AUG.

5, 2013

NR # 3186C

Solons back prudent use of PDAF

House members expressed preference for the retention of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in the 2014 national budget and are backing Speaker Feliciano Belmontes position that those against the PDAF may choose not to use it. House Deputy Speaker and Isabela Fourth District Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao said he is for the retention of the PDAF, which he described as a big help to the needy. He said those who are against the PDAF might opt not to get it. For those who refuse the PDAF, they dont have to get them. I am for the retention of PDAF because it is a huge help to the needy. It pays for scholarships of poor students, hospital bills of indigent patients, burial expenses of paupers, among others. Of course, it has been abused and corrupted by some. But the remedy is not to eliminate the fund but to tighten the audit of disbursement, Aggabao said. Aggabao said the provincial government holds his PDAF, and that all its disbursements are open to scrutiny by anyone even without his knowledge or permission. There is no confidentiality involved in the manner by which my PDAF is spent. For 2014, my PDAF will pay again for the schooling of my scholars, hospital and medical expenses of indigents, and generally, financial assistance to the needy. I plan additionally to pay for the PhilHealth premium of farmers, Aggabao said. First-term Rep. Gustavo Tambunting (2 nd District, Paraaque City) said he is for the PDAF retention and its proper use. He also backed the Speakers position that those who are opposing the PDAF may choose not to get it. I am for the PDAF retention and transparent use. Those who are against the PDAF should not use it to manifest their opposition. To enhance the PDAFs transparent use, it should be mandated that PDAF-funded projects be regularly published in print media and in social media, Tambunbting said. Tambunting, former Vice Mayor of Paraaque City, said for 2014, he intends to use the PDAF on relevant and necessary infrastructure, education, health and livelihood projects for his constituents. Another neophyte Rep. Samuel Pagdilao (Party-list, ACT-CIS) said he supports the Speakers position that the PDAF is a matter of choice for each congressman to make since the PDAF is not illegal per se. The power of appropriation carries with it the power to specify projects or activities to be funded under the Appropriations Law (Philconsa vs. Enriquez, Aug 19, 1994). The power of appropriation by Congress includes the power to designate where peoples money should go like assigning certain funds called PDAF to be spent for certain projects that will directly benefit the people. If the funds do not go to the projects intended to due to some manipulation or hocus pocus,

where the money ends up in private pockets, that is where it is wrong, said Pagdilao. To ensure transparency in the use of the PDAF, Pagdilao said projects funded by the PDAF must be monitored, recorded and reported before and after the completion of the project or projects. He said he still has to look at the menu and will base his allocation on the greatest needs of his constituents on it. Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo (2nd District, Valenzuela City) also called for the non-abolition of the PDAF and supported the Speakers position that solons that are against the PDAF may choose not to avail themselves of the scheme. We are for the PDAF retention and fully support the Speakers position that those who call for the PDAF abolition should not request release of their allocation to maintain their integrity, said Gunigundo. Rep. Thelma Almario (2nd District, Davao Oriental) also supported the PDAF retention. I am absolutely for the retention of PDAF. I support the position of the Speaker that those for its abolition should not be allocated with PDAF, said Almario, a Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations. Rep. Marie Anne Pernes (Lone District, Siquijor) said the abolition of PDAF would further limit funding support to their province. PDAF is an equalizer in the grossly unequal distribution of government funds. If we abolish it, what will happen to provinces that are poor and with limited budget like Siquijor? Maliit na nga ang kabahagi namin sa Internal Revenue Allotment, babawasan pa. Hindi rin kami napupuntahan ng mga opisyal ng national government para malaman kung ano ang kailangan ng mga tao sa Siquijor, said Pernes. The neophyte solon said as representatives of the people in Congress, lawmakers determine the needs of their constituents and identify projects to address these needs. Kung aalisin pa ang PDAF, lalong wala nang pagkukunan ng pondo para sa pangangailangan ng distrito. Kung ang problema e nagkakaroon ng irregularity sa pag-gamit ng PDAF, dapat ba itong i-abolish? Pernes said the PDAF should not be singled out because there have been irregularities in the use of other government funds. Di ba sa ibang pondo ng gobyerno nagkakaroon din ng corruption? Halimbawa, kung nagkaroon ng iregularidad sa pondo na pambili ng baril o patrol cars ng pulisya, ang solusyon ba ay i-abolish and pondong pambili ng baril at patrol cars? O kaya sa pag-gawa ng classroom ? Pernes said the solution is to fix the system to prevent any irregularity. We should go after the perpetrators of irregularities, prosecute them, and ensure the swift resolution of their cases. Hindi yung inaabot ng 20 hanggang 30 taon bago mahatulan ang akusado. Earlier, Speaker Belmonte said lawmakers who oppose the PDAF may choose not to avail themselves of the scheme. He said lawmakers seeking the scrapping of the PDAF may follow the practice of former Senators Joker Arroyo and Panfilo Lacson, who did not spend their annual PDAF allocation of P200 million each. Meanwhile, the Palace through Deputy Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the President believes the PDAF is the share of the people in the annual national budget, noting that lawmakers can use the PDAF to quickly address the needs of their constituents, from poverty alleviation to infrastructure works since the national government cannot be everywhere at once. (30) rbb