Bam Aquino: Pork barrel should be used to help NGOs

MANILA, Philippines – Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV said that the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), a euphemism for pork barrel, should be used to help non-government organization (NGO) sectors.

NGOs “need very little operations [cost] but have a very big impact,” Aquino, founder of the social enterprise Micro Ventures Incorporated, said in an interview on Radyo Inquirer 990AM Thursday.

He also said pork barrel funds could be used to improve the implementation and monitoring of laws that have been crafted.

When asked about the issue on political dynasties, he said that it’s time that this be defined unequivocally. He said that it was not necessarily a bad thing because it’s up to the people to elect the candidates they find qualified for the position.

Bam Aquino, cousin of President Benigno Aquino III, is running for a senatorial position under the Liberal Party.