Palace releases more than P7 B in pork barrel allocations

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has released more than P7 billion in pork barrel allocations to senators and congressmen.

However, many lawmakers are still “pork-less,” including the top leaders of the House of Representatives – Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II.

A Department of Budget and Management (DBM) report showed that as of last June 29, a total of P7.225 billion in pork barrel funds has been released.

Of that amount, P5.8 billion went to House members representing districts and P1.3 billion to members belonging to party-list groups. Some P184.1 million was released to seven senators.

Aside from Belmonte and Gonzales, House members who have not received their funds include former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, her sons Diosdado or Dato of Camarines Sur and Juan Miguel or Mikey of the party-list group Ang Galing Pinoy, and her brother-in-law Ignacio or Iggy of Negros Occidental.

They also include some of her staunchest allies – Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga, Danilo Suarez of Quezon, Martin Romualdez of Leyte, and Mitos Magsaysay of Zambales.

But their leader in the opposition – Albay’s Edcel Lagman – has received P35 million, which represents his full allocation for the first half of the year, the DBM report shows.

Each House member is entitled to an annual fund of P70 million, while each senator is allocated P200 million.

The seven senators who have received partial releases are Jinggoy Estrada, P50 million; Serge Osmenna, P46.2 million; Miriam Defensor- Santiago, P30 million; Francis Pangilinan, P20 million; Juan Ponce Enrile, P15 million; Franklin Drilon, P12.9 million; and Teofisto Guingona III, P10 million.

Aside from Belmonte and Gonzales, only one other Metro Manila lawmaker is still without “pork” – Tobias Tiangco of Navotas.

Their 26 other colleagues have received a total of P669.8 million. They are: Quezon City – Vincent Crisologo, P35 million; Jorge Banal Jr., P31 million; and Winston Castelo, P15 million; Manila – Benjamin Asilo, P35 million; Carlo Lopez, P20 million; Zenaida Angping, P20 million; Theresa Bonoan-David, P20 million; Amado Bagatsing, P35 million; and Rosenda Ann Ocampo, P11.9 million.

Caloocan City – Oscar Malapitan, P35 million; and Mary Mitzi Cajayon, P35 million; Makati - Abigail Binay, P35 million; and Monique Yazmin Lagdameo, P35 million; Las Piñas – Mark Villar, P14.2 million; Malabon City – Veronique Lacson-Noel, P35 million; Muntinlupa City – Rodolfo Biazon, P35 million. Parañaque – Roilo Golez, P35 million; and Edwin Olivarez, P34.8 million; Pasay City – Emi Calixto-Rubiano, P11 million; Pasig City – Roman Romulo, P35 million; San Juan City – Joseph Victor Ejercito, P35 million; Pateros – Arnel Cerafica, P35 million; and Sigfrido Tinga, P35 million; and Valenzuela City – Rex Gatchalian, P34 million; and Magtanggol Gunigundo I, P35 million.

The Metro Manila lawmakers are using their funds mostly for infrastructure projects. They also have financial, educational, medical, and livelihood assistance to constituents.

The biggest recipient of educational assistance funds is apparently a private training center – Asian Touch International Training Institute.

It is getting P10 million from Caloocan’s Malapitan and P13 million from Makati’s Lagdameo.

The funds were coursed through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. Other lawmakers are spreading their scholarship money among scores of institutions.

In the case of Bagatsing, for instance, he allocated P3 million among 65 public and private colleges and vocational schools, or an average of P46,153.85 each.  

Belmonte earlier told reporters that he has not submitted to the DBM his requests for the release of his funds and an accompanying list of projects.

In Tiangco’s case, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, in a text message to The STAR yesterday, said, “I think his PDAF (priority development assistance fund, the euphemism for ‘pork’) has already been released. It just got delayed.”

Sought for confirmation, Tiangco denied Abad’s message.         

“It’s still zero, as in zero, for 2011,” he said.