COA Chairperson Ma. Gracia Pulido-Tan, in her press briefing last Friday, said the release of pork barrel funds to NGOs, which had connections to sponsoring legislators or their relatives, is among the evidence they found on how government money is being spent without necessary safeguards.
According to her, such releases, like those given by some 12 senators and more than 180 congressmen to around 82 bogus or questionable foundations and groups, did not go through public bidding. This means lawmakers are given a free hand to choose who will use their PDAF allocations for their projects.
The COA report recommended among others that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issue “specific and stringent guidelines on the utilization of PDAF and the participation of NGOs.â€
Tan said the special audit also recommended that legislators limit their participation to identification of projects and ensure that these are eligible under the terms and provisions of the General Appropriations Act.
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Topic: 6 lawmakers gave ‘pork’ to themselves – COA report (Read 679 times)