P2-billion ‘pork’ released this week

The Department of Budget and Management promised yesterday to release at least P2 billion this week in congressional pork barrel funds to appease pork-hungry House members.

Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin made the promise in a closed-door meeting with congressmen which Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. arranged to quell a brewing revolt over delayed releases of pork barrel funds.

The complaining lawmakers were threatening to hold President Arroyo’s proposed P804-billion 2003 budget hostage unless their funds were released.

Emerging from the meeting, De Venecia said members of his chamber are mostly satisfied with Boncodin’s commitment.

"We have agreed on a gradual release of funds in order not to prejudice our economic pump-priming efforts in the countryside," he said.

De Venecia said he and his colleagues have also agreed to expedite the approval of a bill creating the National Transmission Co. (Transco), the corporate vehicle for the sale of the power transmission facilities of the National Power Corp. (Napocor).

"The sale of these assets will generate at least $2 billion which will be used to pay off part of Napocor’s debt, and that will mean reducing the government deficit and the purchased power adjustment," he stressed.

While their boss sounded confident that he has minimized their discontent over delayed fund releases, many House "porkers" remained unsatisfied.

"They are never satisfied. But you cannot squeeze blood from stone," said Deputy Speaker Raul Gonzalez.

Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. (Lakas, Camarines Sur) said he hoped his colleagues "would be reasonable and would not take it against the (2003) budget."

"We really cannot do much. The government is short of funds. Everyone should understand that," he said.

Andaya chairs the appropriations committee, the panel that scrutinizes the President’s budget proposal and determines its final shape.

Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said some of his colleagues understand the government’s financial predicament and others do not.

"Yung iba may mga pangako ng proyekto (There are those who have already promised some projects)," he said.

Rep. Charity Leviste (Lakas, Mindoro Oriental) said Boncodin’s promise should appease the discontent of many House members.

She said she and her colleagues would have something to save them from embarrassment from their constituents.

"I’m sure Palace officials want to release as much funds as they can if the government has money. But the government is financially hard up, and we cannot do much about that. We in fact should understand this predicament," she said.

Another Lakas congressman, Rodolfo Albano of Isabela, said "pork or no pork, we should not delay the approval of the 2003 budget."

According to Deputy Speaker Gonzalez, the P2 billion to be released this week will be paid to contractors.

"It’s part of the payment backlog of about P4.6 billion," he said.

Some House members privately told reporters without elaborating that "there will be millions to go around once the money is released."