House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. on Wednesday played down Senator Panfilo Lacson’s allegation that Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had allocated each congressman a P60-million ‘pork.’
Andaya, representative of the first district of Camarines Sur, admitted though that lawmakers did get fundings for their pet projects under the national budget, carrying “the underlying principle here: No district will be left behind.”
This developed as House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez and House Deputy Minority Leader and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin echoed Andaya’s explanation.
Suarez, of Quezon, even advised Lacson to do his research on the alleged pork funds.
Garbin, a deputy minority leader, said it was unfair for Lacson to accuse congressmen of taking pork barrel, stressing senators also proposed projects like what they have been doing.
Andaya said the Arroyo-led House leadership would abide by the ‘constitutionally compliant’ line item budgeting system under the proposed P3.757-trillion national budget for 2019 to ensure a ‘pork-free’ National Expenditure Program.
“A Speaker has no power to distribute projects. In fact, no member of Congress, no senator can arbitrarily order that this amount is to be released for these projects. Fund releases are guided by the one official bible in spending, and that is the national budget,” Andaya said.
“And the one who approves releases authorized in the national budget is the DBM [Department of Budget and Management] secretary. It is a power that resides exclusively in the Executive. In our system of government, no member of the Legislative branch can order the downloading of funds from the treasury,” he added.
Andaya maintained that all lawmakers, including critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, would get funding for their pet projects in various legislatives districts in the country in 2019 national budget.
“All will get a share, a piece of the pie, for the benefit of their constituents. These are not pork barrel funds declared illegal by the Supreme Court… They have the right to enjoy the fruits of their taxes, regardless of their political affiliation. It is not an issue whether a lawmaker is an administration supporter or an opposition,” said Andaya.