A congressional ally of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III said there will be no major slash in the P2.2 billion budget for the road projects that former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo secured for her district. In an interview with reporters on Thursday, Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, chairman of the House appropriations committee, said if there would be cuts in budget for the road projects, these would be minimal. Earlier on Thursday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) hinted it may slash the P2.2 billion budget. In an interview on dwIZ radio, DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said while the funds are part of a foreign loan obligation, he may discuss with the loaning agency if some components of the project are "not urgent." Not from 'pork barrel' On Wednesday, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the P2.2-billion public works fund for Rep. Arroyo’s district in Pampanga will not be sourced from the Priority Development Assistance Fund, commonly known as “pork barrel." Lacierda said the fund was sourced from loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Korean Development and Cooperation Fund that Arroyo secured during her term as Philippine President. The contractual obligations of these loans state that part of the funds would be alloted to Arroyo’s district in Pampanga. The funds will reportedly be used for flood mitigation projects under the Mt. Pinatubo Hazard Mitigation project, including engineering works to allow floodwaters to flow out into the Pampanga portion of Manila Bay. Components that may not be urgent Abaya said Singson mentioned that the components that may not be urgent are:
the dredging of small rivers, and the upgrading of the road up to the first level of houses. “These are possibly the components that could be slashed and treated as unnecessary however I don’t see a major slash if those are the only components. Maliit lang yun, he (Singson) said minimal lang yun sa P2.2 billion (That's small he [Singson] said it would be minimal)," Abaya said. Asked if Abaya found anything irregular or anything that should be revisited in the project, he said there is nothing to revisit because some of the components have yet to be contracted. “What is important, if it remains intact, is to ensure the proper implementation and if indeed accountability and standards are met," Abaya said. He also said it is incumbent upon the DPWH to ensure that all funds are indeed implemented properly, not only the P2.2 billion. “Basically all government funds should be implemented exacting the same standard of transparency and accountability," he said. He said the funds that would be slashed from the P2.2 billion could be realigned. “At the end of the day, it could either be realigned by Congress or later on probably if it’s finally determined after the passing of the budget it could be treated as savings by the executive and realigned elsewhere," Abaya said. Audit sought On Wednesday, a party-list lawmaker proposed a comprehensive debt audit on the P2.2-billion worth of road projects for Pampanga's second district. Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello also urged Aquino to order Congress to investigate Arroyo’s road projects in her district. Bello had accused Arroyo of padding the budget allotted for Pampanga’s second district. Baseless accusations Arroyo’s camp, however, said Bello’s accusations were baseless and unfounded. According to Elena Bautista-Horn, Arroyo’s chief of staff and spokesperson, the allocations were intended for two foreign-assisted projects that began in 1996 and 2003, following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. She said the Urgent Bridge Construction Project for Rural Road Development or the Mt. Pinatubo Hazard Mapping, which began in 1996 was being funded by the JBIC. On the other hand, the Gapan-San Fernando Olongapo-Road which began in 2003, is being financed by the Korean EDCF. Bautista-Horn said the P1.678 billion will come from foreign funding and the government will shell out some P542 million-plus as counterpart fund. Congressional oversight Due to the controversy, party-list lawmakers are now pushing for the immediate passage of a bill that would strengthen congressional and civil society oversight over Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans and projects. Those who filed House Bill 3230 included Bayan Muna Reps. Teddy Casiño and Neri Javier Colmenares, Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, Kabataan Rep. Raymond Palatino, Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan and Emerenciana De Jesus. They want an increase in the oversight power of Congress to review ODA loans and grants incurred and entered into by the Philippine Government. They also want more leeway in rejecting "aid conditionality" (or the conditions attached to aids granted to the Philippines) when these conditions run counter to the country's interests. Casiño said the bill will also encourage a wide range of stakeholders’ involvement and a participatory process in the matter of monitoring and evaluating ODA projects. He said civil society organizations shall play important roles in the following, among others: (1) in determining more appropriate indicators and measurements of aid effectiveness impact; and (2) as a watchdog in the efficient, effective, and transparent implementation of oda projects from the project conceptualization until its completion." Casiño believed the new administration can suspend or cancel the loan contract secured by Mrs Arroyo if found to be irregular or not in line with the country's needs. “Apparently, the crafty former President used her position to maximize ODA loans for the rehabilitation of Mt. Pinatubo eruption areas for the 2nd district of Pampanga where she has replaced her son as district representative. It is not farfetched that these projects are in line with the Arroyos' plan to build and consolidate their hold on Pampanga politics. The new administration should make sure that such is not the case," he said. He added that the new administration should determine if these projects are still a priority given the limited resources of government and the urgent needs of other provinces and districts. "We have been rehabilitating Central Luzon for almost two decades and Pampanga has been favored for the past nine years under Arroyo. Its time to reassess whether the same needs still hold true," the lawmaker said. Casiño also decried the Palace's position that it is helpless to stop such foreign-funded projects. “It is apparent that this administration is according the kid gloves treatment to the former president and the foreign creditors. The truth is that Pres. Aquino can have these ODA loans investigated, renegotiated or cancelled. The same thing was done by Arroyo when she cancelled 10 ODA projects in 2008 in the wake of the NBN-ZTE and Cyber-Ed projects," he said. –VVP, GMANews.TV 
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