Castro says alleged P160M per congressman ‘not pork’

MANILA, Philippines —  Despite concerns raised by Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, House Majority Leader Rep. Fredenil Castro (Capiz) said that the P160-million allocation per congressman in the 2019 budget is “not pork.” 

Castro said in an interview with Philstar.com on Monday that the number is “just a talking point” and denied that the amount was exactly P160 million per representative.

“If the proposal is approved, it's not pork - because everything is itemized, everything is accounted for,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

Castro was referring to an issue raised in a tweet by Lacson last week.

“160M pork for each congressman, and billions more for a few others plus 23 [billion] for some senators on the DPWH budget alone is too much and unacceptable.” 

160M pork for each congressman, and billions more for a few others plus 23B for some senators on the DPWH budget alone is too much and unacceptable. I may be outvoted eventually but I’m willing to go down fighting, confident that some like-minded colleagues will do the same.

— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) January 31, 2019

“It’s not a lump discretionary sum where the congressmen can just use it for whatever,” Castro added. He emphasized that whatever allocations would be given for certain projects would have to be itemized in the General Appropriations Act. 

Pork barrel or the Priority Development Assistance Fund was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013 after it was discovered that billions were allegedly being funneled into dubious non-governmental organizations. 

RELATED: ‘PDAF unconstitutional’

The government is currently operating on a reenacted budget. The delay over the GAA's passage is due to disagreements over alleged insertions in the budget. 

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said last week that he was in favor of extending the reenacted budget for the rest of 2019 due to pork accusations. 

“Considering the numerous allegations being leveled at the 2019 budget both from the House of Representatives and Senate, I will propose to Sen. Loren [Legarda], as chair of the finance committee, to withdraw the Senate GAB version and go for a reenacted budget,” Sotto told reporters through a Viber message last week.

Experts say operating under a previous year’s budget has always been seen as prone to corruption because it gives the president the power to determine which projects to fund and reallocate the “savings” elsewhere.

READ: Why a reenacted budget is not good news for the Philippines

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno has also warned on several occasions that the delayed approval of the 2019 national budget would likely dampen the economy, which needs state spending to fuel growth as household consumption remains in retreat due to inflation and high interest rates.

Also, recently approved last week was a resolution changing the rules to access the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of members of the House of Representatives. 

READ: A closer look at new House rules for 'easier' SALN access

The request would have to be made through a committee, which would then evaluate the request and notify the lawmaker concerned.

New rules on access to House members' SALNs has been criticized by sectors who said the statements should be readily available to the public for transparency and accountability purposes.

Castro denied accusations that the rules make it more difficult to access SALNs. The House resolution states, though, that: “The SALN Review and Compliance Committee may grant or deny requests for access to the filed SALNs of House Members, officers or employees, provided that access to copies of the SALNs of House Members by the public shall be referred to the House plenary for final determination.”

He said that if the committee denies the SALN request, it might be taken up by the plenary.

Castro took over the majority leader post of Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. (Camarines Sur) on January 21 after the latter took over as chairman of the appropriations committee. 

Both are allies of House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (Pampanga).

READ: Andaya steps down as House majority leader

Congress will be on recess by February 15 before the campaign season begins.