Projects should be proposed prior to approval of budget–DBM chief

Is pork back?

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Thursay said lawmakers could now identify projects to be included in the proposed 2017 General Appropriations Act.

“Kailangan din sigurong pagbigyan sila. Congressmen and senators, they are supposed to authorize the budget. They have a right also to identify projects that they see their people need in their districts,” Diokno said in a news briefing.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) chief, however, said the lawmakers’ proposed projects should be identified before the approval of the national budget.

“(It should be proposed) prior to the approval of the budget. That is not violative of the Supreme Court’s court decision—(if done) prior to. Now, post enactment, that’s a violation of PDAF. ‘Yung mga projects will subject to the budget process,” he said.

Pressed by reporters if this was same as the pork barrel, which was declared unconstitutional by the high court, the budget chief said it was not.

“No, it’s not pork barrel,” he said.

“Alam mo, hindi. Ibang iba talaga. Kasi noon, matapos ma-approve ang budget, nakikialam ang mga congressman,” he added.

In 2013, the high court declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional.

“As soon as the General Appropriations Act is signed into law then go na ‘yun, yung mga nakalistang project na ‘yun. Now, it is the responsibility of the citizen to make sure na walang kalokohan ‘yung project na ‘yun,” he said.

He said senators and congressmen had the right to identify projects they deem necessary for their district or jurisdiction.

“What I’m saying is, I think the congressmen and the senators, they are supposed to authorize the projects. They have the right also to identify the projects that they see they need, their people in their district need kasi mas gamay nila iyon,” he said. With Kristina Casandra Tayam, trainee