Luzon NGOs got PDAF for Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the regulation that the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of congressmen should be used for projects in their districts, the non-government organizations (NGOs) that received funds from three Cebuano legislators are apparently Luzon-based.

This was according to the Certificate of Incorporation of four NGOs that reportedly received pork barrel funds from the Cebu legislators.

Based on SEC documents obtained by The Freeman, the NGOs, namely: Infinite Community Integrated Development Support Foundation Inc, Gabay at Pag-asa ng Masa Foundation Inc, Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc, and Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc., are all based in Luzon. The said NGOs are either connected to the Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC), the agro-forestry arm of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, or the National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor), a corporate subsidiary of the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

The said Luzon-based NGOs reportedly received pork barrel funds from 6th district Representative Luigi Quisumbing, former 5th district Representative and now Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon Durano VI and former 1st district Representative Eduardo Gullas.

Reports from national dailies said that Gullas and Durano reportedly gave P9 million each to the Philippine Forest Corporation. Gullas also reportedly gave P225, 000 to Gabay at Pag-Asa ng Masa Foundation and another P1.425 million to the NGO called Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc., where Quisumbing also gave P900,000. Quisumbing also shelled out P750, 000 from his PDAF to the Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc.

According to the SEC documents, the Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation, Inc. holds office in Sampaloc, Manila with Miraflor Villanueva as the contact person.

Gabay at Pag-asa ng Masa Foundation, Inc., with offices in Valenzuela City, meanwhile, listed a certain Myra Villanueva as its contact person and the NGO’s contact number is the same as that of the contact person of Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation.  Myra Villanueva is reportedly connected to five other NGOs.

Apart from Villanueva, the same names have repeatedly been identified as incorporators in four other NGOs like Godofredo Roque and a certain Marilou Antonio, whose name appeared in three Certificates of Incorporation of different NGOs.  

The SEC documents of the Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa mga Masa Foundation Inc. said that the purpose of the organization is “to plan, organize, develop, promote, provide, assist and manage programs, projects, business undertaking and related activities on social reforms and poverty alleviation.”

This is generally the same purpose stated in the papers of the Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc, whose aim is to “assist the masses both in rural and urban areas, in the provision of their human needs for existence through programs on food production, health services, education and related activities on livelihood and community development.”

In a text message to The Freeman, Rep. Quisumbing said that the concern on the same incorporators of different NGOs should be addressed by SEC.

“That question is better directed to the SEC as the representative only identifies the nature of the project and the implementing agency. The implementing agency has their own accreditation process of the NGOs,” he said.

Quisumbing earlier pointed out that his PDAF was coursed through government agencies who were the ones who tapped NGOs to help in the implementation of projects for his district.

Quisumbing’s office, however, assured that they monitored the implementation of the projects and made sure that the district benefitted from it.

An SEC official who requested not to be named said the commission does not prohibit an individual from being an incorporator of an NGO even if he or she is already an incorporator of another organization.

The SEC official explained that their responsibility is more on the registration of the corporation and on monitoring reportorial requirements. The official, however, said that these NGOs are currently under their watch and are being monitored by their central office.

For his part, Durano also stressed that the projects that went through the Philippine Forest Corporation (PFC) were implemented in the 5th district, adding that all the NGOs that were endorsed to their office were accreditation by the PFC.      

“It is wise to ask for referrals as to which NGOs can effectively implement projects in the district. It is highly important that these NGOs have a track record for implementing projects for them to be used by the different implementing agencies,” said Yamie Vestal, spokesperson of Durano.

Vestal said that implementing agencies have safeguards to make sure that projects are properly carried out.

She also emphasized that they monitor the projects that are being implemented, as well as meet with the beneficiaries. “We make progress reports also. We also coordinate with LGUs to help us with the implementation of the project.”

Gullas earlier denied allegations that his PDAF was misused stressing that the beneficiary NGOs of his PDAF are not fake. — /QSB (FREEMAN)