P55-B 'pork' stirs House row
Published Sep 18, 2018 04:07 pm
By Ben Rosario
Deliberations for the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 was stalled for the second straight day Tuesday as the P55-billion “pork parking” controversy continues to sow tension among congressmen, who blamed the Committee on Appropriations for current controversy at the House of Representatives.
(EPA / MANILA BULLETIN)
Floor sponsorship of House Bill 8169 or the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was cancelled again Tuesday as the leadership of former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sought to resolve the issue that caused a ruckus during a caucus on Monday.
The pork parking controversy started after several lawmakers discovered that several congressional districts and party-list groups will be receiving infrastructure funds, ranging from P500 million to as much as P5 billion.
Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said the House leadership has already started locating the P55 billion allocation that was allegedly divided among 30 congressmen.
But congressmen, whose districts are used as parking for the pork,will get “only an insignificant” portion of the total amount granted.
“How to spend the money will depend on the call of Palace officials. The allocation was granted for parking purposes only,” said a lawmaker griping about the allegedly inequitable disposition of infrastructure funds.
Among those mentioned as recipients of the budgetary largesse were Reps. Joseph Bernos (PDP-Laban, Abra); Emmanuel Madrona (PDP-Laban, Romblon); Edcel Lagman (LP, Albay) and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (PDP-Laban, Davao del Norte).AKO Bicol Party-list Reps. Rodel Batocabe and Christopher Co also allegedly will receive huge funds for their infrastructure projects.
“We are in the process of looking for these so-called P50B na yan. Trillion na yung budget natin so medyo matagal- tagal na himayin yan,” said Andaya in a press conference.
Even Senator Panfilo M. Lacson vowed to locate and isolate the P55-billion pork barrel items of lawmakers once the House of Representatives transmits to the Senate its version of the proposed 2019 national budget.
Lacson said he and staff would wait for the House version of the national budget and find where lawmakers have transferred their pork barrel from the National Expenditure Program (NEP) or presidential budget to the 2019 GAA.
Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon said he would block the passage of the proposed national budget for 2019 if “pork barrel’ insertions are found in it.
The minority leader said he would not support such move and would employ all means to ensure that the proposed 2019 national budget is devoid of any pork barrel insertions.
“I will oppose the passage of the budget and filibuster, if needed, if these pork barrel allocations or insertions remain,” Drilon said in a text message to reporters.
Andaya admitted that a number of congressmen have come forward to reveal that huge infrastructure funds have been allocated this year in their congressional district without their knowledge.
Nevertheless, Andaya assured Malacañang that there will be no cuts in its proposed national budget.
Last Monday, Davao City Rep. KarloNograles, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, allegedly invited House leaders and committee members to discuss the “pork parking” issue.
During the meetingpresided over by Arroyo, Andaya and Camarines Sur Rep. Lray Villafuerte reportedly figured in a shouting match where the former called the latter a “fag.”
Villafuerte later informed House media about the incident.
Nograles denied he was behind the caucus, but a senior administration official who requesed anonymity belied his claim.
“It was Cong. Nograles who invited us to the meeting in order to tell us that Malacañang was behind the parked pork,” the solon who requested anonymity said.
Former Speaker Alvarez sent text messages to House reporters to deny any knowledge about the “pork parking” controversy.
“I don't know what they are talking about,” said Alvarez.
Alvarez said “it doesn't make sense” on why he should insert budget outside his district.
Lagman denied any participation “whatsoever in the allocation of funds” in the President’s National Expenditure Program.
“Any amounts reflected in the NEP for my district are part of the concerned department’s or agency’s regular programs and/or at the initiative of parties without my knowledge and consent,” he said.
On the other hand, Bernos said he was unaware that huge budgetary allocations have been “parked” in his district.
When asked if the amount had indeed reached P4.2 billion, Bernos responded: “That’s too big, it’s not that much.” (With reports from Mario B. Casayuran and Hannah L. Torregoza)
(EPA / MANILA BULLETIN)
Floor sponsorship of House Bill 8169 or the proposed 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was cancelled again Tuesday as the leadership of former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo sought to resolve the issue that caused a ruckus during a caucus on Monday.
The pork parking controversy started after several lawmakers discovered that several congressional districts and party-list groups will be receiving infrastructure funds, ranging from P500 million to as much as P5 billion.
Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. said the House leadership has already started locating the P55 billion allocation that was allegedly divided among 30 congressmen.
But congressmen, whose districts are used as parking for the pork,will get “only an insignificant” portion of the total amount granted.
“How to spend the money will depend on the call of Palace officials. The allocation was granted for parking purposes only,” said a lawmaker griping about the allegedly inequitable disposition of infrastructure funds.
Among those mentioned as recipients of the budgetary largesse were Reps. Joseph Bernos (PDP-Laban, Abra); Emmanuel Madrona (PDP-Laban, Romblon); Edcel Lagman (LP, Albay) and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez (PDP-Laban, Davao del Norte).AKO Bicol Party-list Reps. Rodel Batocabe and Christopher Co also allegedly will receive huge funds for their infrastructure projects.
“We are in the process of looking for these so-called P50B na yan. Trillion na yung budget natin so medyo matagal- tagal na himayin yan,” said Andaya in a press conference.
Even Senator Panfilo M. Lacson vowed to locate and isolate the P55-billion pork barrel items of lawmakers once the House of Representatives transmits to the Senate its version of the proposed 2019 national budget.
Lacson said he and staff would wait for the House version of the national budget and find where lawmakers have transferred their pork barrel from the National Expenditure Program (NEP) or presidential budget to the 2019 GAA.
Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon said he would block the passage of the proposed national budget for 2019 if “pork barrel’ insertions are found in it.
The minority leader said he would not support such move and would employ all means to ensure that the proposed 2019 national budget is devoid of any pork barrel insertions.
“I will oppose the passage of the budget and filibuster, if needed, if these pork barrel allocations or insertions remain,” Drilon said in a text message to reporters.
Andaya admitted that a number of congressmen have come forward to reveal that huge infrastructure funds have been allocated this year in their congressional district without their knowledge.
Nevertheless, Andaya assured Malacañang that there will be no cuts in its proposed national budget.
Last Monday, Davao City Rep. KarloNograles, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, allegedly invited House leaders and committee members to discuss the “pork parking” issue.
During the meetingpresided over by Arroyo, Andaya and Camarines Sur Rep. Lray Villafuerte reportedly figured in a shouting match where the former called the latter a “fag.”
Villafuerte later informed House media about the incident.
Nograles denied he was behind the caucus, but a senior administration official who requesed anonymity belied his claim.
“It was Cong. Nograles who invited us to the meeting in order to tell us that Malacañang was behind the parked pork,” the solon who requested anonymity said.
Former Speaker Alvarez sent text messages to House reporters to deny any knowledge about the “pork parking” controversy.
“I don't know what they are talking about,” said Alvarez.
Alvarez said “it doesn't make sense” on why he should insert budget outside his district.
Lagman denied any participation “whatsoever in the allocation of funds” in the President’s National Expenditure Program.
“Any amounts reflected in the NEP for my district are part of the concerned department’s or agency’s regular programs and/or at the initiative of parties without my knowledge and consent,” he said.
On the other hand, Bernos said he was unaware that huge budgetary allocations have been “parked” in his district.
When asked if the amount had indeed reached P4.2 billion, Bernos responded: “That’s too big, it’s not that much.” (With reports from Mario B. Casayuran and Hannah L. Torregoza)