An administration lawmaker Saturday warned the government against the use of Palawan province’s share from proceeds of the Malampaya natural gas royalty to finance the proposed P12-billion calamity fund, saying the Supreme Court has yet to rule on the legal dispute involving such proceeds.

“While we understand and condole with victims of Ondoy, we would like to be assured that the local share of Palawan in Malampaya will not be used in the P12-billion rehabilitation fund because there is a pending case in SC on the ownership and location of gas field,” Palawan Rep. Abraham “Baham” Mitra said in text message to reporters.

Mitra made an appeal to the national government after the Senate issued a statement that the calamity fund will be sourced from the “unprogrammed funds” under the 2009 national budget and proceeds from Malampaya share of the national government.

The P12-billion will be used to rehabilitate areas devastated by calamities, including tropical cyclones “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”

The provincial government of Palawan had earlier sued the national government over its claim on the Malampaya proceeds, citing a provision in the 1991 Local Government Code.