Roxas reiterates position on P200-M PDAF

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today formally reiterated his decision not to avail this year of his P200 million Philippine Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) annual allocation that, since late 2005, Malacanang has not released anyway.

In a letter to Sen. Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, Roxas said he would not avail of his PDAF "in light of the need to allocate more resources for emergency programs to deal with the effects of the global financial crisis."

Roxas said he hopes his PDAF allocation would be used instead by the national government for programs that would help alleviate the living conditions of the poor and on enhancing education and healthcare services to the people.

"Certainly, we continue to hope and be vigilant that the public coffers be used solely for the welfare and benefit of our people, and not for partisan political activities," he added.

Roxas had earlier suggested to Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that his PDAF share be allocated to the Department of Trade and Industry for small and micro-lending facilities to generate more small and medium businesses which will fuel the economy in the rural areas and generate more employment in this time of crisis.

He also suggested that additional funding be given to the Department of Agriculture’s rice and fertilizer programs to help farmers cope with inflation and to ensure food security.

Malacañang has not released the PDAF allocation for Roxas and other opposition senators and congressmen since 2005 when the "Hello Garci" controversy linking Mrs. Arroyo to cheating in the 2004 presidential elections erupted and the Liberal Party, which Roxas heads, withdrew its support for the President.

Friday, April 17, 2009 | posted in edgardo angara, hello garci, juan ponce enrile, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, pork barrel | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas gives up "again" his P200 million pork barrel

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today announced he was giving up his P200 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for 2009, as he called on the public to closely monitor President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's implementation of the P1.43-trillion 2009 national budget to prevent its misuse for Charter Change and partisan activities.

"Muli ay hindi ko gagamitin ang aking PDAF. Kailangang magkaroon tayo ng pondo para sa mga programang naglalayong mabawasan ang epekto sa ating ekonomiya nitong krisis pinansiyal na umaapekto sa buong mundo (Again, I am not using my PDAF, in the light of the need to allocate more resources for emergency programs to deal with the effects of the global financial crisis)," Roxas announced as the Senate ratified the 2009 General Appropriations Act.

Roxas has not received any of his PDAF allocation since the latter half of 2005 after the Liberal Party which he heads withdrew its support to the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

"We will make sure that President Arroyo will not misuse the P1.43 trillion budget that Congress approved for her government for corruption like the fertilizer fund scam, the botched NBN-ZTE deal and other anomalies that occurred during her eight-year stay in office," the LP president said.

Roxas said he had requested Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile that his PDAF share be given to the Department of Trade and Industry for small and micro-lending facilities to generate more small and medium businesses which will fuel the economy in the rural areas and generate more employment in this time of crisis.

He said he also suggested that additional funding be given to the Department of Agriculture's rice and fertilizer programs to help farmers nationwide cope with inflation and to ensure food security.

He insisted more has to be done by the government aside from mere lip service, noting that despite President Arroyo's announcement her administration will come up with safety nets to reduce the effects of the world financial crisis, he has yet to see any concrete action.

"Nasan na 'yung sinasabi ni GMA na mga safety nets, mga emergency programs, para doon sa mga maaapektuhan nitong krisis pinansiyal na ito? Wala pa rin akong nakikitang konkretong aksyon ng gobyerno. Ano pa ba ang hinihintay nila? (Where are the safety nets, the emergency programs, promised by GMA? I have yet to see concrete action from this administration. What are they waiting for?)" he asked.

Thursday, January 22, 2009 | posted in charter change, da, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, pork barrel | 0 comments [ More ]