PNoy signs 'pork-less' P2.26T national budget for 2014

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III on Friday signed the P2.265-trillion national budget for 2014, which is purportedly without the controversial Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) of lawmakers.

Aquino signed the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2014 which is 13 percent or P258.7 billion higher than this year's budget.

Of the approved budget for next year, 37.2 percent (P841.8 billion) will be allocated to social services; 26.2 percent (P593.1 billion) will go to economic services; 16.7 percent (P377.6 billion) to debt burden; 16 percent (P362.6 billion) to general public services; and four percent (P89.5 billion) to defense.

After the country faced deadly disasters this year, the Calamity Fund, which had been renamed as the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Fund, was ramped up to P13 billion from P7.5 billion.

Another P20 billion has also been allocated to the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Program, while P80 billion has been channeled toward reconstruction projects under the Unprogrammed Fund.

The national budget introduced and approved by Congress is lower than Aquino's proposal of P2.268-trillion.

Most of the reduction represents the combined PDAF for each of 15 senators worth P200 million and the social fund of Vice President Jejomar Binay, also worth P200 million.

After the P10-billion pork barrel scam was exposed earlier this year, the President himself announced that it was time to abolish the PDAF. The Supreme Court also ruled that the pork barrel was unconstitutional.

Some senators and most of the members of the House of Representatives realigned their pork barrel allocations to other programs.

"Now, not only will we be able to undertake priority projects immediately; we are also closing loopholes that can lead to the abuse of power and to the abuse of our national coffers," Aquino said in Filipino after signing the national budget.

But Aquino noted that the reforms of his administration continue after the supposed abolition of PDAF.

"The reforms we are implementing in government do not end with our abolition of PDAF. We crafted the National Budget for 2014 to strengthen the transformation of the management of our nation’s coffers," the President also said in his speech.