'Gov't infra projects could fund Aquino bets in polls'

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is rushing to close the deals on the P20 billion of infrastructure projects within the first quarter of 2013 or before the election ban to fund the campaign of the administration candidates for the mid-term polls, a militant group alleged on Thursday.

"It is a fund generation campaign for the full-blown political consolidation of the Aquino ruling clique," Pamalakaya national chairperson Salvador France claimed.

Budget secretary Florencio Abad announced on Wednesday that the pre-procurement activities for the P20 billion infrastructure projects next year had been done.

Abad said the implementation of the projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program of the Aquino administration will roll out by first issuing the notice of awards and notices to proceed.

France said the P20-billion infrastructure projects will net some P8 billion in total commission for “operators” of the Aquino government.

"That savings representing the 20 percent standard operating procedure in government projects which will translate to P8 billion in total commissions and savings enough to finance administration backed candidates in May 2013 elections," France said.

France appealed to the public and anti-graft watchdogs to closely monitor the implementation of government projects which are potential source of election funds for pro-Aquino candidates next year.

He said the annoucement of the government projects for the first quarter of the 2013 was done simultaneously with the announcement of President Aquino that Aquio will lead the campaign offensive for senatorial backed candidates and other pro-administration candidates next year. - Dennis Carcamo