Palace urged to adopt ‘orphaned’ pork scholars
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has called on Malacañang to immediately adopt the estimated 150,000 college scholars “orphaned” by the Supreme Court’s ruling that the priority development assistance fund (PDAF), popularly known as “pork barrel,” was unconstitutional.
Recto, former chairperson of the Senate committee on ways and means, said a mechanism should be put in place to ensure there would be no disruption in the schooling of students whose tuition and other school fees are funded by the PDAF which was the high court ruled as unconstitutional.
“The Palace can begin with a comfort statement that no student will be left behind as PDAF exits from the budget menu,” Recto said in a statement.
“This can be done through a presidential directive to state universities and colleges (SUCs) to continue accepting PDAF-supported students. That should be the first step,” he said.
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