Makabayan bloc hits clash over ‘pork barrel’ in House
Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives denounced Wednesday the clash over “pork barrel” between the camps of President Rodrigo Duterte and Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the lower chamber.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, ACT Teachers Reps. Antonio Tinio and France Castro, Gabriela Reps. Emmi de Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis Rep. Ariel Casilao and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago said the House leadership “has essentially taken the national budget hostage because of the pork barrel impasse.”
The scheduled plenary debates for the proposed P3.757 trillion national budget for 2019 were stalled for two days after lawmakers had bickered over the alleged P55 billion “insertion” in the budget of some representatives.
READ: House leaders bicker over ‘pork’ | ‘Insertions,’ brewing conflict delay House plenary debates on 2019 budget
The plenary debates only proceeded on Wednesday a day after House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya, Jr. constituted a committee of the whole and modified House Bill No. 8169 which had been approved by the appropriations panel chaired by Rep. Karlo Nograles.
READ: Suddenly, House ‘committee of the whole’ tackles 2019 nat’l budget | House funnels P51.8B budget ‘insertion’ to health, agri, education
But the Makabayan congressmen said even if the P51.8 billion was realigned last night, “over P31 billion remain as lump sums in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and is still pork.”
“The clash over the largesse is a classic example of bureaucrat capitalism where the hard-earned funds of the people are being fought over and divided by politicians,” they stressed.
The national budget, they added, should be used for the direct benefit of the Filipino people and “not for campaign funds for the coming elections nor further fattening the pockets of politicians.”
Senators have vowed to look into the 2019 budget which some of them said was riddled with funds for pet projects of lawmakers.
READ: Senators to oppose P55-B pork in budget
“Pork barrel” or the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) are lump sum discretionary funds of lawmakers. This had been declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013.
Several House members have denied that the controversial fund was pork.
READ: Suarez denies ‘pork’ insertion in 2019 budget | Insertions in 2019 budget not ‘pork,’ not ‘irregular’ — Biazon /muf
