Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman called on the House leadership to “enforce standards” to ensure infrastructure funds in the 2021 budget are fairly distributed, following the controversy triggered by Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr.

During the first day of budget interpellations at the House plenary on Monday, September 28, Lagman asked House appropriations panel vice chairman Joey Salceda if he agrees that there is “inequitable allocation of funding in infrastructure projects” in the proposed fiscal plan.

“Yes, to a significant extent, your honor. The inequitable distribution is…the basis for why there is a concern for pork barrel,” said Salceda.

Asked whether he was aware of such “gross inequities” among congressional districts, Salceda answered, “It’s the duty of the representative to make the voices of their constituents heard, so that there will be no inequitable distribution of national resources.”

Lagman then asked Salceda what should be done to “resolve the inequities.”

Salceda explained that there should be “quantifiable approaches” such as using data on poverty, land area, population density, growth potential, and the role of an area in the country’s economic strategy.

“Beyond the scenario wherein each congressman would scramble and try to get the most for his district, I think there is a reasonable, feasible way of ensuring that the needs of a district are met,” said Salceda.

Lagman stressed that there should fair standards in assessing the needs of a district versus the budgetary allocation.

“At this stage of the proceedings – on 2nd reading of the General Appropriations Bill – that is opportune for the leadership and membership of the House to establish and enforce those standards,” he said.

Although Salceda agreed that such standards need to be in place, he offered other metrics that need to be considered, such as alignment with the administration’s strategies.

“I truly agree but there must be, on the other side, the countervailing forces that there is a feasibility study, implementation ‘shovel-readiness,’ and its consistency with the national priorities framework. There must be cohesion between the needs in order to make this determination of priorities,” said Salceda.

But Lagman pressed on, saying that the “gross disparity” in congressional district allocations in the proposed 2021 budget must be “rectified.”

Salceda answered: “I think, your honor, the leadership during the caucus – I think it’s an all-party caucus – generally established that the core principle for the allocation would be fairness. And fairness would be based on the needs of the constituents.”

During the Department of Public Works and Highways budget hearing, Teves had questioned the disparity in the distribution of infrastructure funds to congressional districts.

The Negros Oriental congressman asked why Taguig City and Camarines Sur – the bailiwicks of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and close ally Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte, respectively – got P8 billion and P11.5 billion each.

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