Senators’ and Congressman’s Pork Barrel Exposed
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson recently revealed alarming figures regarding the pork barrel allocations of some lawmakers. According to him, one congressman received a staggering P15 billion in pork barrel funds. This revelation comes as scrutiny intensifies over how public funds are distributed.
Before the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), commonly called the pork barrel, was struck down by the Supreme Court, senators were allotted only P200 million, and House members received P70 million each. However, Lacson said these amounts have ballooned since the 2013 ruling that declared PDAF unconstitutional.
Massive Increases in Pork Barrel Funds
“Well, after it was declared unconstitutional, there are now senators with P5 billion, some even with P10 billion. And there’s a congressman with as much as P15 billion,” Lacson stated during a One News interview. This suggests a massive escalation in pork barrel funds despite the Supreme Court’s ban.
It has been 12 years since the Supreme Court struck down the PDAF in 2013. Yet, the allocation patterns suggest that pork barrel-like spending has resurfaced, raising concerns about transparency and fairness.
Budget Allocations Under Scrutiny
Lacson, who ended his Senate term in 2022, recalled efforts with then-Senator Franklin Drilon to remove budgets for dredging and flood control projects. They believed these projects were common sources of corruption. “We succeeded in removing them in the bicam before we termed out in 2022. Now they’re back with a vengeance,” he lamented.
In his recent review of the 2025 national budget, Lacson uncovered startling allocations. For instance, a small barangay in a tiny town received P1.9 billion, while another small municipality was allotted P10 billion. These figures suggest an inequitable distribution of funds.
Questioning Budget Fairness
“Imagine, a P10-billion appropriation for a small town with 10,000 residents. It is an inequitable distribution of the budget,” Lacson emphasized. He plans to seek clarification on why such a large sum was allotted to this particular town, especially since the funds were designated for flood control projects.
“We saw that it is near a riverbank, but is it the only town with a riverbank? These appropriations are for flood control,” he added. This raises questions about the criteria used to allocate these funds and whether favoritism or political influence is at play.
Ongoing Budget Review and Accountability
Lacson aims to start the 20th Congress with a strong focus on transparency and accountability. He is currently examining the budgets for 2023, 2024, and 2025 to identify irregularities and ensure proper distribution of public funds.
These revelations spotlight the urgent need for a more equitable and transparent budget allocation process. The public’s right to know how their taxes are spent remains paramount.
For more news and updates on lawmakers’ pork barrel allocations, visit Filipinokami.com.