Pangasinan solon: Lawmakers can still function effectively sans pork barrel DAGUPAN CITY, June 30 (PNA)-- With or without the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel, members of the House of Representatives can still function effectively. Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil (Second District) believes the members of Congress can still function effectively to the call of their duty as legislatures with or without the ‘pork barrel’. Bataoil said as members of Congress, the main duty of the representatives is to constitute, create, amend and pass laws that will support the programs of the executive branch. “It does not matter whether the pork barrel remains or not, what we can do is to make sure through public hearings that the funds will go to the priority development programs identified by the executive branch”, Bataoil said. Bataoil assured his constituents that he will actively monitor whether the funds are used appropriately by the agencies in case the PDAF is totally realigned to the concerned government agencies that deal with social services. He also stressed the need for wider information dissemination if the PDAF is transferred from the representatives to the other departments of government. “The people should be well-informed so that they will not look and search the funds from us”, Bataoil said. Meanwhile, Bataoil expressed how the recent "pork barrel scam" has been affecting most of the congressmen’s morale while he defended his accused colleagues saying that the financial transactions in Congress undergo processes determined by the Department of Budget (DBM). “We are saddened that there are this kind of scam said to be of the Congress and even of the Senate, in fairness to them, probably there might just be a mistake committed along the process”. Bataoil said that DBM has been strict with them, explaining that before a project is implemented, the proposal will pass through the approving committee then a menu will be provided by DBM, which will serve as their guide as to the priority projects for the calendar year. “We cannot implement a project that is not in the menu because DBM will not approve it and it will just be returned to us”. He also said that the implementation of the projects will be the responsibility of the concerned government agency or the local government unit. (PNA) PDS/LVM/HILDA MARTIN AUSTRIA/RMA
Posted on: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 08:39:24 +0000
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