Bebot OK without pork; Luigi justifies spending

REP. Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa of Cebu City’s south district said he’s been able to identify government fund sources other than the pork barrel he hasn’t received yet as a first-term congressman.

The Supreme Court has issued a Temporary Restraining Order on the release of the controversial pork barrel.

Abellanosa said that even without the Priority Development Assistance Fund, he has secured P58 million worth of projects from the Department of Agriculture for the concreting of roads in mountain barangay of the south district and another P15 million from the Department of Interior and Local Government for water system projects.

The Department of Health also pledged funding for a 50-bed tertiary hospital to be built in barangay Bonbon, he said.

Pork defended

Meanwhile, Second-termer 6th district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing denied reports that he released a portion of his PDAF to the Philippine Forest Corporation.

Quisumbing clarified that his projects funded by his PDAF were implemented through the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The COA earlier reported that at least P900,000 of public funds through Quisumbing’s PDAF went to the Kabuhayan at Kalusugang Alay sa Masa Foundation Inc. and P750,000 to the Kasangga sa Magandang Bukas Foundation Inc.

The COA had identified the two foundations as among the 82 questionable NGOs in their audit reports.

Quisumbing said he was not the one selecting the two NGOs but the DA.