DBM PAPERS SHOW: Guv picked DAP-funded programs, beneficiaries

THE Iloilo provincial government under Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. had a hand in determining the programs and beneficiaries of funds from the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) implemented by former President Beningo Aquino III.

This is what The Daily Guardian found out in the list of DAP supported projects endorsed by lawmakers and local government officials which was posted on the official website of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The link to the DAP-funded projects is https://dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/DAP/Dap%20Page/Projects/DAP%20Supported%20Projects%20Endorsed%20by%20Legislators%20&%20LGUs.pdf

The DAP-funded projects for Iloilo with Gov. Defensor as the proponent is on Page 148.

The list runs counter to the justification offered by Capitol officials that the list of programs and beneficiaries came from the DBM upon release of the DAP funds.

In an interview with Don Dolido of Bombo Radyo-Iloilo on Sept 24, 2018, Provincial Legal Officer Dennis Ventilacion said the beneficiaries of the DAP funds intended for educational and livelihood aids were already enumerated in the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for Iloilo province.

Ventilacion said Defensor had no discretion on how the funds will be use lest he will be charged for technical malversation.

“The governor has no discretion on how to disburse the funds. He did not determine how the money will be spent. When he received the funds from DBM, nalista na dira kung anu kag para sa anu ang pondo,” he added.

But the DBM list indicated that Defensor was the proponent of 13 DAP supported projects which included financial, medical, livelihood, educational assistance or aids.

A DBM source privy with DAP releases told TDG that as a rule, the implementors or proponents, such as local government officials and lawmakers, submit the lists of programs which is attached to the request for release of funds.

The source added that DBM central office decides where to release the funds in consideration of the proposals from the LGU, congressional representative, or senator.

Earlier, former Iloilo provincial administrator and freelance journalist Manuel “Boy” Mejorada had questioned the manner by which the DAP funds for Iloilo province were disbursed.

Mejorada particularly questioned the release of P40.5 million in DAP funds at the height of the 2013 elections, during which Defensor ran against fourth district Rep. Ferjenel Biron.

Based on ledgers provided by the capitol, P5 million (SARO No. G-13-00004) was released as educational assistance to children of indigent families and those living in remote areas from Mar 19 to July 11, 2013. It is worth noting that the educational aids were released during summer vacation and in the heat of the campaign season.

But Mejorada raised the biggest question on the utilization of funds in SARO No. G-13-00545 totaling P40.5 million which was also released in the middle of the campaign season on Mar 4, 2013.

The subsidiary ledger released by the capitol indicated that P36.607 million was disbursed on educational and financial/livelihood aids to students and various non-government and people’s organizations (NGO-PO).

The documents showed that from Mar 19 until May 9, 2013, or four days before the elections on May 13, the capitol released a total of P22.265 million in educational and financial/livelihood aids.

Mejorada raised a red flag on the matter saying that aside from the release of public funds in the middle of the election season, deeper scrutiny must be made into the credentials of recipient NGO-POs.

He questioned whether the capitol followed the provisions of the Commission on Audit (COA) Circular No. 2007-001 which sets the guidelines in the granting, utilization, accounting and auditing of public funds released to NGOs/POs.

LIQUIDATION      

In response, Atty. Ventilacion said all liquidation reports pertaining to DAP fund releases were already submitted to COA by the concerned departments.

“The list of beneficiaries, memoranda of agreements and other pertinent documents were attached to the disbursement vouchers which were already submitted to COA,” he said.

As regards the fund releases made during the 2013 campaign period, Ventilacion said these were done in accordance with the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code “which means it did not violate election laws.” He also recalled that a case for violation of election laws was filed against Defensor in 2013 relative to the DAP funds but it did not prosper.

As to the more than P200,000 in DAP funds that were spent on catering services, Ventilacion said it was not a case of one-day eating spree.

He said it was a series of purchase orders (POs) for catering services during trainings for the beneficiaries of various entrepreneurship and livelihood programs.

“This is not just one PO but series of POs for a series of trainings. If you train them for hours, you need to provide meals also. But it is most likely that Gov. Defensor signed the POs in just one day. If you look at the ledger we provided, the POs have different amounts for different venues and participants,” he added.

The DAP, however, was shrouded with controversy after the Supreme Court on July 1, 2014 declared it as illegal and unconstitutional  on the following grounds:

• the creation of savings prior to the end of the fiscal year and the withdrawal of these funds for implementing agencies

• the cross-border transfers of the savings from one branch of government to another

• the allotment of funds for projects, activities, and programs not outlined in the General Appropriations Act.

The High Tribunal affirmed the unconstitutionality of DAP in February 2014.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

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