http://www.sunstar.com.ph/Thursday, August 8, 2013
BAYAN Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares on Thursday demanded Malacañang to explain the P75 billion "unli" or unlimited pork barrel realigned to various projects in 2012 without the approval of Congress.
In the first hearing of the House committee on appropriations on the proposed 2014 state budget Wednesday, Budget Secretary Butch Abad admitted that Malacañang got hold of P75 billion in funds from government agencies and realigned these to various projects.
Abad cited National Budget Circular 541, which allows Malacañang to use the funds which remain unobligated by June 30, 2012 not only to augment existing programs of any agency but also "fund priority programs and projects not considered in the 2012 Budget but expected to be started or implemented during the current year."
"This is an almost unlimited presidential pork barrel because it has been suddenly transformed into a lump sum amount and allows the President to choose projects and beneficiaries for the said fund," Colmenares said.
Colmenares pointed out that the said provision could be "constitutionally infirm" as the Constitution states that no public fund shall be disbursed without appropriation by law.
"Malacañang should explain what projects were funded and the amounts realigned thereto because with this circular the President practically enjoys 'unli'- pork," the party-list lawmaker said.
Colmenares said Malacañang should submit to Congress documents showing how much of the unused funds were returned to the Budget department, and which projects they were spent on. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
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