Capitol allots P103M ‘pork’ to towns, cities

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government has set aside at least P103 million assistance funds for its component towns and cities in 2016 — an election year.

The amount, which will be coursed through the offices of the governor, vice governor, and Provincial Board members, will be gi-ven to barangays, towns and cities that sought financial assistance from the Capitol.

The funds are among the items that form part of the P520-million Annual Investment Plan funded through the 20 percent development fund, taken from the Internal Revenue Allocation share of the Capitol from the natio-nal government.

The item entitled “Assistance/Subsidy to LGUs/Institutions on Investment/Capital Expenditure Projects/Activities” is to be divided by three offices.

The governor will get P60 million, the Vice Governor’s Office P9 million, and the 15-member PB P34 million.

The amount, which was similar to pork barrel, was started during the term of then Governor Pablo Garcia which had delegated funds for board member constituents seeking assistance.

The AIP will be incorporated into the proposed annual budget of the Capitol to be submitted to the PB by Governor Hilario Davide III by October 15.

During the Provincial Development Council  (PDC) “Full Council” meeting at the Cebu Grand Hotel, the entire  amount was approved by mayors and other sectoral representatives present.

Other items in the AIP include the P47-million budget for the procurement of hospital equipment as well as renovation and construction of health facilities; P32 million for food production and livelihood; among others.

At least P256 million was allocated for heavy equipment loan, road construction and rehab, and the building of farm-to-market roads.

A total of P133 million was also proposed in the AIP for the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan which will pave the way for the creation of a regular Disaster Office.

The amount will also be used to stockpile disaster relief goods which will be readily sent to towns and ci-ties that needed assistance.

During the meeting, PB Member Grezilda “Gigi” Sanchez-Zaballero asked the Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) to include in its data the breakdown of items from the 2015 AIP so PB members can intelligently decide whether to grant funds anew in 2016 especially that some of the items have not been spent yet.

She cited items in the hospital equipment and those of the disaster offices.

A resolution containing the endorsement from the PDC on the AIP was approved unanimously although some mayors have been apprehensive about a proviso in the resolution prepared by the PPDO. A provision in the endorsed resolution specifies that the governor will be given authority to realign or augment items in the budget when needed.

Davide on the other hand is also apprehensive of the provision. He however assured that in the spirit of transparency, everytime he will realign, he will still consult approval from the PB.

Under the Local Government Code, LGUs shall allocate an AIP in the annual budget which is at least 20 percent of the IRA they got from the national government. — (FREEMAN)