Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Fourteen senators have formally asked the Senate committee to completely scrap and deduct from the 2014 national budget their Priority Development Assistance Fund known as “pork barrel” funds.
Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chairman of the committee, identified the 14 as Senate President Franklin Drilon, himself, Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Loren Legarda, Bam Aquino, Sergio Osmeña III, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Ferdinand “Bong-Bong” Marcos Jr. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Teofisto Guingona III, and Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan.
Six senators, on the other hand, preferred to either amend the budget or re-align their PDAF to calamity funds or other social services.
The six were Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Pia Cayetano, Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, JV Ejercito and Lito Lapid.
Escudero said four of his colleagues have yet to submit their proposals. They are Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Minority Leader Juan Ponce-Enrile, Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla” Jr., and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, who is abroad.
He said Enrile though had told him that he would also propose for the scrapping and deletion of his PDAF from next year’s national budget.
“I will bring this matter up before plenary and before the caucus since 14 senators favored complete abolition, deduction from the budget, for the resolutions pending before the committee on rules to be acted upon accordingly and for this to apply to the Senate as a body,” Escudero said.
The senators were given until Monday, November 11, to submit to the finance committee their proposals on how they would like to utilize their PDAF next year.
And on November 18, the senators will hold a caucus to discuss the individual recommendations of the senators submitted to the committee.
Asked about proposals to just re-align to calamity funds the P4.8 billion PDAF of all senators next year, Escudero said the matter has to be discussed and voted on the floor.
“It will be voted upon on the floor. We will present a version and if someone disagrees with it, they can propose an amendment and it will be voted upon on the floor,” he pointed out.
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