Senators’ pork total P200-M

November 25, 2007  --  Got something to say?
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Speaker Jose de VeneciaSpeaker Jose de Venecia who is calling for a moral revolution wants full transparency in the use of pork barrel funds. Each senator is entitled to P200 million a year (only Sen. Panfilo Lacson doesnt use it) and congressmen P70 million. Observing full transparency on the pork barrel by detailing projects would be our contribution to my proposal for a moral revolution by minimizing, if not eradicating, corruption, De Venecia said. Total pork for both houses is more than P21 billion our of the P1.227 trillion budget approved for next year.

He said that if projects funded by taxpayers money were listed in detail in the national budget, it would be difficult for lawmakers and other officials to engage in corruption. People will know what are their congressmens projects, their location, the amount of funds allotted to each project. They can then check on their implementation, he added.

De Venecia pointed out that at present, pork barrel allocations are in lump sums. The unbridled use of pork barrel funds by some lawmakers is an open secret. Some corrupt lawmakers were able to build palatial homes in affluent Metro Manila enclaves from kickbacks from contractors of pork barrel-funded projects. For instance, a corrupt senator pocketing just 10 percent of his funds in the form of commissions can make P120 million in his six-year term. He amasses P240 million if he gets 20 percent.

On the other hand, unscrupulous House members have been found to divert their funds to private foundations headed by their relatives. Some of hese lawmakers have cases pending with the Office of the Ombudsman.

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Posted by News Team | Filed Under Philippine News 

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