Investigate all releases

Senator Chiz Escudero has proposed the expansion of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee probe in the pork scam to include all non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the 74 included in the Commission on Audit (COA) report other than the 8 linked with Janet Napoles. This is a move in the right direction.

The investigation should also investigate the use of funds coming from other lump-sum funds like the Malampaya fund, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Road Board funds, the P12-B farm-to-market fund of the Department of Agriculture, the lump-sum funds of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The investigation should further be expanded to cover all hard projects of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). TV and newspaper stories have reported unfinished or ghost road projects in Legaspi, Zamboanga, Cotabato, Maguindanao, Palawan, and Pampanga.

It is believed that lawmakers also get 30-40% kickback from favored contractors of hard projects, especially roads.

It should also be revealed who are the favored contractors who cornered most of the big projects including 2011-2012. A few contractors were awarded Road Board contracts.

There is also the matter of rigged bidding in DPWH contracts. Yes indeed, let’s expand the investigation to cover all funds, including intelligence funds of so many offices, including those given to Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC) executives.

The Inter-Agency Anti-Graft Coordinating Council (IAAGCC) investigation headed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales should also cover all funds and all releases to include those from 2010 to the present.

There are also consistent reports that one has to pay a commission to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) officials to get a release of funds.

No PSF listing

Up to this point in time, President Aquino has not complied with a  promise to issue a listing of the projects funded by his Presidential Social Fund (PSF) and the requesting sponsors for the same. It is therefore not clear yet that the PSF has not released funds to NGOs too.

The other fund begging for a report as to whom it has been released is the P165 billion Malampaya funds, of which P900 million has been released to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and also linked to NGOs.

Releases totalling P3 billion to the province of Palawan have also been questioned.

Recall the misuse of PCSO funds by President Arroyo.

AFP-MNLF clash

Forces of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) soldiers clashed in Zambonga City resulting in 6 dead, 14 wounded, and 20 civilian hostages taken by the MNLF. Flights to Zamboanga and classes have been suspended.

The incident expands the hostilities with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), to include now the MNLF. The MNLF through spokesman Atty. Emmanuel Fontanilla said, the MNLF soldiers were on the way to a peace rally when they were harassed by government troops.

It looks like this is just the start of clashes with the MNLF who have an estimated 10,000 armed men.

Rice prices up

The price of rice has gone up to P35-41 per kilo. DA Sec. Proceso Alcala suspects rice cartels and syndicates are behind the increase in prices. He says, there is enough supply with the government only importing 200,000 metric tons this year.

Rice smuggling has also added to the supply.

Sen. Loren Legarda has filed a resolution seeking an investigation of the increase in the prices of rice.

The next rice harvest is supposed to come in this month of September. There is no justification for the increase of prices of rice.

Insulting

The NCR Regional Wage Board has approved a measly P10 per day  increase in the minimum wage. Prices of rice, gasoline, cooking oil, meat, and vegetable prices are up. There’s an impending increase in water rates.

Certainly, the minimum wage is one clear way to help the poor as a big percentage of the population.

It is time to review the regional wage board mechanism. It is an anti-labor board because the government representatives usually vote with the management panel.

House scraps pork

The House committee on appropriations has recommended to the plenary session the abolition of the P27-billion PDAF.

It appears, however, that congressmen can still request funds for their district projects directly from the departments concerned including some GOCCs, and especially DPWH, DILG, and DA.

Congressmen are expected to be given at least P10 million each from lump-sum appropriations of the DA. Sen. Ralph Recto has identified the P94 billion lump-sum funds in the 2014 budget.

The congressman as in the past can also be allocated funds from the Road User’s Tax fund from the Road Board.

The lawmakers can also direct requests for school buildings to the Department of Education (DepEd) and requests for medicines from the Department of Health (DOH), and PCSO.     

Let us see how the P27 billion funds will be realigned and what restrictions will be provided in the budget for their release.

Ateneo law homecoming

The Grand Alumni Homecoming  of Ateneo Law hosted by Class ’89 will be held on October 18, 2013 at the New World Hotel, with its theme, “Generations of Ateneo Lawyers”. It honors families who have two or more members from Ateneo LAW as well as Jubilarian classes ’88, ’73 and ’63. Class ’89 has embarked on projects to help deserving individuals obtain an Ateneo Law education. To assist in their worthwhile efforts, we are encouraged to sponsor a scholar for a donation of P5,000 and get a chance a win a Volvo XC60. For details, please contact the Ateneo Law Alumni Office at 8997691 or 9865598.