Drilon urges ‘pork-free’ national budget for 2015

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Friday urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to ensure that the 2015 national budget would be free of “pork” or anything that would resemble the then Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

The proposed 2015 national expenditure program is now being drafted by the DBM, which will be the basis of the national budget that will be approved by Congress.

“The Senate will exercise the strictest examination of the 2015 national budget to make certain that no revival of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in any form or calling will occur,” Drilon, former chairman of the Senate committee on finance, said in statement.

He said the PDAF, which was declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in late 2013, should be avoided altogether in next year’s national budget.

“The Supreme Court ruling is clear about when congressional involvement with the budget should end. Therefore anything related to the PDAF in the 2015 national budget should be avoided,” Drilon said.

In 2013, the Senate abolished the PDAF months before the SC declared it unconstitutional.

Drilon suggested that the pork barrel funds in previous years should be directly channeled for the country’s instruments for social services such as massive backing for public hospitals, free public education in higher levels, poverty alleviation program, and assistance to the agricultural sector.

He also asked the public to be “active watchers” of the national budgeting process.

“To our people, especially to our youth, take a look, probe and examine piece by piece the laws our lawmakers craft for this country especially the national budget,” the Senate leader said.

“”Please help us monitor and make sure that every peso in the 2015 GAA (General Appropriations Act) will be spent for the betterment of our nation,”  Drilon added.