Davao City dads fight over ‘pork’ allocation

DAVAO CITY — Members of the Davao City council have been fighting over the distribution of "pork barrel" included in the P1.72-billion budget which Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is proposing for next year.

At least P35 million of the P1.72-billion budget has reportedly been allotted for infrastructure projects which the councilors would implement.

However, 11 members of the city council’s minority bloc cried foul because they were earmarked only P500,000 worth of projects each compared to the P1.5 million worth of projects which every councilor belonging to the majority would get.

The squabbling has resulted in bitter exchanges of accusations among the councilors with the minority bloc refusing to allow the majority members to get what the council’s finance committee earlier allocated for them.

"It has become a highly divisive issue in the council. I hope they will be able to resolve the matter soon," said one of the councilors who requested anonymity.

Duterte has refused to intervene and allowed Vice Mayor Luis Bonguyan to resolve the controversy.

Bonguyan said the distribution of pork barrel may seem unfair to members of the minority bloc but that they have to understand the situation.

Bonguyan said he never went overboard in the distribution of infrastructure projects.

"They have to understand that that is what they would get for being in the minority. I have been a minority councilor for years before I became vice mayor and I never complained," he said.

Duterte’s proposed P1.72-billion budget hinges on his administration’s major thrusts that include the delivery of health services, education, environment protection and peace and order.