P-Noy’s ‘pork’ not from taxes – Palace

MANILA, Philippines - Unlike the congressional pork barrel, the President’s Social Fund (PSF) is not sourced from taxes and is not a fixed amount, Malacañang clarified yesterday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the PSF is also not funded by the General Appropriations Act.

She said the PSF funds do not come from tax collections or Customs tarriff or duties.

“It’s essentially a trust fund. We don’t propose an amount for PSF every year,” she said.

Valte said the PSF “is supported and replenished by a percentage of the profits” from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Pagcor and the PCSO remit a percentage of its gross income to the Office of the President.

“So, if in case this fund has not been totally utilized, it is rolled over to the next year, that’s why it’s continuing. It’s really a trust fund,” Valte said.

She said those who are interested to know where PSF funds went could check the website of the Commission on Audit (COA).

“At the end of the calendar year, all is summarized, the observations are all summarized in the annual audit report that COA posts and uploads as soon as they finish it,” she said.

“We invite everybody to look at these COA reports to familiarize themselves with its contents,” she added.

Valte said calamity, contingency and miscellaneous personnel benefits funds are among the items being funded by the PSF.

She cited the funds used for the rehabilitation of areas damaged by Typhoon Pablo, which were drawn from the PSF.

“It is obviously something to draw out in times of need. Typhoon Pablo, for instance, was estimated to have needed P11 billion to rebuild those areas. And that’s unprogrammed, unforeseen,” she said.

Unfazed

Meanwhile, Valte stressed that President Aquino was unfazed by Monday’s anti-pork barrel rally in Rizal Park.

She said the President is “very cognizant” of the anti-pork barrel sentiment and the possible filing of charges against lawmakers alleged to be involved in the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

Valte said the President wanted to be sure that charges would be filed only against those whom evidence of irregularity can be presented.

Last week, Aquino said he would prefer that erring lawmakers and other officials alleged to be involved in the anomaly would be convicted under his term.

However, he admitted that it could take time before a ruling could be handed down.

“I’m told that for one case to be finished will take around three to five years,” he said. “So, at the very minimum, cases will be filed – and that is my expectation. And I will be on their case, hopefully, especially for those under the executive,” he said.

The President also appealed to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and COA Chairman Grace Pulido-Tan to speed up the investigation and the filing of charges. “We want to have a clear example that crime does not pay,” he said.