Economist hits lawmakers for bloating 'pork barrel'

MANILA, Philippines – An economist on Tuesday assailed lawmakers for allegedly being insensitive to the Filipino people for bloating their “pork barrel" or Priority Assistance Development Fund by P2 billion this year amid the world financial crisis. In GMA primetime newscast “24 Oras," economist and Professor Winnie Monsod said lawmakers in both houses should have added the P2 billion additional pork barrel funds to government stimulus package, which is intended to finance projects that would create jobs and mitigate the impact of the global crisis. GMA News reporter Ivan Mayrina said in his report that the government has allotted P330 billion for national resilience package, which, according to Monsod, is inadequate. “One wonders how legislators can even sleep at night after giving themselves another P2 billion in pork barrel funds without even discussing the possibility of social safety nets for our workers," Monsad said. Citing Leonor Briones of Social Watch Philippines, Mayrina said the House has allotted a total of P6 billion in pork barrel funds for lawmakers in 2008. He said that last year, each representative got P70 million pork barrel allocation, while each senator received P200 million. The report added that this year, House has approved P6 billion for its lawmakers’ pork barrel, while the Senate has passed P7-billion proposal, but the bicameral conference committee agreed to raise it P9 billion. Mayrina said Speaker Prospero Nograles and Quirino Rep. Junie Cua, chair of the House committee on appropriation, and member of the bicameral panel, declined to comment on the issue, saying the 2009 budget has already been ratified and is now waiting for the President’s signature. The pork barrel fund is intended to finance lawmakers’ pet projects for their constituents. It is channeled to implementing agencies, but congressmen are given the right to identify the project they want to prioritize. Some studies indicate that the money encourages corrupt practices. For his part, Senate minority leader Sen Aquilino Pimentel said there is nothing wrong about increasing the pork barrel fund as long as lawmakers use it properly. He noted, however, that the release of the funds to opposition lawmakers like him has been delayed. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV