Watch group alarmed over alleged ‘pork’ revival

MANILA, Philippines - A budget watch group expressed alarm yesterday over reports that the pork barrel system has been revived in the proposed P3.35-trillion budget for 2017 despite a 2013 Supreme Court decision declaring it unconstitutional.

Social Watch Philippines (SWP) also lauded Sen. Panfilo Lacson for raising the issue and advising the legislators not to intervene in the crafting of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) since it would be encroaching on the function of the executive branch.

According to Lacson, the administration allowed each member of the House of Representatives to identify programs, projects and activities in the budget worth P80 million.

The group backed the call of Lacson for the Department of Budget and Management to reveal the alleged “pork insertions” by the legislators.

“We hope this government will abide by its promised change and veer away from the irregular practice of inserting projects that will render the agency hostage to the whims of the legislators,” Marivic Raquiza, SWP co-convenor, said.

“Senator Lacson was right in citing conflict of interest. How can the legislators examine the budget submitted by the executive when their ‘pet’ projects are embedded in these proposals?” she added.