NOV.

21, 2013

NR # 3294

Solons move forward and focus on vital legislative duties after SC PDAF ruling
Following the Supreme Court (SC) decision that the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) system was unconstitutional, House members today agreed that Congress would move orward and ocus on enacting vital legislative measures and e!ercising its oversight unctions or the bene it o the people" #ep" #odol o Albano $$$ (%st District, $sabela) said Congress would ocus on legislation especially about policy ma&ing that includes the allocation o resources, ta!ation and overseeing the unds o government" Albano said Congress would also ocus on per orming its oversight unctions specially on public spending" '(he SC decision was e!pected and practical" $ am not sad about it because we can improve and go on" )e can improve the budget system to ensure it must emanate rom the policy ma&ers" And as long as there is no political color attached to it, the system o dispensing services will redound to the bene it o the people,* said Albano, a member o the House Contingent to the Commission on Appointments" #ep" $sidro +ngab (,rd District, Davao City), Chairman o the House Committee on Appropriations, said he oresees a paradigm shi t in the legislature, which could lead to better governance and public service" '$n the past, most congressmen wor& hard to get pro-ects or their constituents" .thers may call it politic&ing, but usually our constituents loo& a ter the per ormance o a legislator in terms o the number o pro-ects brought in the barangays" /ow, $ oresee longer debates, more scrutiny o legislative measures passed, more investigations, more oversight committee unctions" $t0s the birth o a new style o legislative proceedings which $ hope would lead to better governance and public service,* +ngab said" First1term #ep" Samuel Pagdilao (Party1list AC(1C$S) said the SC decision settles once and or all the PDAF issue, and it was time or lawma&ers to move orward and ocus on enacting important bills and e!ercising its oversight unction" '$ welcome the decision o the SC on the unconstitutionality o the por& barrel which $ hope will 2uiet the public and put to rest the controversial issue o the PDAF" Congress should now move orward and ocus on enacting laws and e!ercising its oversight unction,* said Pagdilao"

Pagdilao said that as a irst term congressman, he has not e!perienced PDAF irst hand but had heard o its good side rom bene iciaries themselves" '$ have e!plained to my sector and constituents who e!pect no less than direct and immediate help and assistance rom me as their Congressman that $ will ta&e it upon mysel to see& answers to their needs not only through the enactment o remedial laws but also by representing them be ore the appropriate e!ecutive departments tas&ed to provide services and assistance,* said Pagdilao" 3arlier, Spea&er Feliciano 4elmonte, 5r" said the House can live with the SC decision and it would not be appealed" He said the House would instead wor& on a supplemental budget to rehabilitate calamity1devastated areas" He urther said that everyone should see the bigger picture, which is clari ying the situation contributing to the removal o patronage politics" (,6) rbb