IF HE had his way, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano will go after Pangkabuhayan Foundation Inc., (PFI) which duped Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., and Rep. Rene Velarde for P195 million released in 2009 and 2010.
“PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Funds) funds projects can help communities create jobs and build for the future. These funds should never be allowed to enrich unscrupulous organizations and individuals.” Cayetano said
With this, Cayetano urged fellow lawmakers to take a strong actions against fake non-government organisations (NGOs) and contractors availing of funding from government, especially from PDAF.
““We need to send a strong message that PDAF funds are a tool to help poor families all over the country,” he said.
He said that “Filipino families suffer daily from high prices of goods, lack of available jobs and low wages and we cannot stand idly while the funds that are supposed to be for them are stolen by these groups and individuals.”
The senator also encouraged lawmakers to file cases against erring contractors and to blacklist them in order to avoid further incidents of corruption. He added that by blacklisting these fake contractors and NGO’s, fellow lawmakers can create informed decisions before releasing their PDAF.
“Through this, we can help assure the people that their money is going to worthwhile institutions aimed at creating jobs and improving our communities,” he said.
Furthermore, Cayetano called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to ensure an NGO’s capacity to fully utilize the PDAF by conducting a strict and thorough internal audit of their track record and capabilities.
“The release of PDAF without implementing strict measures would allow corrupt practices to continue. Instead of the people’s money going to NGO’s and contractors aimed at helping those in need, they simply go to the pockets of unscrupulous individuals,” Cayetano said.
Earlier, the Commission on Audit (COA) blacklisted PFI, an NGO found to have been the recipient of P194.97 million in pork barrel funds from the four solons in 2009 and 2010.
In 2011 audit report, COA disclosed that the four solons released P206 million from their PDAF to the Department of Agriculture.
Auditors said that it was the lawmakers’ offices that specifically nominated PFI to implement their projects; the three senators denied this and demanded a clarification from the agency.
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