Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

Don’t trim ‘pork’ – solon

Posted on July 13, 2010

PNS — A MILITANT lawmaker yesterday said slashing the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel will not solve corruption in the government.

Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello urged the allies of President Benigno Aquino III to study the proposal thoroughly as this will affect the delivery of needed services to the people especially the poor.

According to Bello, the important issues behind pork barrel are identifying what services and projects would best benefit constituents and what mechanisms can be implemented to curb the corruption that comes with the disbursement of funds.

Bello explained that the way PDAF is distributed, a legislator has full authority over which projects to undertake, and how the projects should be implemented.

“There is regulatory failure — the disbursement of PDAF lacks a mechanism that makes transactions transparent and officials accountable for their actions,” Bello said.

“Arbitrarily reducing the amount of pork barrel is not a solution to the problem of corruption,” he added.

Meanwhile, he is proposing an institutionalization of an anti-corruption mechanism that includes a full accounting of the ear-marked funds and an assessment of the quality of the projects that are undertaken.

Such endeavor necessitates the participation of members and officers of the local communities.

“Funds should be reallocated to improvement of delivery and reach of basic social services program as the previous administration has left a whopping social services deficit to the people” he also said.

The solon also proposed to include broadening of PhilHealth coverage and bigger budget for education in the reform package.

“Funds disbursed by the government must always prioritize the social welfare of the Filipino people, and must be accompanied by a checks and balances mechanism that would crack down on corruption,” Bello said.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme