How line-item budgeting affects scholars, patients

MANILA - Scholars and patients who used to get assistance through lawmakers' pork barrel funds will need to flock to government agencies such as the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Health next year after the abolition of the priority development assistance funds (PDAF). Speaking to radio dzMM, Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said the proposed P2.264 trillion national budget for 2014 removes all PDAF after the Supreme Court declared the funds as unconstitutional. Evardone said the PDAF has been distributed to the different government agencies. He said all projects such as infrastructure for 2014 had been itemized. "It is no longer a lump sum. Before, if a barangay chairman says we need a drainage project , then I would write the budget department to release the funds. It is the same thing when a teacher says we need new classrooms. Now, it is all itemized and people can see how much funds are going into towns and cities. It is more transparent now," he said. Evardone said line item budgeting will also affect scholars from his district. He said he used to spend P13.5 million of his PDAF for scholars. "Hindi na sasabihin ni Evardone, ito na po ang scholars ko...Wala na po akong scholars. I tell them: go to CHED and submit to their guidelines. Wala na kami pakialam sa implementation," he said. He said the same goes for indigent patients who used to flock to his office to get medical assistance. "DOH na ho ang bahala dun," he said.