Malacañang wants less fat in 2010 pork barrel
08/27/2009 | 07:18 PM
The pork that should not be spent on humps and waiting shed projects would have less fat next year if Congress approves the Palace's budget proposal.
Malacañang has proposed a P6.9-billion pork barrel for 2010, which is P2.7 billion smaller than this year’s P9.7-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
“We’re cutting PDAF by almost 30 percent and we hope that this will meet the concurrence of Congress," Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said.
The proposed PDAF excludes spending for humps and waiting sheds, according to Andaya.
He said the P1.54-trillion proposed national budget would include a “menu of permissible programs" for PDAF expenditure on education, health, livelihood, housing, water supply, irrigation, public works, police equipment, and reforestation.
Malacañang had also tried to lessen the fat last year when it proposed a P6.2-billion PDAF. But the House of Representatives and the Senate increased the PDAF to P7.9-billion.
"Personally as leader of the House we will accept and we won't object to the cuts so long as the same will all go to the pro-poor projects and tawid-pamilya grassroots level," Nograles said in a text message to reporters on Thursday.
Administration stalwart, Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis wants the PDAF increased to P100 million to meet the high cost of commodities, particularly construction materials. Each congressman receives P70 million of PDAF a year, while each senator gets P200 million.
Apart from the PDAF, each congressman and senator receive a monthly basic salary of P59,186. The lawmakers’ salary used to be P35,000 a month, but this was increased when the Salary Standardization Law 3 took effect last July 1.
Rep. Teodoro Casiño of the left-leaning Bayan Muna party-list is proposing a P-1 pork barrel for each congressman to ensure that government funds will not be used for partisan political interest in next year’s elections. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV
Malacañang has proposed a P6.9-billion pork barrel for 2010, which is P2.7 billion smaller than this year’s P9.7-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
“We’re cutting PDAF by almost 30 percent and we hope that this will meet the concurrence of Congress," Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said.
The proposed PDAF excludes spending for humps and waiting sheds, according to Andaya.
He said the P1.54-trillion proposed national budget would include a “menu of permissible programs" for PDAF expenditure on education, health, livelihood, housing, water supply, irrigation, public works, police equipment, and reforestation.
Malacañang had also tried to lessen the fat last year when it proposed a P6.2-billion PDAF. But the House of Representatives and the Senate increased the PDAF to P7.9-billion.
"Personally as leader of the House we will accept and we won't object to the cuts so long as the same will all go to the pro-poor projects and tawid-pamilya grassroots level," Nograles said in a text message to reporters on Thursday.
Administration stalwart, Sorsogon Rep. Jose Solis wants the PDAF increased to P100 million to meet the high cost of commodities, particularly construction materials. Each congressman receives P70 million of PDAF a year, while each senator gets P200 million.
Apart from the PDAF, each congressman and senator receive a monthly basic salary of P59,186. The lawmakers’ salary used to be P35,000 a month, but this was increased when the Salary Standardization Law 3 took effect last July 1.
Rep. Teodoro Casiño of the left-leaning Bayan Muna party-list is proposing a P-1 pork barrel for each congressman to ensure that government funds will not be used for partisan political interest in next year’s elections. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV
