JDV hit for dangling P1-M travel perk for each solon

Speaker Jose de Venecia on Wednesday said congressman can use P1 million for their official or personal travel abroad, a sales talk his critics labeled as a “desperate" and “pathetic" ploy to win more votes for his speakership bid. “Since last year there is (an allocation) of P1 million," de Venecia told neophyte lawmakers during an orientation seminar without explaining whether the amount will be given on a yearly basis. The Speaker unveiled the travel perk as he struggles to retain his post, where he is gunning for an unprecedented fifth term in the 14th Congress. Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia will challenge him once the election for speaker is opened on July 23. “All congressmen, regardless of political affiliation, will get entitlements of P1 million each, which they could use to travel or not, to force you, to entice you to travel," he told some 80 neophyte lawmakers who attended Wednesday’s orientation-seminar. The Speaker said all House members, both male and female legislators, “must go out" and see what the Philippines’ neighboring countries have done to improve their economies, where they can “learn their system, their cultures and learn from them." “You should see what Malaysia has done, see what China has done, what Korea has done, what Thailand has done, what all these nations have done. You should not just go there for one or two days. Stay there for one week or even 10 days," de Venecia added. “I want them to move out and look for projects for their districts. They should not always rely on their pork barrel (for their projects)," he said, in reference to the priority development assistant fund (PDAF) which amounts to P70 million every year. Garcia’s camp blasted de Venecia for using the orientation seminar to promote his speakership bid. Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing said de Venecia was in effect “courting the votes of neophyte congressmen" during their orientation seminar and familiarization tour of the House of Representatives. Bagatsing, who belongs to the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino party of Garcia, said the Speaker “appeared pathetic and desperate" in seeking the support of the new members of the House for his speakership bid. “By making a pitch for himself – a hard sell at that – De Venecia turned the seminar into a circus as he veered away from the topics intended to help neophyte congressmen learn the ropes as quickly as possible," he said. “As we all know, where there's a circus, there's a clown. As to who that clown was, let me just say that the joke was on him. The new congressmen were not amused at all," he said in a statement. JDV rival backs off This developed as a third candidate for Speaker, Quezon City Rep. Annie Rosa Susano, pulled out from the speakership race to give way to de Venecia, who is expected to win over his challenger (Garcia) when Congress convenes on July 23. Like de Venecia (who is Lakas-CMD president) and Garcia (of Kampi), Susano also belongs to the majority coalition, being a member of the ruling Lakas party. Both are parties of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is Lakas chairman and co-founder of Kampi in 1996. “We want a strong Lakas, not a divided party. I’m for Speaker because we believe in his leadership, and we share his vision and his goals for the country. We’re ready for the state-of-the-nation-address. It’s a done deal that Manong Joe is the Speaker," she said. De Venecia’s camp claimed it can gather as many as 192 votes when the voting is opened on Monday, as he already has the commitment and support of 184 congressmen, most of whom belong to the majority coalition. Only 122 votes are needed to win the speakership race. Like the Speaker, Susano also thumbed down proposals from Garcia to hold a secret voting. “We want full transparency in the election of our Speaker. We want our constituencies to know who we are voting for." De Venecia’s allies include House Majority Leader-designate Arthur Defensor and senior Reps. Edcel Lagman of Albay, Eduardo Zialcita of Parañaque and Neptali “Boyet" Gonzales II of Mandaluyong, who all claimed the secret balloting, is the “refuge of turncoats." Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., a former congressman from Camarines Sur, explained to first-time lawmakers the annual budget process, including how the lawmakers could make use of their congressional funds for projects in their legislative districts. Andaya also took time out to tell the neophytes that being a congressman has certain perks not enjoyed by other civil servants. “Masarap maging congressman. You have flexible hours. Pwede kang pumasok, pwedeng hindi. And you still get your salary," he said in jest. Mandaluyong Rep. Gonzales, who was also one of the speakers, warned neophytes against grandstanding, which some lawmakers take as an opportunity to land in the television news and the pages of the newspapers. Gonzales, a former House majority leader, explained that there are House rules which congressmen should follow. “Otherwise, you will be in the tonight’s TV news or tomorrow’s newspapers," Gonzales said. Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying" Remulla, a former House assistant majority leader, admitted that some of the newcomers could be “bright and smart," which they think may be a reason for them to grandstand. “If you think that you are the brightest and the smartest, forget it. We are a collegial body. We act as one," Remulla said. - GMANews.TV