COOP-NATCCO explains ‘pork’ in 2019 budget and SC’s ‘pork barrel’

There are “pork” appropriations under the 2019 national budget, but those are different from the Supreme Court-defined “pork barrel” under its 2013 ruling, COOP-NATCCO party-list Representative Anthony Bravo said Thursday.

Senator Panfilo Lacson has stated each congressman would get P160 million in “pork under the 2019 budget and some senators would have a cumulative total of P23 billion.

The Constitution authorizes lawmakers to scrutinize the budget proposal submitted by the President through the National Expenditure Program, Bravo noted during a media forum in Quezon City.

“Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ikinakabit natin ang pork doon sa process ng authorization,” he said.

Bravo cited Supreme Court ruling which declared the pork barrel system unconstitutional as it “allowed legislators to wield, in varying gradations, non-oversight, post-enactment authority in vital areas of budget execution.”

“Ibig sabihin kapag tapos na maaprubahan ang GAA (General Appropriations Act) pumasok ang ating legislator, may mga nilagay silang lump sum or expenditure—hindi pwede ‘yun. That is unconstitutional,” the lawmaker said.

“Redefining the pork barrel otherwise as defined by the Supreme Court will be misleading to the public,” he emphasized.

House Committee on Appropriations chair Ronaldo Andaya did not deny that each congressman would equally receive P160 million to fund projects and programs in their respective districts.

“Totoo ‘yan, dahil ‘yun ang napag-usapan ng buong kapulungan na walang maze-zero ngayon,” Andaya said in an earlier interview.

He admitted such funds would be sourced from the P75-billion “insertion” made by the Department of Budget and Management in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ allocations. —VDS, GMA News