Miriam wants Noy's 'pork' integrated into 2014 nat'l budget

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago wants President Benigno Aquino III’s lump sum appropriations under the Presidential Social Fund and other off-budget items totaling to P39.716-billion to be integrated in the proposed P2.3-trillion budget for 2014.

In a letter sent to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Francis Escudero, Santiago proposed that the off-budget items be integrated and factored in to the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2014 “to gain appropriation cover and would be part of the Programmed New Appropriations” for the concerned agencies.

“I am opposed to any ‘pork barrel’ in any manner, shape, form or under any name. I do not waive my right to inquire into the past disbursements in the PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) and the DAP (Disbursement Acceleration Program),” she said in her letter.

Santiago vowed to also “insist the principle of equal distribution of any 'secret' pork barrel, if any shall be conceived by Senate leaders.”

“If some senators shall get more funds than others, I shall inquire what criteria are used, and if these criteria are constitutional,” Santiago said in the cover letter accompanied by her specific amendments to the proposed 2014 budget.

The Aquino administration became under attack after Sen. Jinggoy Estrada unwittingly uncovered the alleged misuse of government savings under DAP, which was reportedly tapped as incentives for senators during the Corona impeachment trial.

After the much reported misuse in the PDAF by some lawmakers, several quarters also sought for the abolition of the pork barrel or lump sum appropriations under the Office of the President.

At least 14 senators are in favor of entirely deleting their respective PDAF under the 2014 budget. The rest either wanted their respective P200-million allocations realigned to other agencies or have yet to formalize their stands on the pork barrel.

Santiago recommended that the P26.260-billion under the estimated Malampaya Funds be integrated in the proposed national budget, specifically to the Department of Energy (DOE) for energy related projects.  Under the present set-up, the executive branch have the say on how to spend or allocate the Malampaya funds.

The senator also wanted to include in the GAA in particular the P1.345-billion in remittances to the Office of the President’s social fund from the Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR); P9.688-billion representing special road support or 80 percent of the Motor Vehicles’ Utility Charge (MVUC) under Fund 151; P605.5-million known as the special local road fund comprising the 7.5 percent of the MVUC under Fund 152;  P908.25-million under the so-called special vehicle pollution control fund representing the 7.5 percent of the MVUC under Fund 151.