MANILA, Philippines?Nearly half a billion pesos had been spent by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the construction of roads, drainage canals and municipal buildings in her home district in Pampanga just 12 months before she runs as its representative in the House in May.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, who said the P459 million lavished in Pampanga?s second district was nine times the allocation granted to each of the members of the House for their annual infrastructure projects.

Hontiveros said she was using this expenditure as the basis for the disqualification case she had filed at the Commission on Elections against Ms Arroyo. The first hearing on the case is expected to be held today.

?That?s the most compelling reason why she should be disqualified from running,? Hontiveros said in a statement.

With Ms Arroyo as the highest official of the land, ?virtually no one, not a sitting legislator and especially not an ordinary civilian like Mr. Adonis Simpao [who is seeking the same congressional post], can compete with the resources that she has at her disposal,? the lawmaker said, adding:

?She went through a building frenzy, as if creating her own road to Congress, and perhaps, to the prime minister position that she obviously covets.?

?Improper, shameless?

Hontiveros conceded that the President?s spending on her hometown was not illegal, but added that this was rendered ?improper and shameless? when she filed her certificate of candidacy last month.

Ms Arroyo?s move ended months of speculation on the reason behind her numerous visits to Pampanga last year.

According to documents obtained from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Ms Arroyo approved roughly 40 infrastructure projects in Pampanga?s second district in 2009.

These ranged from a health center in Barangay Concepcion (P200,000), to a dredging and desilting project in Lubao (P700,000), to the upgrading of an access road to Basa Air Base from gravel to concrete (P117 million).

Most of the projects involved dredging, slope protection and upgrading of third-class roads to national roads.

?Uneven? fight

Hontiveros said Ms Arroyo?s participation in the congressional race had made the fight ?uneven? considering her purported inclination to deploy government resources for her interests.

?She has shown in 2004 that she is willing to use her position to influence an election official and to mobilize the military to protect her votes. If she can use the funds of the government in a spending spree for her district, then nothing prevents her from abusing her powers to ensure her victory,? Hontiveros said.

This is why the reelection ban on the President should also cover her run for a lower post, the lawmaker said.

50 in 2009

In 2009 alone, Ms Arroyo made around 50 visits to Pampanga, mostly to the towns of Floridablanca, Guagua, Lubao, Porac, Sta. Rita and Sasmuan in the second district.

On Dec. 9, days after she filed her certificate of candidacy as congresswoman, she visited Bacolor in the second district to sign a law converting Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade into a technological state university.

She also inspected widening and dredging projects in the Guagua section of Jose Abad Santos Avenue (formerly Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo Road).

On Dec. 15, she visited Lubao, where she led awarding rites for outstanding senior citizens in Pampanga. She also awarded a certificate of accreditation to a senior citizens center in Sasmuan.

On Oct. 5, even before she announced her intention to seek a congressional post, Ms Arroyo led the distribution of relief goods to typhoon and flood victims in Lubao.

She also witnessed the turnover of bamboo desks to teachers of Graciano Paule Elementary School, opened a water system, inspected the diversion road and met with residents of various barangays.

Wakes etc.

On Sept. 27, the President showed up at the wake of landslide victims at the foot of Mt. Arayat, where she distributed cash to affected families and food packs to evacuees housed at Arayat Elementary School.

Also in September, she visited flood-stricken areas and inspected a school building and farm-to-market roads in Floridablanca.

In August, Ms Arroyo announced the allocation of P500 million to repair school buildings destroyed or damaged by floods and typhoons, P110 million of which, she said, would go to Pampanga?s second and fourth districts.

She awarded 40 lot certificate to families relocated to a housing site in Barangay San Antonio in Sasmuan.

In July, a few hours before flying to the United States for a meeting with US President Barack Obama, she managed a visit to the province to inaugurate water systems, hand over firearms and inspect the dredging of a creek.

More frequent visits

Earlier in 2009, Ms Arroyo visited Pampanga monthly, or even more frequently.

In February, she attended the awarding rites of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines? Pampanga chapter and addressed her cabalen (province mates) at a unity rally, both at the Clark Freeport. She also inaugurated an irrigation dam in Floridablanca.

In March, she handed P50,000 in livelihood assistance to former rebels in Guagua. She also met with San Fernando Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and held a Cabinet meeting in Clark.

Likewise, she met with farmers and leaders of irrigators? associations, inaugurated the new Arayat public market and attended the groundbreaking for Ricardo P. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Bacolor.

On her 62nd birthday in April, she attended Mass celebrated by Archbishop Aniceto and 18 priests at St. Augustine Church in Lubao. Alos in April, she inaugurated the farm road in Barangay San Basilio, Sta. Rita.

?Payback time?

In May, Ms Arroyo addressed farmers from Pampanga, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija gathered in San Fernando for the Farmers? Day celebration, visited Masantol to inaugurate a public wharf and distributed PhilHealth cards and scholarship certificates.

She became the first President to visit the remote coastal barangay of Batang Dos and handed more than 100 certificates of commitment for scholarship worth P1.25 million.

In the same month, her then spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo called the President?s frequent visits to Pampanga ?payback time for her province mates.? With a report from Kate Pedroso, Inquirer Research