Pork barrel not covered by Aquino version of information bill

MANILA, Philippines—How lawmakers use their priority development assistance fund, PDAF, or the congressional euphemism for pork barrel, isn’t on the list of public-interest documents that the Aquino administration’s version of the Freedom of Information Bill would require to be disclosed on government Web sites.

Malacañang nonetheless maintained this would not exempt members of the Senate and House of Representatives  from having to reveal online how they use their PDAF, as compliance with the pertinent provisions of the proposed transparency measure would still require them to do so.

Abigail Valte, one of President  Benigno Aquino’s spokespersons and a member of the Palace’ study group on the FOI bill, said the use of pork barrel funds fall under the item on annual procurement plan and procurement list in the set of documents that would have to be posted online.

“It should fall under the general provision for the items in the public interest documents enumeration,” Valte said when asked if Malacañang no longer saw the need to explicitly mention pork barrel use in the items that would be up for “mandatory disclosure.”

Valte, a lawyer, said the mandatory disclosure provisions require that all agencies of the government  upload on their Web sites public interest documents or records that include the agencies’ annual procurement plan and annual procurement list.

She added that the bill’s definition of government agencies includes those in all the branches of government, including the legislature.

“Right now, the website of the (Department of Budget and Management) already has this function,” Valte said.

In revealing the submission to Congress of his administration’s version of the FOI bill, President Aquino indicated that he wanted the bill’s provisions for transparency to form part of his legacy.

“We want every other administration voted into power to work under the same standard of transparency and accountability that we have set for ourselves. This is a significant step toward achieving that goal,” the President said on Thursday.

Section Seven of the Palace version of the FOI bill provides for the mandatory disclosure on the relevant government Web sites of the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of the President, Vice President, members of the Cabinet, members of Congress, members of the Supreme Court, members of constitutional commissions and other constitutional offices, and officers of the Armed Forces with general or flag rank.

Unlike the lawmakers’ use of their PDAF, Section Seven explicitly mentions the component of the internal revenue allotment utilization in the list of public interest documents that need to be uploaded in the appropriate government websites.

The IRA is the share of local government units of taxes collected by the national government.

Under the FOI bill’s mandatory disclosure provision, documents involving the use of public funds would also be required to be uploaded on the Web sites.

These include:

• Annual budget of government agencies
• Itemized monthly collection and disbursement
• Summary of income and expenditures
• Component of the use of the internal revenue allotment of local governments
• Annual procurement plan and procurement list
• Items to bid
• Bid results on civil works, goods and services
• Abstract of bids as calculated
• Procurement contracts
• Construction or concession agreements
• Private sector participation in agreements or contracts
• Public funding to a private entity
• Bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties in trade, economic partnership, investments, cooperation, and similar binding commitments
• List of persons or entities given licenses, permits or agreements for the use of natural resources; statements of assets, liabilities and net worth of public officers

Guarantees given by any government agency to GOCCs (government owned or controlled corporations), private corporations, persons or entities.