Talisay councilors to get P1M each in pork barrel

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the controversy surrounding the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel, legislators in Talisay City will receive their pork barrel next year. 

City budget officer Edgar Mabunay, in an interview with The Freeman, said the 2014 annual budget is now crafted to give each of the 10 city councilors including the vice mayor and the two sectoral representatives from the Association of Barangay Council and Sangguniang Kabataan P1 million. 

Mabunay said the pork barrel will be spent for soft and hard projects. 

Unlike in the case of the PDAF, which is given each year to representatives and senators in lump sum amounting to P70 million and P200 million, respectively, the projects of councilors are not to be implemented by non-government organizations. 

Mabunay said the city’s 2014 annual budget is estimated at over P600 million

Mayor Johnny Delos Reyes, during his inaugural address last July, promised to give each councilor and the vice mayor P1 million so they could easily extend assistance to persons who need their help.

Delos Reyes said the vice mayor and the council can use the funds for infrastructure projects, basic social services, and even for social activities of the barangays.

In a separate interview, Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante maintained that the funds for the legislators are different from the controversial PDAF. 

Villarante said that prior to the approval of the budget, councilors will have to submit a proposal for projects that they want to implement. 

He said the executive department will disburse the funds, but the councilors will be given the free hand to identify what projects to implement.

Among those that they will give attention to are drainage, street lighting, and road repair projects for the barangays. 

Majority floor leader Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, who chairs the health committee, said he would use the P1 million to buy medicines for the poor.  (FREEMAN)