CONGRESSWOMAN Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said the proposal to slash the Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF) should be carefully studied before its implementation.
Salazar issued the statement amidst proposal to reduce the PDAF allocation of the members of the House of Representatives.
The proposal to slash the PDAF of the congressmen is primarily to help the National Government to resolve the budget deficit.
Salazar said the reduction of PDAF allocation would mean lessening local services and beneficiaries for health insurance, medical assistance, livelihood support programs, and other financial assistance for the target sectors of the society.
At present, each of the members of the House of Representatives has an annual allocation of P70 million in PDAF.
“This will bear a lot in the delivery of basic services to the people,” Salazar said citing the proposal has to be properly studied and reviewed.
She said PDAF is an additional budget for the implementation of pet project for each member of the House of Representatives in his or her district though the primary goal of the congressmen is to legislate.
The congressmen will have to tighten their belts in the implementation of projects for the constituents in their respective districts if and when the decision is to reduce the PDAF allocation, Salazar said.
Salazar, who is on her second term, has allocated millions worth of funds out of her PDAF during her first term in office to expand the beneficiaries of the Philhealth insurance, academic scholars, livelihood trainings, medical assistance and other projects.
Salazar’s district covers 37 of the city's 98 villages. (Bong Garcia)