Lawmakers slam alleged return of Pork barrel in 2017 national budget

FILE PHOTO (Photos by Benhur Arcayan / Lauro Montellano, Jr. / Malacañang Photo Bureau)

Manila, Philippines - A number of lawmakers slammed the accusation that there are plans to bring back the Pork Barrel in Congress amid the alleged Php80 million allocation fund for each members of the Lower House.

According to AKO BICOL partylist rep. Rodel Batocabe, what they are doing now is part of the budgeting process, wherein they identify the projects that need funding.

This is different from the system used in the PDAF, wherein they will only identify the project if it is approved already and the budget is existing already.

Former MMDA chairman and now Marikina Congressman Bayani Fernando likewise said that unlike the Pork Barrel system, lawmakers have no direct access on the said amount.

Their role in the budget is to only identify the projects that need budget for their districts.