Duterte asks Palawan to share Malampaya windfall once it gets share

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday acknowledged that Palawan continues to miss out on benefits that could be funded by its P72-billion royalty share from the Malampaya natural gas project.

Duterte had promised to facilitate the release of the funds meant for the province during the 2016 presidential campaign.

He, however, indicated that Palawan should also share the windfall with the country's other provinces when it receives the multi-billion-peso share.

“Bago lang kasi akong Presidente. Tingnan ko kung may pera pa ibigay ko sa inyo. It’s rightfully yours so why would we claim it?” Duterte told reporters that covered his visit to the Western Command in Puerto Princesa City.

“Hindi binayaran ni Gloria, hindi binayaran ni PNoy. Baka hindi… Baka hindi makalimutan ni Duterte ‘yung utang na ‘yan,” he added, referring to the Arroyo and Aquino administrations' failure to remit Palawan's royalties.

Duterte then teased that the local government of Palawan should share its earnings to the national government.

“But it amounts now… Alam mo ‘pag ibinigay ko sa inyo ‘yan sa Palawan, you will be the richest province in the entire Philippines. What will you do with the 72 [b]illion by the way? Anong gawain ninyo? ‘Di ibigay na lang niyo sa iba kasi good naman kayo dito,” Duterte said.

Duterte then raised his problem with the urban poor militant group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), which began to occupy idle government housing projects.

“I need money to build houses. Nag-aagawan na nga ‘yung mga Kadamay. You know, but they are—nakakasuya,” he said. 

Palawan should get a 40 percent cut from Malampaya’s earnings as mandated by Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991. However, the share is being questioned in court.

Arroyo’s Executive Order No. 683 of 2007 allowed the use of 50 percent of the disputed 40 percent for development projects in Palawan. —NB, GMA News