Statement of Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto
I rechanneled my PDAF to the Calamity Fund

It is of public record that I requested that the P200 million in PDAF earmarked for my office be realigned to the Calamity Fund so it can be used to help Yolanda victims.

When faced with the choice of deducting the amount from the budget or giving it to victims of the most powerful storm in history, I had no qualms in choosing the homeless victims of that calamity.

Hindi ba humihingi pa nga ang gobyerno ng supplemental budget para sa reconstruction? Kung ganun ang pangangilangan, hindi ba ang dapat gawin ay dagdagan pa nga ang budget at hindi ito tapyasan?

The budget is a document that gives back to the people what they paid in taxes. Taxes are paid in cash but are reimbursed in kind. When what we rebate to the people is not equal to the taxes they paid, then we are shortchanging the people.

When faced with a series of calamities, the better choice is to rechannel the scrapped PDAF to relief than, say, park it in the Treasury where it might tempt our financial managers to use it to retire part of our country’s foreign debt.

Sa panahong salat sa pagkain ang mga biktima ng bagyo, giba ang mga kalsada, bahay at paaralan nila, hindi ba ang tamang desisyon ay ibigay sa kanila ang pondong may kapangyarihan ka kung paano gastusin kesa sabihin mo na ikaltas na lang yan sa pambansang budget?

When we cut the amount of PDAF from the budget, we in effect reduced the aid that could have been given to calamity victims.

Kung inyong matatandaan ang panawagan ko pa nga ay ilaan ang buong P2.4 bilyon na PDAF sa Calamity Fund para maibigay ito sa mga biktima ng bagyong Yolanda, lindol sa Bohol at kaguluhan sa Zamboanga.

What I proposed was that the pork barrel be pounded into school roofing or steel rods for roads and hospital buildings.

It is up to the President and his men to decide on where, how and when to use the Calamity Fund, including the amount I augmented. I will absolutely have no say on how it will be utilized.