President Aquino not in favor of PDAF abolition

Despite the recent scandals involving the "pork barrel" system that have hit the headlines, President Benigno Aquino III is not keen on entertaining proposals that seek to abolish the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), a Palace official said Friday.

During a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President explained the importance of the fund at the local level when she asked him about his reaction to suggestion regarding the possible abolition or phaseout of the pork barrel.

"What he said was: ang trabaho ng national government is to look at the macro concerns. 'Yung local po, sa kanila yung micro concerns. Sino ho ba yung nasa position para malaman ano ho yung essential dun sa community?" she said.

Last month, the misuse of the PDAF became a controversial topic after fake groups were reported to have allegedly used the "pork barrel" of some senators and House members to fund ghost projects worth P10 billion.

In the case of President Aquino, who served as a congressman and senator before he assumed the country's highest post, Valte said he told her about the projects he had initiated which the national government had neglected during his term as a legislator.

"Sabi niya, it is really the share of the constituents in the budget, yung PDAF, so technically ang trabaho ng isang legislator ay to bring to the attention of the national government yung mga concerns na hindi ho napapansin on the national level ngunit kailangan ng distrito, o kaya nung bayan, o munisipyo na hindi kayang pondohan ng local government unit," she said.

Asked if this means the President is closing the door on all proposals to abolish the PDAF, she said: "Parang ganun din ho nakuha ko sa conversation ko sa Pangulo."

Abolish PDAF or accredit NGOs?

Last Wednesday, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago filed a resolution seeking to give less and less pork barrel funds to lawmakers, until these funds are completely scrapped by 2016.

Each member of the House of Representatives currently gets P70 million in PDAF, while each senator gets P200 million to enable them to name priority projects for government funding.

If Santiago's proposal is approved, each senator will get P100 million next year and P50 million in 2015. Each House member, meanwhile, will have P35 million next year and P15 million in 2015.

But Valte said, "In theory maganda rin ho yung gustong abutin o gustong layunin nung PDAF. 'Yun ho yung gusto rin naman, yung teorya na maging katotohanan."

Earlier, the Palace had said that the Department of Budget and Management has already proposed guidelines on how to utilize the PDAF.

It also said there is a recommendation from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to accredit civil society groups and non-government organizations that will receive public funds, so that the government can avoid getting duped by bogus groups. - VVP/YA, GMA News