Congress budget wasted on corruption – poll

MANILA, Philippines - Around three in four or 77 percent of Filipinos believe that at least half of the budget of lawmakers for projects goes to corruption, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.

An overwhelming majority across geographic areas and socio-economic groupings believe that at least half of the funds allocated for the implementation of a lawmaker’s program or project goes to corruption at 75 to 81 percent and 73 to 90 percent, respectively.

Only 17 percent of Filipinos think less than half of a program’s budget is lost to corruption while only six percent said no part of such funds goes to corruption.

The survey also revealed that 54 percent of Filipinos are not aware of any project or program in their place implemented by any lawmaker in the past six years.

A majority in almost all geographic areas (54 percent to 64 percent) and socio-economic classes (52 percent to 55 percent) reported lack of awareness.

At least four in 10 of Filipinos or 42 percent said lawmakers should give priority to having their own projects and programs for their constituents.

On the other hand, 32 percent of respondents said members of Congress should give priority to their legislative work.

Meanwhile, 14 percent of Filipinos said their legislators should prioritize either the conduct of investigations into scandals and other matters and the review and passage of the government’s annual budget (12 percent).

The Pulse Asia survey, which was conducted from Sept. 14 to 24, used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide.

Pulse Asia also noted that between October 2004 and September 2013, the percentage of Filipinos saying that almost all of the budget of a lawmaker’s program goes to corruption increased from 11 percent to 20 percent.

Various groups have pushed for the abolition of the lawmakers’ pork barrel amid allegations that P10 billion was funneled to bogus non-government organizations led by businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.