Senators Heed Palace’s Call to Disclose DAP Expenditures

Manila (PNA) – Senate President Franklin Drilon on Tuesday joined the list of senators who have responded to the challenge of Malacañang to disclose where they spent the funds they received under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

Drilon heeded the calls for transparency and accountability by releasing documents pertaining to the P100-million fund he availed of under DAP.

“It is important for the public to be aware of how every centavo of the DAP funds was spent, and to where it all went. Let our people see everything, and judge,” said Drilon.

“I have been an advocate of a transparent government. I believe that all projects which involve public funds should be disclosed to the public, and open to scrutiny anytime,” he stressed.

Drilon said he already released to the public and media where the DAP funds he received had gone to as early as October of last year.

Drilon reiterated that the P100-million he received under the DAP went to the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center which President Benigno S. Aquino III inspected last June 27.

He said the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center is in line with the objective of the DAP “to boost growth” as the project will create more job opportunities, generate economic activities, promote tourism in the country, and pump-prime the economy.

The Senate leader said the project was funded upon his request to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Nov. 14, 2012.

“We hereby request for the release of funds in the FY 2012 General Appropriations Act (R.A. 10155) in the amount of One Hundred Million Pesos for the construction of Iloilo Convention Center chargeable under the Department of Public Works and Highways,” Drilon said in a letter addressed to Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad.

The Senate leader said that a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) A-12-01294 was issued on Dec. 12, 2012 to the DPWH central office as the implementing agency to fund the construction of the Iloilo Convention Center in Iloilo Business Park, Barangay Airport, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

A SARO is a document that authorizes the agency to enter into an obligation or commitment, noted Drilon.

The Senate chief underscored that official records clearly show that every peso in his DAP funds went to a worthwhile project which will expand tourism industry in Western Visayas.

Last Monday, Sen. Francis Escudero said his own P100- million DAP funds were used in helping indigent patients, hospitals and rehabilitation of public markets.

Escudero said none of the DAP funds allocated to him went to non-government organizations (NGOs), specifically those linked with the alleged pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim Napoles.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has also released the details of the DAP funds allocated to him.

Trillanes named at least 10 projects funded by his DAP allocation in nine areas in Luzon and the Visayas such as construction and rehabilitation of multi-purpose buildings, fire stations, gymnasiums and film centers.

”Just to clarify, this P50 million is not in the form of cash, but rather fund allocations for projects identified by legislators,” Trillanes said. (PNA) SCS/JFM