Chiz pushes
transparent, relevant use of PDAF
By Office of Senator Chiz
Escudero
February 28, 2013
PASAY CITY – Members of the
Senate have the responsibility to make the use of their Priority
Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) transparent and relevant, Senator Chiz Escudero said.
Questions were raised on the
use of the senators’ PDAF following a newspaper article, quoting a
Commission on Audit report, alleged that P195 million in PDAF of three
senators and a member of the House of Representatives were channeled
to a “questionable” non-government organization.
While Escudero said
questions over the PDAF use would best be addressed by CoA, the agency
mandated by the Constitution to look into government funds, senators
also have a responsibility to be transparent with their PDAF
allocations.
“I believe members of the
Senate, present and future, should adhere to the principles of good
governance when it comes to public funds such as our PDAF,” the
senator said.
“At the same time, we have a
responsibility to protect the integrity and the reputation of the
Senate as an institution and as a pillar of our democracy. This should
be non-negotiable,” Escudero added.
The senator said his PDAF
was used for the construction and rehabilitation of public markets
nationwide, and to provide medical assistance to indigent patients
throughout the country through regional hospitals.
“The funds from my PDAF
augmented local government funds and were all downloaded to local
government units. These are all posted on our website
www.chizescudero.com for public viewing and scrutiny,” Escudero said.