MANILA, Philippines - The Senate on Tuesday started its hearing on the proposed 2014 national budget amid public outrage against the alleged misuse of lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
Senate President Franklin Drilon said they will "take into serious account what our people say" as senators are "one with them" in denouncing corruption in the government.
"This is the first time we are opening the budget debate in an environment of mistrust, and even anger, of the people on the government in general and the legislature in particular because of the allegations of corruption and abuse in the use of the PDAF," Senate President Franklin Drilon said in his opening statement.
"We cannot ignore the sentiments of our people," he added.
Drilon said they will make the Filipino people involved as they "review closely" the proposed national budget.
"This Senate will not abdicate its Constitutional duty, and leave to the discretion of the Executive, the authority to decide and authorize the expenditure of the public funds. In the exercise of this Constitutional duty, we will make our people part of the process. We are one with them in denouncing corruption in government," the Senate President said.
Drilon gave his statement after the "Million People March" on Monday when thousands of Filipinos trooped to Luneta Park in Manila to protest against the controversial pork barrel.
Malacañang said it is "on the same side" with the protesters and expressed no worries over mounting protest actions for the scrapping of pork barrel.
"Dun sa mga reaction kahapon, iba-iba din naman sila pero the shared outrage is misuse of funds. Sinabi na din ni pangulo na bakit naman kami matatakot eh lahat tayo nagulat at nainis sa mga nakitang rebelasyon nung mga nakaraang linggo," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a televised press briefing on Tuesday.
Valte said the government welcomed proposals from civil society organizations, adding that dialogues would push through.
"We've been engaging citizens what their counterproposals are. Tuloy ang dialogue, we're just trying to find a schedule," Valte said.
In the wake of the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam, Aquino announced last Friday that it is time to abolish the PDAF, which will be replaced by a new system that will go through the national budgetary process.
Under the new system, lawmakers may only identify initiatives that can benefit their respective jurisdictions, which will be listed as line items under the national budget if approved.
Infrographic: Meet the new system after pork barrel 'abolition'
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee is set to start its probe on the pork barrel scam on August 29, Thursday.