PNoy denies withholding opposition solons’ ‘pork barrel’

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday denied that his administration did not release funds intended for the districts represented by members of the opposition bloc. A Malacañang official, however, said the release was just “delayed." “Ang instructions po natin, walang mamamayan ng republika ang made-deprive ng kanilang rightful share," Aquino said at a press briefing in Bohol. At a separate press briefing in Malacañang, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office head Ricky Carandang assured the public that services and resources allocated to them will reach them. He, however, admitted delays in the release of the funds because the government wants to make sure that the projects proposed by the lawmakers are in line with the President’s priorities. “Kailangan aligned ‘yan doon sa national priorities. Minsan kasi ‘pag hindi aligned, we may not necessarily want to approve it or we need time to evaluate it," Carandang said. Aquino said Budget Secretary Florencio Abad will answer any complaints regarding the release of the funds. “Masasagot ni Secretary Abad specifically kung may nagrereklamo. Meron bang napunta sa probinsiyang ganito, sa bayan na ganito." The House minority bloc on Monday said they will boycott the deliberations on the proposed 2012 national budget to protest the delays in releasing their Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF), commonly known as the “pork barrel. Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said 14 of the House minority members have not yet received their PDAF a year after they had requested for it. Eighteen others, meanwhile, got partial releases. Aquino said it is not right to say that his administration did not give funds to the opposition members. “Hindi tama iyong statement na merong sinero. Lahat ho, ang pagkaintindi ko, ay naibigay iyong kaukulang bahagi nila doon sa ating national budget," he said. He also expressed confidence that the Congress will approve his administration’s proposed budget amid the supposed boycott. During the budget deliberations Monday, Davao del Sur Rep. Mark Douglas Cagas confronted Abad and complained about the delay in the release of the first tranch of his PDAF despite submitting his requirements a year ago. Abad then replied that there might have been “issues" with Cagas’ request for PDAF, since disbursements for the funds follow a strict “menu." In a text message, Carandang said the allocation of the Department of Public Works and Highways for the district of Cagas has been increasing under the Aquino administration. He said it increased by P60 million in 2012, from P194.65 million in 2011 to P255.5 million and by more than P46 million in 2011, from P147.79 million in 2010 to P194.65 million. “Many representatives last year even from within the (Liberal Party) coalition were getting less than P50 million, like [Marikina Rep Miro] Quimbo, but were not ranting about it," Carandang said. — KBK, GMA News