Guingona stops P27M PDAF to Capitol

CEBU, Philippines - The office of Senator Teofisto Guingona III has stopped the transfer of his P27-million pork barrel fund to the Province of Cebu that was earlier released through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7.

Guingona earlier granted the request of Gov. Hilario Davide III in a Sept. 17, 2013 letter addressed to DSWD-7 Director Mercedita Jabagat for the transfer of the funds.

"The instruction was gi-hold na gyud," said lawyer Ramil Abing, Davide's chief of staff, yesterday.

Before the May 2013 elections, Guingona gave P20 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) through the DSWD-7 for rice assistance under the agency's Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Service (Kalahi-CIDSS) program.

Kalahi-CIDSS is a community-driven development project implemented by the DSWD that trains communities and their respective local government units to choose, design, and implement sub-projects that address their most pressing needs. 

Of the P20 million, only P2 million was released to intended beneficiaries in Danao City.  Guingona then added P9 million, this time for the third district of Cebu, increasing the amount that is currently with the DSWD-7 to P27 million.

Davide wanted the funds be transferred to the Capitol so that it can use the money to give rice assistance to indigent families.

The Provincial Board (PB) has already authorized Davide to enter into and sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Jabagat on the transfer of P18 million from the P27 million to the Capitol.

The MOA between DSWD-7 and the Province of Cebu is a requirement for the fund transfer.

Abing said a MOA for P9 million was already signed but the amount cannot be used following the Supreme Court order presidential directive to suspend all PDAF-related projects.

He earlier said that the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the P9 million was covered by the directive since it was issued this year.  The Saro for the remaining P18 million was issued in 2012 yet so it would have been okay to have the amount released.

"Unfortunately, na- covered jud sa prohibition sa PDAF," said Abing after he followed up the fund with Guingona's office. (FREEMAN)