CHIZ PUSHES TRANSPARENT, RELEVANT USE OF PDAF

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.

(To view Sen. Escudero's PDAF allocations, please go to http://www.chizescudero.com/index.php/pda-fund/pda-fund-2)