Monday, August 25, 2004 9 senators: Cut our pork by half By Mia E. Abellana
CEBU CITY -- As nine administration senators agreed to slash their pork barrel by half for 2005, Cebuano legislators have varied views on the plan, one of the suggestions raised to avert a fiscal crisis.
Rep. Antonio Yapha (Cebu Province, 3rd district) is willing to slash his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) by 50 percent as long as the needs of his constituents are met.
Towns in his district need farm-to-market roads, road repairs, bridges, electrification and water systems, he said.
"I am okay with it as long as someone can take over the needs of my constituents if my PDAF is slashed," Yapha told Sun.Star Tuesday night.
A resolution to reduce their PDAF by half was signed yesterday by Senate President Frank-lin Drilon and Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Juan Flavier, Raplh Recto, Ramon Magsaysay Jr., Pia Cayetano, Rodolfo Biazon, Lito Lapid and Richard Gordon.
P10B savings
The move was in line with President Arroyo's 10-point agenda, which includes balancing the budget, Pangilinan told ANC last night.
Each senator gets at least P200 million in PDAF each year to fund projects. Along with what the Lower House lawmakers get, the annual tab for the pork barrel can go up to P20 billion.
The Senate resolution came on the heels of President Arroyo's admission last Monday that the country is in the midst of a fiscal crisis. Slashing the pork barrel by half was among the suggestions raised by a group of economists, and President Arroyo herself has urged Congress to pass new tax measures to curb the deficit.
Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north), explained that representatives allied with the administration have urged their members to align their PDAF with the 10-point agenda of President Arroyo.
The President's agenda includes: the creation of six million jobs; support for 10 million entrepreneurs through loans; sending school-age children to uncrowded classrooms; balancing the budget; linking the country through a network of transport and digital infrastructure; giving power and water to all barangays; spreading economic activity outside Metro Manila; computerization of the elections; peace in Mindanao; and and end to the divisive issues of Edsa 1, 2 and 3.
Cost-cutting
Del Mar, however, said there would be no need to slash their PDAF if the alignment is sufficient to the people's needs, according to the President's agenda.
The deputy House speaker for the Visayas said they would consider slashing the pork barrel allocation if the alignment of funds is not enough.
"As to how much, I cannot say yet," del Mar said.
Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south) said in a separate interview that the administration representatives have already agreed to adopt certain cost-cutting measures.
They agreed in a caucus last month to concentrate the use of their PDAF on school buildings, health services and farm-to-market roads, but have not yet agreed on the reduction of their pork barrel funds, Cuenco said.
Rep. Clavel Martinez (Cebu, 4th district) for her part said she did not want to give her opinion on the matter.
Four other Cebuano members of the House were not reached as of press time.
Less oil
Also Tuesday, government launched a campaign to trim oil consumption by 12 percent to deal with high crude prices.
The campaign aims to achieve "energy savings of 23 million barrels of oil, equivalent to savings of US$784 million" yearly, Energy Secretary Vincent Perez told reporters.
"At the moment, the savings measures are all voluntary. We have not yet crossed the line to mandatory measures," he said. "We will never consider gas rationing."
President Arroyo is to jumpstart the initiative by asking all government offices to trim their fuel and electricity consumption by 10 percent and save about P400 million a year, Perez said.
Shopping malls and moviehouses may be asked to shorten their business hours as well.
Perez said the government may also launch an information campaign to spread energy-saving tips and promote a "car-less" day every week to encourage the public to car-pool with neighbors and friends, or switch to public transport.
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Government presents plan to cut power, oil use