Press Release
July 24, 2014

GRACE POE: HOW WERE DAP PROJECTS DETERMINED?

Sen. Grace Poe questioned the process of determining priority projects under the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) during the Senate finance committee hearing Thursday.

"Paano ba nadedetermina kung aling proyekto ng gobyerno ang bibigyan ng prayoridad at benepisyo sa DAP? Tinawag ba ang mga namumuno ng ahensya?" Poe asked.

Budget Secretary Butch Abad said, "Naglabas na ng EO (Executive Order) kung ano ang dapat paggugulan ng pondo--mayroong limang clusters ang gobyerno gaya ng human development cluster (na tumatalakay dito)."

In particular, Poe questioned the P2.7-billion DAP allocation for the Bureau of Customs' obligation under item 31. "Bakit naging prayoridad ito sa dinami-dami ng iba pang problema? Wala ba silang kakayahan... na galingan ang kanilang koleksyon? Bakit kailangang manggaling pa ito sa DAP?"

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima explained that the government decided to include the settlement of the obligation in the "house cleaning" undertaken by the Aquino administration.

At the same time, Poe asked for the Special Allotment Release Orders (SARO) in favor of local government units' priority projects, including the P750-million given to Quezon province. "May listahan po ba tayo ng SARO releases para dito at maaari bang makahingi ng kopya nito?"

The senator also questioned why the solution to the "cocolisap" menace was not immediately considered by the government. "Wala po ba tayong entry para matugunan ang cocolisap? Nagsumite ako ng resolution noong July 2013..."

In addition, Poe inquired on the status of projects led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under the DAP. Secretary Rogelio Singson said the total aggregate accomplishments is at 74%, including the flood control masterplan for Metro Manila.

Poe underscored the need to inform the public on the specific flood control projects, "Mahalagang malaman ng ating mga kababayan kung saan talaga napupunta ang bawat pondo."

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