DBM orders release of funds to 8 towns in Syjuco district
ILOILO CITY—The Aquino administration has ordered the release of P40 million to eight towns in Iloilo belonging to the district represented by Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco, who had claimed that his pork barrel was being withheld by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The Special Allotment Release Order issued by the Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos on Dec. 15 allotted P5 million each as subsidy to the towns of Alimodian, Leganes, Leon, New Lucena, Pavia, San Miguel, Sta. Barbara and Zarraga.
The financial assistance will be used to fund the repair or improvement of municipal roads and the construction of multipurpose public markets.
The DBM has also issued Notices of Cash Allocation to the DBM office in Western Visayas as funding for the P40-million allocation.
On Nov. 25, the mayors of the eight towns asked the President in a letter to release Syjuco’s annual Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) directly to their towns in the second congressional district.
“We appeal to Your Excellency to release the PDAF or similar amount, divided equally, directly to the local government units,” they said.
Those who signed the letter were Juanito Acanto (Alimodian), Enrique Rojas (Leganes), Rolito Cajilig (Leon), Liecel Mondejar-Seville (New Lucena), Arcadio Gorriceta (Pavia), Victor Saclauso (San Miguel), Dennis Superficial (Sta. Barbara) and Gregorio Brazas (Zarraga).
“We believe that this fund is intended for the promotion of the general welfare and to expedite development in our district … We will assure transparency in fund utilization as well as efficient project,” the letter said.
Syjuco has complained of the nonrelease of his annual P70-million PDAF since April and has accused his political rivals whom he claimed were close to the President of blocking it.
Syjuco is facing charges for various anomalies especially during his stint as director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. He has repeatedly dismissed these as the work of his political rivals.
He said he was one of only five congressmen whose PDAF has not been released by the DBM.
According to him, officials in the administration, including those from the DBM, had confirmed that “there was an order from above” not to release his PDAF.
