MANILA, Philippines – In line with President Aquino's mission of transparency in government programs, a legislator has called for a full disclosure by his colleagues of their countrywide development fund or pork barrel consumpion.
"Let us publish the specific use of the allocations every six months in national newspapers, and post them on the websites of the House and the Senate, for all to see and scrutinize," Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. said in a statement.
Full Disclosure
Bargaza made the proposal amid the brewing dispute over the proposed cutback in the pork barrel of legislators.
He said the proposal is "also consistent with the new administration's promise to improve governance."
"Personally, I have no problem with slashing the pork barrel, as long as it done fairly and equitably, to include the executive branch, in the spirit of burden-sharing," Barzaga said.
He also urged the new administration to draw up a definite strategy to address this year's projected P300-billion budget deficit.
"If the deficit is P300 billion, should we bridge it with P150 billion in extra revenue collections, and a P150-billion budget cut? Or should we just lessen the budget by P300 billion?" Barzaga added. - By Dennis Carcamo
