Leonardia: No more ‘pork’ in 2014

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The House appropriations committee on Wednesday cut off the P25.4-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or the pork barrel funds, from the 2014 budget, according to city’s lone district Rep. Evelio Leonardia in a press statement.

“The P25.4-billion fund will now be distributed to key line national agencies, namely the Education, Health, Labor and Employment, Welfare and Development and Public Works and Highways departments,” the congressman said.

`Leonardia, a member of the appropriations committee, said the P25.4-billion fund will be distributed according to the absorption capacity of the departments.

DPWH will get the biggest share at 35 percent or P8.8 billion, DSWD will have 20 percent (P5.1 billion), and DOH, DOLE and DepED and CHED with 15 percent each (P3.8 billion each).

“This means there will be no more lump sum appropriations for congressmen,” Leonardia added, and the funds will be disbursed by the respective department according to their rules and guidelines.

“We can still recommend; after all, we are the duly elected representatives of the people,” he said. “This means that each congressman will now have to work double time to get as many projects as he can for his district.”

PDAF allocates P200 million a year for each senator and P70 million yearly for each congressman.

The P25.4- billion PDAF increased from P25.2 billion as proposed in the 2014 national budget because of the additional P200-million PDAF of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

However, reports yesterday said Binay has asked Congress on Wednesday to scrap his PDAF to stop political intrigues.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said he voted for the abolition of the pork barrel fund.

“We have to listen to the people. We have to live by the rules. We no longer have the luxury of discretion,” he said. “We need clear guidelines, which should be in black and white for everyone to follow.” (FREEMAN)