9 senators’ pork barrel

Despite the Supreme Court ruling declaring the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional and despite President Aquino’s declaration that it is time to abolish the PDAF, 9 Senators have retained their P200 million pork barrel in the 2014 budget by realigning them to different departments in the General Appropriations Act.

The 9 Senators are Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Antonio Trillanes, Lito Lapid, Ralph Recto, Miriam D. Santiago, J.V. Ejercito, Ramon “Bong” Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada.

Congressmen are complaining why they have not been allowed the same privilege.

The President did not veto the senators’ insertions, thus allowing this form of pork barrel to remain.

DBM Secretary Butch Abad, however, announced that the senators’ insertions can be only released upon filing and approval of a special budget request.

 Some non governmental organizations are planning to file a case before the Supreme Court to declare the insertions unconstitutional.

CCT irregularities

 The Commission on Audit (COA) in an audit report for 2012 questioned the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s double listing of about 7,782 beneficiaries totalling P50.1 million. COA also found ghost beneficiaries.

The COA also questioned the failure of DSWD to liquidate more than P3 billion in cash advances.

It is now proper for Congress to investigate the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program which has now reached P62 billion in funds released.

Congresswoman Emmie de Jesus, Minority Leader Ronnie Zamora and 11 other Congressmen have filed a resolution asking for an investigation.

Successful Translacion

The Translacion of the Black Nazarene was successfully staged leaving the Luneta grandstand at 8 a.m. and arriving at the Quiapo church at 2 a.m.

 1,686 devotees were treated for various injuries, but no one died. An estimated 12 million people joined the procession.

6,000 policemen stood guard over the different stops of the long procession.

Msgr. Clem Ignacio and his staff, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, PNP and MMDA should be commended for a job well done. Archbishop Luis Cardinal Tagle presided over the mass at the Luneta at 7 a.m. attended by an estimated 3 million devotees. Tagle asked the devotees to pray for the Yolanda victims.

Lacierda clarifies

 Secretary Edwin Lacierda tried to play down President Aquino’s statement that he ignores criticisms. Lacierda said that they welcome constructive criticisms.

In the same breath, Lacierda differed with Architect Jun Palafox’s observation that the bunkhouses are substandard and too small for a family of five. Palafox‘s observation is constructive, but again, Lacierda dismissed them saying we have our own standards to follow.

 DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson reacted favorably to the Palafox observations and said he will review the specifications to increase the 8.6 square meters room to 17 square meters.

Secretary Ping Lacson is conducting an investigation of alleged overpricing of the contracts for bunkhouses.

What must be explained is why the pace of construction is so slow with only 222 to be constructed in a few months.

Norway gives more

Norway will add $8 million to its previous $35 million commitment to the typhoon recovery plan of the Philippines.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said the additional amount is in response to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for more support. Brende urged the Philippines to build better and calamity proof structures.

Brende said he will appeal to his European colleagues to also give additional aids.

France is cooperating with Habitat for Humanity to build houses in the typhoon affected areas.

Gerry Baja’s complaint

 TV personality Gerry Baja joined thousands of complainants who renewed their car registration but did not get any new stickers or car plates.

This is certainly incompetence of DOTC. The contract for car plates has been pending since 2010. Once again, DOTC announced that the car plate’s contract will not be implemented anytime soon.

More incompetence

 As the New Year came in, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) closed down its clearance outlets in the different malls.

Now the lines at NBI headquarters in Taft Avenue total 2 kilometers long.

The same is true at SSS counters. Long lines to queue to make payments or file complaints.

Delivery of parcel posts by the Post Office takes 6 months.

The long delay in judicial decisions is a fact of life.

There are long lines at health centers to get vaccinated. Some hospitals ran out of vaccines.

Nancy Blasts DOH

 Senator Nancy Binay criticized Department of Health officials for blaming parents and typhoon survivors for the measles outbreak in Metro Manila.

Binay blasted the DOH for the failure of its anti-measles campaign in the past and asked for a review of their program.

Reports of lack of vaccine in several provinces have come up.

Asec Eric Tayag announced a mass immunization program In September. Why so long?

TIDBITS: Senator Jinggoy Estrada has introduced a line item provision  in the 2014 budget to give P100 million in aid to the City of Manila; Caloocan City P50 million and P50 million for the municipality of Lal-lo, Cagayan.

Senator Miriam D. Santiago and Archbishop Oscar Cruz have endorsed the idea of giving President Gloria M. Arroyo house arrest.

The latest official death toll of Typhoon Yolanda is 6,190.

Oil has been discovered in Cebu, but the quantity still has to be determined.

Many schools still schedule field trip programs where students have to pay substantial amounts. The British School and Xavier School even schedule field trips overseas.

A grandson of Willie Nepomuceno was shot and critically wounded by a gang of young criminals in Marikina.

Seven soldiers were wounded in an ambush by the NPA in Agusan del Sur.

Two MILF fighters were killed in a fire fight with civilian volunteers (CVO) in Midsayap, Cotabato.

The BIR is targeting lechon makers for not paying proper taxes.

New Year’s greetings to Senator Bongbong and Liza Marcos, Congresswoman Aleta Suarez and Congressman Danny Suarez.

Condolences to the family of Rep. Antonino Roman who passed away this week.