Bicol congressmen received a total of P3.881 billion pork barrel funds between 2009 and March 2013, according to the records of the Department of Budget and Management. The amount represent funds released to 24 present and past congressional representatives of the six Bicol provinces.
| Representative | District | Amount | |
| 1 | Bravo, Narciso Jr. R. | 1st District, Masbate | P266,000,000.00 |
| 2 | Fuentebella, Arnulfo P. | 4th District, CamSur | 223,500,000.00 |
| 3 | Kho, Antonio T. | 2nd District, Masbate | 220,000,000.00 |
| 4 | Escudero, Salvador III H. | 1st District, Sorsogon | 218,850,000.00 |
| 5 | Villafuerte, Luis R. | 3rd District, CamSur | 216,750,000.00 |
| 6 | Ramos, Deogracias Jr. B. | 2nd District, Sorsogon | 215,000,000.00 |
| 7 | Lagman, Edcel C. | 1st District, Albay | 198,194,000.00 |
| 8 | Gonzalez, Fernando V. | 3rd District, Albay | 190,000,000.00 |
| 9 | Unico, Renato Jr. J. | 1st District, CamNorte | 190,000,000.00 |
| 10 | Panotes, Elmer E. | 2nd District, CamNorte | 190,000,000.00 |
| 11 | Andaya, Rolando Jr. G. | 1st District, CamSur | 190,000,000.00 |
| 12 | Fortuno, Salvio B. | 5th District, CamSur | 190,000,000.00 |
| 13 | Lanete, Scott Davies S. | 3rd District, Masbate | 190,000,000.00 |
| 14 | Co, Christopher S. | Ako Bicol | 190,000,000.00 |
| 15 | Garbin, Alfredo Jr. A. | Ako Bicol | 190,000,000.00 |
| 16 | Bichara, Al Francis DC. | 2nd District, Albay | 189,000,000.00 |
| 17 | Sarmiento, Cesar V. | Lone District, Catanduanes | 188,500,000.00 |
| 18 | Batocabe, Rodel M. | Ako Bicol | 187,000,000.00 |
| 19 | Arroyo, Diosdado Ignacio M. | 2nd District, CamSur | 60,000,000.00 |
| 20 | Seachon-Lanete, Rizalina L. | 3rd District, Masbate | 55,000,000.00 |
| 21 | Santiago, Joseph A. | Lone District, Catanduanes | 45,300,000.00 |
| 22 | Chato, Liwayway V. | Lone District, CamNorte | 43,300,000.00 |
| 23 | Lim, Reno G. | 3rd District, Albay | 32,800,000.00 |
| 24 | Alfelor, Felix Jr. R. | 4th District, CamSur | 2,000,000.00 |
| Grand Totals | P3,881,194,000.00 |
Checking now into per fiscal year allocation shows a better understanding of each lawmaker’s share. First table below is the most current PDAF release for lawmakers up until the close of the 15th Congress.
No PDAF was allocated or released to Camarines Sur 2nd District representative Dato Arroyo by Malacanang/DBM. Makes one ponder the effect of withholding any fund release for the congressman who happened to be the son of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Was it a clear sign of vindictiveness on the part of the present administration? Somehow, the constituents of the district were the ones jointly penalized.
Comparing the tables now, the current term of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III pork barrel fund released to congressmen (June 2010 onwards) has a very noticeable increase by leaps and bounds versus the previous administration of Macapagal-Arroyo ( May 2010 and backwards). That increase further fueled the appetite of congressmen for pork barrel and corruption, as P-Noy’s Malacanang used the carrot and stick approach.
Have you checked the current news update on PDAF? Well a total of 38 persons were charged with either plunder, malversation, direct bribery and/or graft and corrupt practices in connection with Janet Lim-Napoles’ alleged pork barrel scam, according to the Department of Justice. This piece of information published in The Bulletin Today. And more of a confirmation than a surprise, one Bicolano representative Ex-Rep. (now Masbate Gov.) Rizalina Seachon-Lanete (amount of kickbacks from Napoles: P108.4 million) was one prominently listed. We pray tell that she may not be that last Bicolano politician accused of alleged PDAF malversation, etc.
Raps of plunder, etc are actually based on the findings of the Commission on Audit based on PDAF funds released covering only the period from 2007-2009.
The Commission on Audit has released its Report on the Special Audit it conducted on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and Various Infrastructures including Local Projects (VILP).
The PDAF and VILP are the amounts provided in the General Appropriations Act as funding sources for projects of legislators. PDAF is intended to fund “soft” projects under the category of education, health, livelihood, social services, financial assistance to address specific propoor programs, peace and order, historical, cultural and arts, as well as small infrastructure projects like irrigation, rural electrification, water supply, housing and forest management.
VILP, on the other hand, is intended for “hard” projects under the category of public works. For each Senator, the annual allocation is PHP 100 Million for soft projects and PHP 100 Million for hard projects, or a total of PHP 200 Million
For each Congressman and Party List Representative, the annual allocation is PHP30 Million for soft projects and PHP 40 Million for hard projects, or a total of PHP 70Million.
| PDAF Releases of District Representatives for Fiscal Year 2013 | |||
| District | Legislator | ||
| 1 | 1st District, Albay | Lagman, Edcel C. | 35,000,000 |
| 2 | 3rd District, Albay | Gonzalez, Fernando V. | 35,000,000 |
| 3 | 2nd District, Albay | Bichara, Al Francis DC. | 0 |
| 5 | 1st District, Camarines Norte | Unico, Renato Jr. J. | 35,000,000 |
| 6 | 2nd District, Camarines Norte | Panotes, Elmer E. | 35,000,000 |
| 8 | 1st District, Camarines Sur | Andaya, Rolando Jr. G. | 35,000,000 |
| 10 | 3rd District, Camarines Sur | Villafuerte, Luis R. | 35,000,000 |
| 11 | 4th District, Camarines Sur | Fuentebella, Arnulfo P. | 35,000,000 |
| 12 | 5th District, Camarines Sur | Fortuno, Salvio B. | 35,000,000 |
| 14 | Lone District, Catanduanes | Sarmiento, Cesar V. | 33,500,000 |
| 16 | 1st District, Masbate | Bravo, Narciso Jr. R. | 35,000,000 |
| 17 | 2nd District, Masbate | Kho, Antonio T. | 35,000,000 |
| 18 | 3rd District, Masbate | Lanete, Scott Davies S. | 35,000,000 |
| 20 | 1st District, Sorsogon | Escudero, Salvador III H. | 20,000,000 |
| 21 | 2nd District, Sorsogon | Ramos, Deogracias Jr. B. | 35,000,000 |
| District Reps Totals | 473,500,000 | ||
Table below shows the PDAF 2012 release by Malacanang/DBM. Constituents of congressman Arroyo will ask, why the zero amount? Because the Palace did not release any centavo , thus zero.
| PDAF Releases of District Representatives for Fiscal Year 2012 | ||
| 1st District, Albay | Lagman, Edcel C. | 70,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Albay | Bichara, Al Francis DC. | 105,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Albay | Gonzalez, Fernando V. | 70,600,000 |
| 1st District, Camarines Norte | Unico, Renato Jr. J. | 70,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Camarines Norte | Panotes, Elmer E. | 70,000,000 |
| 1st District, Camarines Sur | Andaya, Rolando Jr. G. | 71,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Camarines Sur | Arroyo, Diosdado Ignacio M. | 0 |
| 3rd District, Camarines Sur | Villafuerte, Luis R. | 90,000,000 |
| 4th District, Camarines Sur | Fuentebella, Arnulfo P. | 70,000,000 |
| 5th District, Camarines Sur | Fortuno, Salvio B. | 70,000,000 |
| Lone District, Catanduanes | Sarmiento, Cesar V. | 70,000,000 |
| 1st District, Masbate | Bravo, Narciso Jr. R. | 70,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Masbate | Kho, Antonio T. | 70,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Masbate | Lanete, Scott Davies S. | 70,000,000 |
| 1st District, Sorsogon | Escudero, Salvador III H. | 69,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Sorsogon | Ramos, Deogracias Jr. B. | 75,000,000 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 1,110,600,000 | |
Table below list the Malacanang/DBM release for Bicol congressmen for 2011. Again, no pork barrel fund for Dato Arroyo.
| PDAF Releases of District Representatives for Fiscal Year 2011 | ||
| District | Legislator | Total |
| 1st District, Albay | Lagman, Edcel C. | 70,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Albay | Bichara, Al Francis DC. | 35,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Albay | Gonzalez, Fernando V. | 69,400,000 |
| 1st District, Camarines Norte | Unico, Renato Jr. J. | 70,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Camarines Norte | Panotes, Elmer E. | 70,000,000 |
| 1st District, Camarines Sur | Andaya, Rolando Jr. G. | 69,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Camarines Sur | Arroyo, Diosdado Ignacio M. | 0 |
| 3rd District, Camarines Sur | Villafuerte, Luis R. | 50,000,000 |
| 4th District, Camarines Sur | Fuentebella, Arnulfo P. | 70,000,000 |
| 5th District, Camarines Sur | Fortuno, Salvio B. | 70,000,000 |
| Lone District, Catanduanes | Sarmiento, Cesar V. | 70,000,000 |
| 1st District, Masbate | Bravo, Narciso Jr. R. | 70,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Masbate | Kho, Antonio T. | 70,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Masbate | Lanete, Scott Davies S. | 70,000,000 |
| 1st District, Sorsogon | Escudero, Salvador III H. | 70,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Sorsogon | Ramos, Deogracias Jr. B. | 65,000,000 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 988,400,000 | |
Pork barrel fund release of Malacanang/DBM for the year 2010.
| PDAF Releases of District Representatives for Fiscal Year 2010 | ||
| District | Legislator | Total |
| 1st District, Albay | Lagman, Edcel C. | 16,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Albay | Bichara, Al Francis DC. | 30,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Albay | Gonzales, Fernando V. | 15,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Albay | Lim, Reno G. | 10,000,000 |
| 1st District, CamNorte | Unico, Renato Jr. J. | 15,000,000 |
| 2nd District, CamNorte | Panotes, Elmer E. | 15,000,000 |
| Lone District, CamNorte | Chato, Liwayway V. | 25,000,000 |
| 1st District, CaSur | Andaya, Rolando Jr. G. | 15,000,000 |
| 1st District, CamSur | Arroyo, Diosdado M. | 30,000,000 |
| 2nd District, CamSur | Villafuerte, Luis R. | 30,000,000 |
| 3rd District, CamSur | Fuentebella, Arnulfo P. | 17,000,000 |
| 4th District, CamSur | Alfelor, Felix Jr. R. | 1,000,000 |
| 5th District, CamSur | Fortuno, Salvio B. | 15,000,000 |
| Lone District, Catanduanes | Santiago, Joseph A. | 14,000,000 |
| Lone District, Catanduanes | Sarmiento, Cesar V. | 15,000,000 |
| 1st District, Masbate | Bravo, Narciso Jr. R. | 30,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Masbate | Kho, Antonio T. | 30,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Masbate | Seachon-Lanete, Rizalina L. | 15,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Masbate | Lanete, Scott Davies S. | 15,000,000 |
| 1st District, Sorsogon | Escudero, Salvador III H. | 29,500,000 |
| 2nd District, Sorsogon | Ramos, Deogracias Jr. B. | 15,000,000 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 397,500,000 | |
Pork barrel release for Bicol congressmen in 2009.
| PDAF Releases of District Representatives for Fiscal Year 2009 | ||
| District | Legislator | Total |
| 1st District, Albay | Lagman, Edcel C. | 7,194,000 |
| 2nd District, Albay | Bichara, Al Francis DC. | 19,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Albay | Lim, Reno G. | 22,800,000 |
| Lone District, Camarines Norte | Chato, Liwayway V. | 18,300,000 |
| 1st District, Camarines Sur | Arroyo, Diosdado M. | 30,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Camarines Sur | Villafuerte, Luis R. | 11,750,000 |
| 3rd District, Camarines Sur | Fuentebella, Arnulfo P. | 31,500,000 |
| 4th District, Camarines Sur | Alfelor, Felix Jr. R. | 1,000,000 |
| Lone District, Catanduanes | Santiago, Joseph A. | 31,300,000 |
| 1st District, Masbate | Bravo, Narciso Jr. R. | 61,000,000 |
| 2nd District, Masbate | Kho, Antonio T. | 15,000,000 |
| 3rd District, Masbate | Seachon-Lanete, Rizalina L. | 40,000,000 |
| 1st District, Sorsogon | Escudero, Salvador III H. | 30,350,000 |
| 2nd District, Sorsogon | Solis, Jose G. | 25,000,000 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 344,194,000 | |
Ako Bicol Party list representatives pork barrel funds for 2010 up until March 2013:
| PDAF Releases of Party List Representatives 2010 – 2013 | |||
| 2013 | Ako Bicol | Batocabe, Rodel M. | 32,000,000 |
| 2013 | Ako Bicol | Co, Christopher S. | 35,000,000 |
| 2013 | Ako Bicol | Garbin, Alfredo Jr. A. | 35,000,000 |
| 2012 | Ako Bicol | Batocabe, Rodel M. | 70,000,000 |
| 2012 | Ako Bicol | Co, Christopher S. | 70,000,000 |
| 2012 | Ako Bicol | Garbin, Alfredo Jr. A. | 70,000,000 |
| 2011 | Ako bicol | Batocabe, Rodel M. | 70,000,000 |
| 2011 | Ako Bicol | Co, Christopher S. | 70,000,000 |
| 2011 | Ako Bicol | Garbin, Alfredo Jr. A. | 70,000,000 |
| 2010 | Ako Bicol | Batocabe, Rodel M. | 15,000,000 |
| 2010 | Ako Bicol | Co, Christopeher S. | 15,000,000 |
| 2010 | Ako Bicol | Garbin, Alfredo S. | 15,000,000 |
| Total | 567,000,000 | ||
The Commission on Audit should uncover more anomalies, irregularities, corruption and wheeling and dealings if it continue the audit for the years covering the period from where it left off the present audit work. That next big job will obviously cover the current administration of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III. It will be a mine of mind-boggling information more than what was obtained lately.
Care enough to read about the COA Audit report, heed to this site Press Statement on Special Audit Report No. 2012.
Next, we try to peek on where the PDAF was intended to be spent for or finance what. For there is no way to ascertain if money released by DBM was really and rightfully spent. DBM did not care enough for that.
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Pinoy’s administration has a noble purpose of releasing these amount ;that is for the good of the people… the former pres. released very meager amount because the giant share were entered in her vault ..this likewise goes to show that the Phil. is a very rich country but infested with corrupt politicians , except PINOY
More a matter of “lost in translation,” when the leadership gears toward clean and honest government but the people below would not toe the line. It always happen. Pilferage and corruption rules rather than the exception. That is why posting this piece the editor opted for Atty Leni Robredo’s photo rather than the firing line IDs of the seasoned congressmen.
maraming problema ng kahirapan sa Bicol.. pero ang pinaka malala ang sitwasyong ng Siruma,, pwede bang usisain kung bakit hanggang ngayon, ganuon ang daan mula Naga hanggang Siruma,,
Will include a short discussion of your concern in our next post.