Lagman: ‘Pork’ not graft-ridden

MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman is defending the congressional pork barrel against what he called “harsh criticisms” from the media and some watchdog groups monitoring the use of taxpayers’ money.

“The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) is not graft-ridden... In fact, except for a former congressman who has been indicted before the Sandiganbayan for reportedly channeling some of his PDAF funds to his family’s foundation, no one has been prosecuted, much more convicted, of abusing the utilization of the PDAF,” he told new members of the incoming 16th Congress.

The PDAF is the official name of the congressional pork barrel. It allocates P200 million a year for each senator and P70 million for each member of the House of Representatives.

While Lagman cited the case of a former Bukidnon congressman, he failed to mention recent Commission on Audit findings that nearly P200 million in PDAF funds of Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. ended up in a bogus foundation.

“Concededly, the PDAF is not a perfect allocation. And legislators are not perfect functionaries. However, its attendant imperfections do not justify the abolition or reduction of the PDAF, either of which would be counterproductive,” Lagman said.

He said if the lawmakers’ pork barrel were abolished, “the countless marginalized beneficiaries are the ones to be deprived of benefits.” These include scholars, indigent patients, workers, and the lawmakers’ constituents, he said.

“Without the PDAF, a footbridge in the hinterlands may never be constructed, a typhoon-damaged school building in an island barangay may never be rehabilitated, an indigent patient may die without seeing a doctor, and a talented but financially handicapped student may never get to college or technical-vocational school,” he said.

“The funds of the national departments and agencies, including those whose functions have been devolved, are never enough. The PDAF is an augmentation fund to directly serve constituents,” he added.