De Lima says Region 2 solon linked to fake SAROs, 3 other regions probed

 Entertainment
Dec 042013
 
De Lima says Region 2 solon linked to fake SAROs, 3 other regions probed

Senator Teofisto Guingona III, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, poses questions to Janet Lim-Napoles, alleged pork barrel scam mastermind during the hearing on Thursday (Nov. 7, 2013) at the Senate building in Pasay City. (MNS photo) MANILA (Mabuhay) – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday said the National Bureau of Invetigation is already investigating the possible involvement of a lawmaker from the Cagayan Valley Region in the Department of Budget and Management’s supposed release of “fake” Special Allotment Release Orders (SAROs) worth P879 million for farm-to-market-road projects in four regions. In an interview with reporters, De Lima said the anomaly involved “12 to 13 fake SAROs” that were presented to the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Offices not only in Cagayan Valley (Region 2) but also in Calabarzon (Region 4A), Western Visayas (Region 6), and Soccsksargen (Region 12). “Staff ng isang congressman from Region 2 ang unang nagpakita ng fake SARO na iyan, doon sa regional field unit of Region 2… So we do not know what is the extent of the participation of that particular congressman. Is he an innocent recipient of the SARO or not?” said De Lima, adding that the lawmaker’s staff had already been issued a subpoena. De Lima refused to identify the lawmaker while investigation is ongoing. According to the Commission on Audit, a SARO is a “specific authority issued to one or more identified agencies to incur obligations not exceeding a given amount during a specified period for the purpose indicated.” Read More …

DBM releases P3.38 B to NHA for housing dev’t

 Economy
Dec 032013
 
DBM releases P3.38 B to NHA for housing dev’t

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Budget and Management approved the release of P3.38 billion to the National Housing Authority (NHA) for the continued implementation of its housing development and settlement program. The money will be used to cover the construction and completion of off-city housing projects which include 3,086 housing lots as well as  address the perennial flooding in several problematic areas in Metro Manila by relocating informal settler families to safer ground. “The Aquino administration still prioritizes the implementation of housing projects and the relocation of informal settler families from pre-determined danger areas , especially because we continue to experience the effects of the rainy season and the risks associated with storms and weather disturbances,”DBM Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said. “At the end of the day, the primary goal is to prevent the potential loss of property and lives caused by flooding, primarily through the provision of safe housing alternatives to our informal settlers,” he added.  As of August 2013, the NHA has already spent  P3.82 million for the development of 12,941 off-city lots, of which 12,291 housing units have been constructed.  This benefited about 6,511 families. The money was likewise used to beef up its land holdings. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 According to the DBM, a total of 24,851 new housing units will be built upon completion of the housing program in 2014. The P3.38 billion cash funding, sourced from  2011 savings, was transferred to the NHA from the Bureau of Treasury Read More …

SolGen asks SC to junk DAP cases for lack of merit

 News
Nov 072013
 
SolGen asks SC to junk DAP cases for lack of merit

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), representing the Aquino administration, on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to junk all cases filed against the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) for lack of merit.   In a 41-page comment, the OSG asked the high court to dismiss all petitions against DAP for “lack of merit” and deny the application for a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction. “The burden is on the petitioners to establish their case and prove grave abuse of discretion on the part of the respondents [but] the petitions, mostly anchored on newspaper clippings and media reports, are miserably lacking on the allegations of facts that would support a claim of grave abuse of discretion,” it said. “It is incomprehensible, therefore, given the insufficiency and uncertainty of facts, how petitioners can allege grave abuse of discretion,” it added. Last week, parties in at least eight petitions challenging DAP’s legality agreed to answer six main questions during oral arguments before the SC on Nov. 11. Among these questions are on the nature of the DAP, whether it is a fund or a program, and the legal basis for its creation. In its comment, the OSG said DAP is “neither a fund nor an appropriation but a program or an administrative system of prioritizing spending.” “As is obvious from its name, it is a program for accelerating disbursements. What is only unstated in the title of the program—DAP—is that the sources of funds are from, first, the legitimately-generated savings Read More …

Ex-Pres. Arroyo, Ermita, ex-DAR, DBM execs, 20 others rapped with plunder on P900-M Malampaya fund scam

 Entertainment
Oct 042013
 
Ex-Pres. Arroyo, Ermita, ex-DAR, DBM execs, 20 others rapped with plunder on P900-M Malampaya fund scam

Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (MNS Photo) MANILA, Oct. 3 (Mabuhay) – The Dept. of Justice on Thursday filed plunder charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against former President and now Pampanga (2nd District) Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and several former and current government officials in connection with the alleged P900-million Malampaya Fund scam. The P900-million fund was supposed to be intended for the victims of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in September 2009 and was allegedly disbursed through the local government units. Aside from Arroyo and Ermita, also charged with plunder and violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act were former Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles and the presidents of the 12 non-governmental organizations of Napoles. Also charged were former Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Rafael Nieto and DAR finance officer Teresita Panlilio; former Budget Secretary and now Camarines Sur Rep. Rolando Andaya, Jr., and Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos. In the sworn statements filed at the Ombudsman, Napoles allegedly conspired with the other respondents to make it appear that the local government officials have a legitimate request to the Department of Agriculture for the materials and equipment for the farmers for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and repair of damages brought about by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in 2009, however, no delivery of the same was made. The complaint alleged that Executive Order 848 was issued on Oct. 13, 2009 by then President Arroyo which was made as the basis of the Oct. 8, Read More …

Economic stimulus? Honestly?

 Economy
Oct 032013
 
Economic stimulus? Honestly?

It is called the Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP. Calling DAP an economic stimulus seems like an afterthought concocted by a devious bureaucrat to justify the use of taxpayer money in less than honorable ways. If this happened during Ate Glue’s watch, I wouldn’t have been surprised. That it happened under P-Noy’s Daang Matuwid makes it a painful betrayal of the public trust. I don’t buy the DBM’s justification of its existence as a means to get the economy moving at a time when the government agencies like DOTC couldn’t get their projects going. It is difficult to understand why, as Sec. Abad gives the impression, government agencies can move fast when funded by DAP but exhibit poor absorptive capacity with their regular budgets. The better way to stimulate the economy is to get the infrastructure agencies to move their projects. The jobs created as well as the benefits the infra projects will bring will certainly boost the economy… legally and morally. It is noteworthy we only heard of how DAP actually works the past few days. We only found out because Jinggoy Estrada revealed it as his defense on the pork issue. There were press releases and news reports in the Official Gazette on it but said nothing about asking senators to nominate projects, in the case of Sen. Frank Drilon, P100 million worth. I am glad to note that I am not the only one originally madly supportive of P-Noy who does not buy this DAP story. Indeed, Read More …

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