Lawmaker appeals to GMA for ‘pork’ to be released

A Mindanao congressman pleaded with President Arroyo yesterday to release the pork barrel funds of House members.

Davao del Sur Rep. Douglas Cagas told his colleagues that he could understand if the President, who reportedly clears all pork barrel fund releases, does not release money for opposition lawmakers.

But Mrs. Arroyo should not withhold the funds of administration congressmen "because we fought for her," he said.

He said unless taxpayers’ money allotted to his district is released, there would be "trouble" when the House tackles the President’s proposed P1.136-trillion 2007 budget.

Cagas added that he is embarrassed with his town mayors and constituents "who are the beneficiaries of my funds."

He pointed out that he could not join the opposition "because they are in a worse situation since they have not been receiving their funds."

Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin, who was presiding over yesterday’s session, said he hoped Malacañang would heed his colleague’s plea.

Unlike administration lawmakers who are getting their funds for 2006, many opposition congressmen have yet to receive their allocations for 2005. Some of them still have unreleased 2004 funds.

Rep. Joel Villanueva of the party-list group Citizens Battle Against Corruption told reporters that unless their funds are replenished soon in several government hospitals and public schools, they would have to turn away people seeking their help for hospitalization, medicines and medical procedures, and scholarship grants.

"We have thousands of these people. Kawawa naman sila (We pity them), but it’s not our fault if we are unable to help or continue helping them. We just have to blame Mrs. Arroyo, who is withholding their money," he said.

Officially, House members have P40 million each in pork barrel allocations. But according to Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, appropriations committee chairman, pro-administration congressmen have been receiving an additional P30 million from the President.

Salceda plans to officially fix the allocation at P70 million in the 2007 budget.

The opposition bloc led by Minority Leader Francis Escudero is suggesting that for purposes of transparency and greater accountability, congressmen’s projects be listed in detail in the budget law. — Jess Diaz