President Aquino: We’re on same side. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino on Monday vowed to prosecute those who trifled with the pork barrel. “We will not let anyone become a tool for the filthiness (kababoyan) of a few,” Aquino said during the National Heroes Day rites at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.
He challenged the protesters to engage the government in scrutinizing projects proposed by lawmakers.
“We’re on the same side.”
Malacañang sent this message to nearly 100,000 people who gathered at Rizal Park in Manila and other parts of the country and abroad on Monday to denounce the corruption-tainted pork barrel of members of Congress.
The protesters called for the abolition of the pork barrel, public funds that finance pet projects of senators and members of the House of Representatives, and the prosecution of those who pocketed the funds.
“We’re all against corruption,” said the spokesman of President Aquino.
After paying tribute to modern-day heroes at Libingan ng mga Bayani, Aquino called public attention to his announcement on Friday to abolish the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the official name of the pork barrel, to ensure prudent spending of people’s money.
The abolition, he said, was part of the administration’s search for a mechanism to ensure that the people’s money was spent to benefit them.
“We will do everything within our power to identify and hold accountable those who conspired to taint the otherwise noble goal of the PDAF.
The National Bureau of Investigation is set to file charges against businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, who allegedly orchestrated the conversion of P10-billion in the PDAF of five senators and 23 House members into kickbacks in 10 years through a network of bogus nongovernment organizations (NGOs).
Unmollified
As Aquino spoke before government officials, diplomats and veterans, tens of thousands were converging at Rizal Park in Manila to rail against the misuse of the PDAF by lawmakers over the years.
The President’s abolition of the PDAF failed to mollify the protesters, who argued that the new system still gave lawmakers discretion to identify projects to be funded by the pork.
The President distanced himself from the large-scale misuse of the fund by senators and House members in the Arroyo administration as reported out by state auditors.
Get involved
But the misuse of the PDAF persisted in the Aquino administration, with at least P500 million channeled through fake NGOS via the agriculture and environment departments between 2010 and 2012, according to whistle-blowers’ affidavits against Napoles obtained by the Inquirer.
New system
“We will strive to prevent a repeat of the mistakes of the past to further strengthen the prudent spending of the nation’s coffers,” the President said.
For the new system—itemizing projects funded out of the P25.2-billion PDAF in the proposed P2.268-trillion 2014 national budget—to succeed, the President enjoined all Filipinos to cooperate in “closely monitoring every project that we are funding.”
“The challenge for us is: We should not be content to wait for or receive aid from the goodness of others. Instead, we should do everything in our power, at every opportunity, to do our duty to fellowmen and society,” he said.
And since all have benefited from the heroes’ struggle, Aquino said it was time for present-day Filipinos to carry on “what they have started.”
“Join us, get involved and do your share in advancing our collective aspirations as a nation,” he said.
“Each one of us, in whatever profession or situation, is capable of being a good Filipino at all times. Each one of us, no matter how small or big our contribution is, can be a hero,” he said.
“In every step forward, for as long as we’re standing shoulder to shoulder, we will bring about big change. With heads held up high, we face the world. Let’s prove that every sacrifice of our heroes is worth it. Let’s carry on their fight for the betterment of the Filipino race,” Aquino added.
In a Malacañang briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda urged the people to help the government monitor projects—from bidding to the release of funds.
“The interesting part is this. The President has suggested that we join in the process; this is an opportunity to monitor the projects,” he said, pointing out that the implementation of the projects and release of funds could be monitored at the website of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“All the projects will be uploaded so that you can see and monitor. This is participatory governance. The government needs the help of the people,” Lacierda added.
The President on Aug. 23 announced the abolition of PDAF, admitting that its “scandalous” misuse persisted despite reforms he instituted, and directed Senate and House leaders to devise a mechanism to address the needs of constituents in a “transparent, methodical and rational” way.
Line items
From now on, he said, lawmakers could identify projects in their districts but only through the “budgetary process.” The projects, if approved, would be earmarked as “line items” in the national budget.
At the same time, Aquino outlined several reforms to check any abuse of projects and funds, such as banning NGOs as conduits of funds, “soft projects” such as fertilizers and seeds procurement, among other items, in next year’s budget.
Aided by a PowerPoint presentation, Lacierda quashed lingering doubts the President had kept the PDAF in next year’s proposed national budget.
Lacierda assured critics that the reforms identified by the President were too far-reaching and would eliminate possible kickbacks from projects.
The ‘3 Furies’
He said lawmakers would toe the line, lest they be perceived as being on the “dark side.”
With its abolition, the “Three Furies”—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Commission on Audit Chair Grace Pulido-Tan and Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares—would prosecute all those linked to the P10-billion pork barrel scam, Lacierda said.
Lacierda, however, bristled at calls for the abolition of the President’s Social Fund, which critics said was Aquino’s own pork.
P450-billion special fund
He also defended other funds, such as the calamity fund, that form part of the P450-billion special purpose funds (SPF) in the 2014 national budget.
“You know the question is in the context of misuse,” he told reporters in a briefing. “The President’s Social Fund has been audited in the same manner that the PDAF has been audited.”
“Can we abolish typhoons and storms? If you can abolish typhoons and storms, then I’m for abolishing the calamity fund,” Lacierda later said.
Professor Leonor Briones of the UP-National College of Public Administration and Governance earlier pointed to a bigger elephant in the room: the P450-billion SPF in the 2014 budget that is not itemized. A lawmaker has called the SPF the President’s “beef barrel.”
The President said the SPF could be itemized to a “degree” but indicated this could not be done to the calamity or contingency funds since these are used to finance a potential future event.
In the briefing, Lacierda reiterated that the President had abolished the PDAF, and spelled out a limited menu of projects that lawmakers could propose.
In the 2014 budget, the P25.2 billion would be distributed to projects under departments. So while Congress is reviewing the budget, lawmakers could propose projects for their districts that would be reflected as “specific line item budgets,” Lacierda said.
Restricted menu
Defending the lawmakers’ discretion to identify projects, Lacierda said the members of Congress were the best persons to know the needs of their constituents.
He added that the lawmakers could only propose projects that were within the “restricted” menu identified by the President.
The DBM, for its part, would review the requests of lawmakers, and if they meet the requirements, release the fund to the implementing agency, through the special allotment release order and notice of cash allocation, Lacierda said.
“These projects recommended by our lawmakers will be studied, deliberated on and then approved by the lower and upper chambers,” he said, pointing to “infographics” in the PowerPoint presentation comparing the old PDAF system and post-PDAF reforms.
Electronic procurement
Once approved, all the projects will pass through the scrutiny of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System, or PhilGEPS, Lacierda said.
Notices of bidding will be posted and all contractors can participate, he added. It is at this point that the people could come in to monitor the projects and release of funds.
In his speech, the President said heroism began with one’s self and siding with what was right. He said out of respect and appreciation for the legacy of national heroes, every Filipino should live out their example and commitment every day.