Tomas: I got DAP money

CEBU, Philippines - Former Cebu City south district congressman Tomas Osmeña has received over P120 million from Malacañang’s Disbursement Acceleration Program, as identified by the Department of Budget and Management.

Osmeña did not deny the report and was even “proud” where the money was sourced from, saying DAP is a “good” program of the government by culling excess savings of different government departments.

The DBM has identified 22 senators and 116 representatives, mostly  members  of  the ruling Liberal Party and allies of the administration, who received allocations amounting to P8.8 billion from President Benigno Aquino III’s DAP between year 2011 and 2013.

The list was released by Navotas Representative Tobias Tiangco based on information provided by Budget Secretary Florencio Abad Jr. on his agency’s website.

Osmeña is the lone Cebuano representative among the top 10 recipient of DAP funds.

In a telephone interview, Osmeña said he asked for funding for Cebu’s projects but he had no idea where the money came from.

“No. I didn’t know, but I suspected (that it was sourced out from DAP). What do you want me to do, not to receive it? Besides, that’s my job to get funding from the national (government) for developments and infrastructures, considering that I was a neophyte congressman,” he said, adding that he was “not surprised” with the report.

“I did not pocket the money,” he said.

The amount, Osmeña said, was used to fund farm-to-market roads; road asphalting in Alaska, Mambaling and of V. Rama Avenue up to Guadalupe church, among others.

The amount was also used in road concreting in Barangay Lorega San Miguel and the construction of a sports complex in Panagdait, Mabolo, both in the north district.

“I don’t care what others would say. I’m proud of the projects from DAP. I used it for the people and I fought for it for the city. Rest assured that there were no fictitious non-government organizations (used so I would receive it),” he said.

He also said he asked for more funding because the P70 million per annum allocation from his Priority Development Assistance Fund s south district representative was not sufficient to finance his projects and programs.

“The good thing is, I know how to fight for money and find money. If you don’t fight for it, you get nothing; no funding and no projects. I asked money from senators, Department of Public Works and Highways, and other government agencies that have money to finance our needs,” Osmeña said.

For transparency, he said the list of projects funded through the P120 million DAP money would be posted on his social media page once south district Representative Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa gets hold of the breakdown of the amount.

“I want to get it for people to see. I’m more than happy to publicize (the breakdown of the amount) until the last centavo as soon as Representative Abellanosa can get it (from the DBM),” he said. — /RHM (FREEMAN)