Davide okays ally’s use of P72M pork barrel

CEBU Gov. Hilario Davide III approved a request of Rep. Wilfredo Caminero of Cebu’s 2nd district to use part of former Cebu congressman Pablo Garcia’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) worth P72.9 million.

“I remember approving the request last week. It was mostly for rice needs in the district and social services for the people as well,” Davide said.

He said the funds will be used in line with its designated purpose in the Special Allotment Release Order (Saro).

Based on the PDAF’s project menu, P40 million of the remaining funds is allocated for food security needs of the constituents in Cebu’s 2nd district.

A former member of the Provincial Board (PB), Caminero ran under the Liberal Party (LP) in last May’s elections and defeated Garcia of rival party One Cebu in the second district’s congressional race.

Since Garcia’s pork barrel was released to the province within the fiscal year 2010 and 2012, it is not affected by the Supreme Court’s temporary replacement order (TRO) which froze all PDAF releases in 2013.

Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega earlier said the Cebu provincial government serves as the implementing agency of the PDAF that was placed as a trust fund and is considered as a continuing appropriation.

The elder Garcia requested his daugher, former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, to return the funds to the Lower House since it was not immediately used by the province for the towns in the second district. Correspondent Peter L. Romanillos