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Nograles, Palace downplay pork barrel release


If Malacañang indeed released pork barrel funds recently to members of Congress as reported, there is nothing unusual or anomalous about it. This was what House Speaker Prospero Nograles and presidential deputy spokesperson Charito Planas said Friday after national daily The Philippine Star reported that Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations were released to pro-administration lawmakers around the start of the campaign period for the local elections to boost their electoral campaigns. "The January to June first half entitlements of the congressional district priority projects should be released to the congressmen because that's the law provided for by the General Appropriations Act," Nograles said in a text message to reporters. Planas made a similar statement, saying if funds were released, it is because these were for "priority" projects. “It is not on the political affiliation but on the priority… Limited lang iyung pondo na available (The available funds are just limited)," Planas said. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) releases the PDAF based on the type of project or program and not on party affiliations, Planas said. She added the only reason why the release of the pork barrel of some congressmen was delayed is that the limited funds are allocated first to "priority" programs and projects. "The distribution is dependent on the request, whether the request is in the first priority, second priority or the third priority," Planas said. The Philippine Star report quoted former Pangasinan Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr., who was former House Speaker before Nograles, as saying his pork barrel has not been released since early 2009. De Venecia was one of Mrs. Arroyo's staunchest allies until the two had a falling-out over the ZTE-NBN scandal. He was ousted from his position as Speaker in February 2008. (See: 174 solons oust JDV; Nograles of Davao City is new Speaker)—JV, GMANews.TV

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