This has reference to the news report titled “COA to 5 cities, town: Return unused PDAF.” The title of the article misled the readers about the status of the unused Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) issued in the city of San Juan, Metro Manila, by citing the December 2013 COA Report.
To be fair to the San Juaneños, let it be known to the public that the city of San Juan, through its government on May 15, 2014, returned to the Bureau of Treasury the amount of P23,373,137.56 representing unused PDAF balances. The PDAF allotments came from various senators and House of Representatives members. The city government expedited its return as soon as the finance team was able to determine the exact unused portion of the fund.
San Juan puts a premium on good governance and transparency, and strongly supports the passage of a freedom of information law. Should the Inquirer need more details, the City Public Information Department can be contacted at 7290005.
—GRACE V. CORTES-PARDINES,
city information officer,
Public Information Department,
City of San Juan