DBM won't cut lawmakers' pork

MANILA, Philippines - Budget and Management Secretary Florencio Abad on Wednesday said that the government will not cut the Priority Development Assistant Fund (PDAF) for the year 2014 amid the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

Abad said in a radio interview that instead of cutting the PDAF, more known as the pork barrel, the agency will implement measures to prevent anomalous and irresponsible use of the pork.

The government has earmarked P27 billion for the lawmakers' PDAF in 2014.

Abad, meanwhile, clarified that his department should not be held liable for the multi-billion pork barrel scam, allegedly involving several senators and House representatives. The lawmakers' PDAFs were allegedly channeled to "ghost projects" and fraudulent non-profit organizations.

"As far as DBM is concerned, we only release to agencies. We never release to non-government entities," Abad said.

He explained that the release of funds are based on the recommendations of congressional committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

"Insofar as the budget releases are concerned, on their face, they're all regular as far as we are concerned because the requests are endorsed to us by the respective committees on appropriation or finance by the chamber and on that basis we issue the allotments," the official said.

Abad also vowed to put a cap on projects that would be funded by lawmakers and limit the kinds of projects that can be assisted through pork.