Speaker Feliciano Belmonte has led members of the House of Representatives in supporting President Benigno Aquino III’s decision to abolish the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and urged his fellow lawmakers to buckle down to work in institutionalizing reforms involving fund releases for local projects in the national budget.

Belmonte, the honorary chairperson of the National Unity Party (NUP), also called on his fellow legislators in the House to carry out consultations soon with the barangay officials in their respective districts to ensure that a transparent, fully accountable system of earmarking local development projects under the national budget would be in place before the end of the year.

"Nanawagan ako sa mga congressman. Ngayon palang ilista na ninyo, manghingi na kayo ng mga suggestions from your barangay captain and mayors. Gumawa na kayo ng listahan ng mga projects na gusto ninyong gawin (I'm calling on congressmen. This early, list down [your preferred projects], get suggestions from your barangay captains and mayors.)," Belmonte said.

"Even if we have to meet more than the usual number of days, we will do it to make sure the system is in place before the end of the year," the Speaker, who represents the fourth district of Quezon City, added.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., one of NUP’s top officials, also backed the President’s proposals on the PDAF, noting that the “primary duty of every member of Congress is to enact laws.”

Both Belmonte and Barzaga said that the “days of the PDAF” are over, as every fund disbursement  would now have to be itemized under the national budget, making the system more transparent.

Belmonte likewise pointed out that funds will no longer be released to non-government organizations (NGOs) under the new system being put in place by the Senate and the House in compliance with the President’s directives. “Let’s forget NGOs. There will be no more NGOs.” 

Fund releases recommended by lawmakers for development projects must go only to the district or sector represented by them.

The Speaker said he will hold dialogues with leaders of the political coalition in the House as well as with the opposition to explain to them the sweeping changes that would have to take place under President Aquino’s new system of disbursing public funds for local development projects.

Under the new system, earmarked projects will go through public bidding, with all details posted on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System. Lawmakers cannot earmark soft projects that involve the procurement of consumables such as fertilizers, and temporary infrastructure such as asphalt overlays and river dredging.