Coast Guard defends DAP allocations

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) defended yesterday its receipt of funds from the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

More than P2 billion from DAP used to finance operations of the Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea in Palawan and Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales was aboveboard, a PCG official said yesterday.

The SC ruled certain acts under DAP unconstitutional, including the declaration of unobligated and unprogrammed funds as savings, the transfer of savings from one government branch to another and the funding of projects not included in the General Appropriations Act.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said all DAP funds allocated to the Coast Guard could be accounted for. 

“It is being used for its intended purpose – maritime security, which is important (for the country),” he said.

Balilo could not exactly give the date when the funds were released to their agency but it was around the time of Chinese aggression when ships from China were spotted at the West Philippine Sea and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag or Scarborough Shoal.

While the PCG has a regular operations budget, Balilo said they needed additional funding for maritime patrol operations. He explained that while they make patrols at these disputed waters, the duration of these missions was short and cost less for the agency.

In contrast, when the Chinese ships were present at Bajo de Masinloc, they had to deploy a PCG ship, along with personnel, to maintain their presence from April to June 15, 2012. – With Sheila Crisostomo, Rhodina Villanueva