Pork barrel divides Cebu City congressional bets

CEBU CITY — Congressional candidates in this city’s north and south districts have taken different views on the disbursement of "pork barrel."

They did so during the first congressional debate here last Saturday, which focused on whether the pork barrel — the so-called Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) — should be the responsibility of Congress or part of the oversight functions of the executive branch.

Re-electionist Reps. Antonio Cuenco and Raul del Mar, of the north and south districts, respectively, favored the retention of the pork barrel, while their challengers — councilor Danilo Fernan, Florencio Villarin and Aristotle Batuhan — believe that the PDAF should be abolished.

Candidate Juan Arenasa had no concrete position on the issue.

Cuenco, who has been in Congress for 20 years, said it is only logical for lawmakers to have their pork barrel for infrastructure and development projects in their respective districts.

Like Cuenco, Del Mar, who has been in Congress for 14 years, said they have spent their pork barrel wisely by constantly consulting their constituents on their needs. He said he wants the PDAF to be retained because local funds are not enough.

But Villarin, Fernan and Batuhan think differently.

Villarin said the pork barrel could be a source of kickbacks for some lawmakers as well as other corrupt doings.

He said he would propose the promotion of meritocracy in recruiting public officials and the strengthening the Office of the Ombudsman to fight graft and corruption.

Villarin said the pork barrel should be implemented by the executive department.

"It’s a source of massive corruption. This is not a public perception but a fact. Why not leave the pork barrel to the local government unit or to the Chief Executive? The lawmakers should be limited only to lawmaking," he said.

For his part, Batuhan said, "Because I believe in transparency in public office and eliminating the politics of patronage, I will vote to abolish the pork barrel, which enables political dynasties to unjustly perpetuate themselves in power."

If lawmakers retain their pork barrel, Batuhan said he would propose that a district council with representatives from each barangay and from every important sector in the community, be given the authority to determine its use.

"I will require transparency in the use of these funds, have them audited periodically, and publish an accounting of their use in our local newspaper," he said.

While they have disagreements, the congressional candidates shared a common stand against political dynasties.

A proposed anti-dynasty bill had been filed in Congress but nothing happened to it.

"I am in favor of redefining the bill in order to abide by the will of the Constitution," Cuenco said.

Villarin, Fernan and Batuhan said Congress should also redefine the anti-political dynasty bill.

Arenasa, for his part, said he finds no problem with political clans because, in the end, it will be the people who will vote. — Freeman News Service