Binay asks Congress to scrap his ‘pork’

MANILA, Philippines - To stop political intrigue, Vice President Jejomar Binay asked Congress yesterday to scrap the P200-million local projects fund or his so-called pork barrel from the 2014 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Binay said he made the decision to end speculations and politicking on the true nature of the fund.

He said he hopes that this would assure the Filipino people that government officials are sensitive to their sentiments and are committed to serve with transparency and accountability.

“I am aware that many projects will be affected by my decision, like the college scholarships of poor but deserving students, distribution of medicine and the construction of buildings for senior citizens,” Binay said in a statement read by his chief-of-staff Benjamin Martinez before the Senate committee on finance yesterday during the hearing on the 2014 national budget.

“But I know that the people will understand my decision,” he added.

Binay said that since he assumed office the locally funded projects of the OVP have all passed scrutiny of the Commission on Audit (COA).

“This did not only pass with the Commission on Audit, but it was also praised by COA in recognition of the orderly handling by the OVP of its fund that benefited the people,” Binay said.

Binay said he decided to request Congress to remove his fund even if the authorities have not declared yet the true nature of his fund to end speculations and politics about it.

“I hope that my decision will give the people the understanding that we in government are sensitive towards their interest and we are ready to serve them,” Binay said.

With the removal of the P200 million, the OVP’s budget is down to P217 million from the original P417 million that Binay’s office was requesting.

The Vice President previously allocated part of the OVP’s P200-million fund for the construction or repair of senior citizens’ centers nationwide.

From 2011 to 2012, the OVP bankrolled the construction or repair of 500 senior citizens’ centers.

Around 200 more centers are expected to be built this year. Part of the fund was also used for the Vice President’s scholarship grant-in-aid program. 

The OVP currently has 1,160 scholars in state colleges and universities nationwide and an additional 180 beneficiaries from AMA Computer University/ACLAC/ABE, St. Jude College and Medical Center, Manila Central University, Manila Business College and University of Batangas.

A June 19 report of the COA lauded the OVP’s social services programs including providing medical, dental, burial and transportation assistance to some 31,691 indigent beneficiaries nationwide. – With Marvin Sy