Malacañang: PSF, SPF and DAP not Aquino’s pork barrel

This is in response to Norman Bordadora’s article, titled “P600B Aquino pork OK’d in 45 minutes” (Front Page, 10/25/13). My office has always trusted in the integrity of the Inquirer, and I know personally that Bordadora is a competent and credible reporter. However, in this instance, I believe his report was unfair.

Referring to savings and other unprogrammed funds—such as the President’s Social Fund (PSF), the Special Purpose Fund (SPF), and even the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), among others—as the “pork barrel” of the President editorializes the report, as it implies not only the abuse and misuse of these funds but also that the funds, by their very existence, are suspicious.

The Aquino administration uses these funds for their proper purpose and in a transparent manner. For instance, a stringent approval process accompanies the very limited releases from the PSF. And the Malampaya Fund has only been used by this administration for projects and equipment that clearly benefit the energy sector. Calling these funds the President’s “pork barrel” classifies them in the public consciousness with past abuses of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, and disregards the prudent, responsible manner in which the Aquino administration has chosen to disburse them.

I am sure that, upon further examination of the story, the Inquirer will see my point. I hope that editorializing news reports in this manner can be avoided in the future.

—RAMON A. CARANDANG,

secretary,

Presidential Communications

Development and Strategic

Planning Office

There is nothing in the report that ties President Aquino’s appropriations to corruption and abuse.  The President’s Special Purpose Fund has been called by people in and out of government as Mr. Aquino’s pork barrel, along with the Disbursement Acceleration Program, in the sense of its lump-sum and discretionary nature.

—NORMAN BORDADORA, reporter, Inquirer