Bid to slash pork seen part of Congress scuffle
By Angie Rosales 07/08/2010 A senator expressed worry yesterday the proposal of certain Palace’s allies in the House of Representatives to slash by at least one-half the lawmakers’ pork barrel as related to the ongoing scuffle for leadership posts in Congress. Sen. Gregorio Honasan yesterday expressed concern over the move initiated by known political allies of President Aquino who yesterday said in his first media briefing in Malacañang that he will not abolish the “pork barrel” of members of Congress but added that the releases will be “limited.” Aquino said the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of every congressman and senator will stay but the figures will be reviewed. Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada and Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya, both of the LP, on Tuesday said that the Aquino administration plans to cut the pork from P200 million to P130 million for senators and from P70 million to P30 million for the members of the House. “It should not be used as a weapon or as a tool to force certain issues included in the legislative agenda of the present administration. We all know the political reality in our country,” he said in a phone-patched interview with reporters. “This is a personal opinion, I think the issue on the pork barrel is heightened now because we (in Congress) are in the process of defining the line as to who represents the minority or the majority blocs, the opposition and the pro-administration,” he said. “This should not be the case. Let’s not use it as a weapon or tool,” he added. .... MORESource: The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100708hed3.html |
0 comments
Post a Comment