A bridge in Mindanao serves as a lifeline for impoverished upland farmers. FILE PHOTO
A militant solon on Tuesday said the lump sum budget for farm-to-market roads (FMR) was potential “pork barrel” in the proposed 2016 national budget.
In a statement, Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said the Department of Agriculture had a proposed P7-billion budget for farm-to-market roads.
Ridon said the National Expenditure Program showed only a regional distribution of the said lump sum fund.
“When we looked for details for the FMR projects in the 2016 National Expenditure Program (NEP), all we could find is a regional distribution of the P7-billion budget. Essentially, the FMR budget is still a lump sum,” Ridon said.
Ridon said the lump sum fund was sure to be disaggregated behind closed doors during the bicameral conference, or even after the budget was approved in a post-enactment intervention much like pork barrel.
“What’s stopping legislators and other unscrupulous officials from nominating pet road projects?” Ridon asked.
“In the first place, Congress should be the one scrutinizing the details of the FMRs. But how can we fulfill our duty to the public when the FMR budget is just one big lump sum that will only be disaggregated after the General Appropriations Act is enacted? Paano natin malalaman kung farm-to-market roads nga at hindi farm-to-mayor’s house roads ang ipapatayo?” he added.
For 2016, the DA has a proposed budget of P53.39 billion, or 2.6 percent higher than the approved 2015 budget in the General Appropriations Act.
The proposed budget allocates P34.510 billion to key programs and projects, such as its Philippine Rural Development Project (P9.062 billion), rice program (P7.06 billion), farm-to-market roads (P7.051 billion), fisheries program (P4.360 billion), high value crops development program (P2.918 billion), corn program (P2.249 billion), livestock program (P1.172 billion), and organic agriculture program (P635 million).
Meanwhile, according to class, 57 percent or P30.33 billion is allotted for maintenance and other operating expenses, 37 percent or P19.99 billion for capital outlay, and six percent or P3.07 billion for personal services. Marc Jayson Cayabyab/RC