Abad: Non-Aquino allies also got DAP projects
MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers were able to propose projects to be funded under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) regardless of their political affiliations, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said Thursday.
During the Senate finance committee hearing on the DAP, Abad answered in the affirmative when asked if non-allies of the Aquino administration nominated projects.
"Kasama sa koalisyon or nasa oposisyon, nakanumbra ng proyekto," Abad told Senate President Franklin Drilon, a known Aquino ally.
Of the sitting senators when the DAP was still being implemented, only former Senator Panfilo Lacson did not ask for funds that were from the DAP, Abad said.
The budget chief added that Cabinet secretaries, party-list representatives and even those who are not politicians can propose projects.
"Maski na ho nasa minority ay napapagbigyan din po" Abad said, referring to Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Neri Colmenares.
"Maski na ho karaniwang mamamayan, nakakatanggap kami ng sulat," he also said.
According to reports, some officials who have been linked to the DAP controversy denied knowing that the budget allocated for their proposed projects were from the stimulus fund scheme.
But during the hearing, Abad insisted that the DAP was presented to senators as early as October 2011 and that it has been reported by the media since that year.
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