A LAWMAKER on Sunday questioned the disparity in proposed funding for district engineering offices under next year’s budget, saying the allocation gaps and billions of pesos in new infrastructure projects could perpetuate political patronage.
Party-list Rep. Antonio L. Tinio said the proposed budget assigns P4.79 billion to the first district engineering office in Ilocos Norte, the largest allocation among 198 district offices, compared with just P40 million each for two offices in Davao City.
“This shows that the pork barrel system as carrot-and-stick is very much alive and kicking,” Mr. Tinio said in a statement.
“The allocation depends on the proximity to or distance from the kitchen, and on whether or not one follows the marching orders of Malacañang and the majority,” he added in Filipino.
The proposed allocation for Ilocos Norte’s first district office is also about 120 times the amount allotted to the smallest offices, Mr. Tinio said, adding that the figures exclude projects lodged under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office.
The proposed budget also includes 1,078 new Central Office projects worth P112.7 billion, of which 925 projects worth P110.6 billion cost at least P50 million each, he said.
“These are the largest insertions,” Mr. Tinio said, noting that most of the projects identify specific towns and roads.
The lawmaker called on House leaders to publish the complete list of 6,212 new projects worth P180.5 billion, including their locations and proponents, before the Senate deliberates on the proposed budget.
He said the public should be able to determine which districts received additional funding and which foreign-assisted and National Expenditure Program projects were cut or dropped to accommodate the new projects.
Mr. Tinio argued that the proposed funding could instead address shortages in classrooms, hospitals and rural health units, as well as the compensation demands of government workers. — Pexcel John Bacon