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Solon likens OVP's P500-M confidential fund to 'pork barrel'; nothing illegal, says budget sponsor
By LLANESCA T. PANTI,GMA NewsA lawmaker on Thursday described the P500-million confidential fund under the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) proposed P2.3-billion budget for 2023 as "pork barrel."
Kabataan party-list Representative Raoul Manuel verbalized his observation during the budget deliberations at the House of Representatives.
During the plenary deliberations, Davao de Oro Representative Maria Carmen Zamora, who is sponsoring OVP's budget, confirmed that the P500-million confidential fund is included in the OVP's budget for its good governance programs
to be used for financial subsidy, medical and burial assistance, and free bus ridership, among others.According to Manuel, good governance "highly depends on principles of transparency and accountability, especially among our public officials."
"Mahirap po tayong makapagsabi na tayo ay nagpa-practice ng good governance kung malaking bahagi po ng ating pondo ay nakakubli," Manuel said.
"I believe iyong current proposal ng OVP ay maihahalintulad sa vice president's pork [barrel] cloaked with good governance," he added.
(We will be hard-pressed to say we are for good governance when much of our funding is confidential. This can be likened to pork barrel.)
"Pork barrel" refers to discretionary funds allocated to legislators for local pet projects that were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013.
In response, Zamora said having a confidential fund is allowed by rules.
"It is the intention of the OVP to implement good governance programs based on a strategy and which is legally mandated by a circular issued by the COA and the DBM that allows confidential funds for an office," Zamora said, referring to the Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management.
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Manuel, however, maintained that a P500-million confidential fund, being part of good governance programs, is too much and could affect the delivery of social services the OVP seeks to deliver.
"Confidential fund will already account for 23% of the good governance fund. Napakalaki ng kinakain nito para sa mga aktibidad o proyekto para sa ating mga kababayan," Manuel said.
GMA News Online has reached out to OVP spokesperson Atty. Reynold Munsayac for his comment, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte attended the budget hearing to give support to the OVP and the Department of Education.
She reiterated that the proposed budget would support the OVP's priority projects such as basic social services and subsidies.
“Ang proposed budget ng OVP para sa Fiscal Year 2023 ay nakalaan sa pagpapatupad ng social services at mga programang tutulong sa ating mga kababayan sa buong bansa,” she said in a Facebook post.
(The proposed budget of the OVP for Fiscal Year 2023 is dedicated to the implementation of social services and programs that will help our countrymen throughout the country.)
She also thanked Zamora for sponsoring the OVP budget. —with Giselle Ombay/KBK/VBL, GMA News