2011 Proposed Budget, Prone to Corruption

The Aquino administration’s proposed P1.645 trillion ($37. 386) national budget for 2011 has been criticized as prone to corruption.

The budget allocated for the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel is P 24.8 billion ($5.64 million) – an increase by P13.9 billion or 129 percent from the current allotment.

“Going against public clamor, the President not only maintained but also increased the PDAF by several fold. PDAF – or pork barrel – guarantees congressional alignment to the presidency in exchange for annual “development funds” much of which ends up in corruption,” Cenpeg said.

Cenpeg also said the large allocation of pork barrel “undercut Congress’ independence and its role as a check-and-balance vis-à-vis the President.” Cenpeg explains that by maintaining and increasing the pork barrel, the President has given corruption a tacit endorsement. “Governance by political patronage makes the Aquino presidency no different from Arroyo. The higher the expectation of the chief executive is from the dominant traditional legislators to support his legislative and political agenda, the bigger the pork barrel must then be allocated.”

Ibon Foundation also noted what it calls dubious budget allocation such as the P29.2 billion ($663 million) budget for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), especially its Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program. These, according to Africa, “creates massive opportunities for patronage politics at both the local and national levels.”

The think-tank also noted a vague large lump-sum item for locally-funded projects under the Department of Agriculture (DA). “Public-Private Partnership Support Fund” under the DA Office of the Secretary has an allocation worth P5 billion ($113.64 million). “Lump sum funds are prone to corruption. Who decides on how these funds are going to be used?” Africa asked.

These large amounts, according to Africa, will be prone to corruption if there is no real anti-corruption drive in government. “While the seeming moves towards greater transparency of the Aquino administration are welcome, it remains to be seen how far these will really have an affect beyond public relations gimmickry,” Africa said. (Bulatlat.com)

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