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By Dale G. Israel, Reporter, CDN

About P5.7 million of the “pork barrel” of Provincial Board (PB) members were spent mostly to finance fiesta celebrations last year—dwarfing in comparison the amount spent for other projects such as agriculture at only P15,000.
According to a summary report of the Priority Development Fund (PDF) expenditures in 2010, a total of P10.4 million were used by all the 15 Provincial Board Members including Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. to finance requests from the towns.

The report divided the expenses into six main categories including “infrastructure projects” which was allocated a total of P3,373,705; P335,000 for “community development outreach projects”; P441,385 for “social services development”; P485,000 for “economic development”, and P40,000 for “Peace and Order”.
Agriculture expenditures fall under the category Community Development Outreach Projects. The financial assistance granted to fiesta celebrations were categorized under “sports, arts, and culture development.”
The projects listed in the report, a copy of which was obtained by , were all contained under various approved Board resolutions from January to December 2010. The report forms part of the Accomplishment Report submitted by the Secretariat to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

Provincial Board Member Agnes Magpale, a senior member of the PB being their Pro Tempore, admitted yesterday that the “sports, arts, and culture development” was mostly the title used in giving out financial assistance to various fiesta celebration activities which included sports leagues, pageants and even festival dances.

In her case in the 5th district, she said that she also used the same category to buy musical instruments such as rondalla for Danao City and the towns of Borbon and Sogod. This is also where she placed the purchase of basketballs and volleyballs for various barangays, too.

Each of the 15 PB Members is allocated at least P4 million in PDF. The same amount was given for 2011 although Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia instituted changes in the processing of the pork barrel whose amount is already incorporated under the Office of the Governor instead of placing it under each PB member's budget.
“It really becomes an issue on priorities hinuon kay gamay ang agriculture but mag-agad raman gud mi sa request sa barangays. Although I validate (requests), but they are the ones who ask. I always rely on the request of the barangays,” said Magpale, who is affiliated with the majority bloc at the PB. “I can very well account for all my PDF.”

PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy, the lone opposition board member, likewise, echoed Magpale's explanation saying board members only act on the request of their constituent barangays.
“I trust that the barangay official knows what they needed. I would like to think nga mao gyud na ilahang kinahanglan...kay we are not we are not in the position to assume what they needed,” Sitoy added.

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