No one left behind: Congressmen thank GMA for ‘district funding’

Led by former speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., members of the House of Representatives from the majority and minority blocs commended Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday for reassuring them about their annual district funding allocations.

“I praise GMA for her sense of fairness. There’s absolute- ly nothing unconstitutional about ensuring that all members of Congress including oppositionists get a fair share of projects for their districts,” the Quezon City congressman said.

“She was herself deprived of her previous position as deputy speaker for voting

against the death penalty which was to her a matter of conscience,” said Belmonte, chairman of the House committee on West Philippine Sea, and also a party stalwart of Arroyo’s Lakas-NUCD.

House Deputy Speakers Fredenil Castro and Raneo Abu, Reps. Rodito Albano III of Isabela, Winston Castelo of Quezon City and Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, have the same sentiments.

“What I can say with GMA’s policy with regard to treating House members is that it is one not based on favoritism. Everybody is given equal treatment, whether you are in the minority or in the majority. They’re all equal,” Capiz Rep. Castro told radio station dzBB.

Abu, for his part, lauded Arroyo for saying that strict line-item budgeting will be observed.

“Line item budgeting is legal and constitutional,” the Batangas congressman said, in reaction to the House leadership’s transparent line-item budgeting system that would be an exact opposite of the lump-sum fund allocations that were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Albano, now allied with the minority group of ousted speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, hailed Arroyo for instructing Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. and House appropriations committee chairman Rep. Karlo Nograles to ensure district funding for all lawmakers.

“That shows you that she is fair and she is not vindictive,” the administration lawmaker said.

Castelo, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila development, said line-item budgeting is like “using a powerful microscope” that would allow Congress to dissect the proposed National Expenditure Program.

“Everyone should be given their fair share of allocations regardless of their political direction. These are funds for their districts and not for the representatives,” he said.