Toledo ordered: Return unused PDAF

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Audit has asked the Toledo City government to return to the national government the P12.3-million unexpended amount from its share of the Priority Development Assistance Fund.

 The 2013 audit report shows that unexpended ba-lances of PDAF from various lawmakers were not returned to the national government through the Bureau of the Treasury despite the Supreme Court declaration that PDAF is unconstitutional, thus, the use thereof is irregular, improper and/or unlawful.

 Review of the accounting records by COA disclosed the city received funds for calendar year 2010-2013.

 The city received P38.5 million from former third district Representative Pablo John Garcia but only utilized P27.3 million.

 The P1-million that Senator Pia Cayetano gave was left unutilized while the P500,000 from former senator Manny Villar still has P248,480 that remains unutilized.

 A total of P40.5 million PDAF received by the city, including the fully utilized P1 million of Senator Loren Legarda and the other P1 million unutilized PDAF of Senator Pia Cayetano, only P28.1 million were utilized.

 â€œWith the Supreme Court declaration of the unconstitutionality of the PDAF, disbursements and utilization of the funds are now deemed irregular, improper and/or unlawful. Hence, by virtue of this declaration, government officials and/or private individuals who authorized the disbursements/utilization of the PDAF may be held responsible for the violation thereof,” the COA report reads.

 The city is trying to see if there are other ways the funds would no longer be returned to the national government and instead be used for its developmental projects.

 But COA recommended that the city return the unexpended funds.

 The petitions that all assail the constitutionality of the Pork Barrel System were decided on by the Supreme Court on November 19, 2013.

 â€œThe Court finds the Pork Barrel System as unconstitutional in view of the inherent defects in the rules within which it operates,” read the SC decision.  (FREEMAN)