make you wonder why such useless spending had to be made). It’s more of political than the necessary things,” he said.

He declined, however, to categorically call it overspending.

“We will look into it,” Mr. Aquino said. He also declined to give an estimate of the previous administration’s expenses, saying he had to consult with Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad.

At the same time, the Chief Executive thumbed down suggestions for a supplemental budget. “If it’s possible, I don’t want to ask for a supplemental budget. We will practice austerity as much as possible,” he said.

No to pork cut

President Aquino’s lawmaker-allies said eliminating or cutting pork allocations is not the answer to the deficit problem.

Quezon City Rep. Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr., who is expected to be the next House speaker, said in a radio interview that he was relieved to hear from Mr. Aquino himself that no cut in PDAF would be made.

Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales II of the LP said many neophyte lawmakers had expressed concern over the possible cut in PDAF.

“I think the first-termers are worried because it’s just their first year in Congress and yet their development funds would be slashed,” Gonzales said.

“The pork barrel issue is close to the heart of the people. We know people benefit from PDAF,” he said.

Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez said the PDAF has been of great help to constituents.

“Judging from the many requests from various sectors spanning all economic classes, my constituents overwhelmingly favor the pork barrel,” Golez said.

“My position on pork barrel is status quo, in compliance with the apparent sentiments of my constituents,” Golez said.  –Delon Porcalla (The Philippine Star) with Paolo Romero