Dapat tigilan ang umano’y pagkakait o pagkaantala ng pondo sa mga distrito bilang “political punishment” sa mga kongresistang kumokontra sa posisyon ng mayorya.
Ito ang panawagan ng National Unity Party (NUP) nitong Miyerkules, September 30, kasabay ng pagtutulak ng special provisions sa proposed 2027 national budget para matiyak ang patas at agarang paglabas ng pondong inaprubahan ng Kongreso.
“The practice of punishing districts and communities for any opinions or votes contrary to majority positions that are expressed by their representatives should be ended,” sabi ni NUP chairman at Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno. “We are, after all, a democracy.”
“We’re supposed to be speaking out. That’s why congressmen are here. We’re supposed to express the opinion of our districts.”
Ayon sa NUP, may persistent reports ng delay sa infrastructure funds sa ilalim ng 2025 at 2026 national budgets. Tinatayang 40 porsiyento ng DPWH projects sa 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) ang naghihintay pa umano ng implementation.
Kinuwestiyon din ng partido ang sinasabi nitong “uneven and selective” na programming at pagpapatuloy ng DPWH projects. May mga proyektong napondohan na pero kalaunan ay idineklarang non-implementable ng district offices nang walang paliwanag, ayon sa NUP.
“The consequence of all this is felt most by local communities because every unreleased peso drives up project costs through delay, and leads directly to unbuilt roads, unopened classrooms, and lost local jobs,” pahayag ng partido.
Hindi lang infrastructure ang tinukoy ng NUP.
Sinabi nitong may problema rin sa paglabas ng halos P300 milyong Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) at P120 milyong Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP).
Itinanggi naman ni DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian na may iniipit na AICS funds.
“Nationwide, our offices are open and processing assistance requests from Filipinos asking for help. Our offices are located in cities and municipalities, regardless of party affiliation of the congressperson representing that particular district,” sabi ni Gatchalian.
“You can fact-check me. Please deploy your people to check on our various offices,” dagdag niya.
Ayon naman kay Puno, may reports mula sa ilang NUP members na hindi nailalabas ang pondo sa kanilang distrito.
“When a congressman does not vote the way the majority wants us to vote, it is not the correct reaction to deprive their constituents and their voters and their communities of whatever assistance they deserve,” aniya.
“So if there’s going to be retaliation, target us instead, not the district,” dagdag niya.
Kinilala rin ni Puno na may matagal nang practice sa Kongreso na magkaroon ng consequences sa lawmakers na hindi sumusunod sa majority vote.
“Those consequences basically consist of non-cooperation or non-assistance in your projects with regard to your province. Sometimes it results in cancellation of projects and so on,” sabi niya.
Hindi siya nagbanggit ng partikular na mambabatas na umano’y pinarusahan.
Para tugunan ang problema, nais ng NUP na awtomatikong ma-release ang infrastructure appropriations sa oras na maging epektibo ang 2027 GAA at alisin ang “For Later Release” tagging.
Itinutulak din nito ang agarang release ng AICS at MAIFIP funds, pati ang mahigit P44.7 bilyong bahagi ng sin tax revenues para sa MAIFIP at Health Facilities Enhancement Program.
Hirit din ng partido ang patas at awtomatikong allocation ng Local Government Support Fund gamit ang malinaw na formula batay sa populasyon, poverty incidence, development needs at fiscal capacity ng LGUs.
Para sa NUP, hindi dapat madamay ang mga residente sa political differences ng kanilang kinatawan.
Tinawag ni Puno ang ganitong pagpigil sa public funds na “affront to democracy.” /Bistado