SOME opposition and administration lawmakers, mostly from the south, are no longer keen to attend the budget deliberation because of the delayed release of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.

A solon from the South, who refused not to be named, said that many of the lawmakers are no longer interested to listen to the discussion of the proposed 2012 national budget amounting to P1.8 trillion saying it is useless if they have nothing to bring to their constituents.

“Our constituents are more concerned of the projects or programs that we can provide like medical assistance and scholarship. They do not understand much of the national budget,” the lawmaker said.

Last week, the House of Representatives have failed to muster quorum, forcing the leadership to adjourn session without completing the deliberation on the budget of some government agencies.

While House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Budget Secretary Butch Abad claimed that only a few of the lawmakers have not yet received their PDAF, many of the lawmakers are already complaining of the delayed releases.

In  the opposition alone, at least 10 have yet to receive their first tranche of pork. They are Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Negros Occidental Rep. Iggy Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas, Mindoro Occidental Rep. Amelita Villarosa, Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap and Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco.

Meanwhile, on the administration side, the source said that most of those who are yet to receive their pork are from Mindanao.

“Sa Mindanao pa naman dapat marami ang projects and assistance since the people from Mindanao need more help as there are less job opportunities there,” the solon added.

Every year, each member of the House of Representatives receive P70 million pork.

The solon also called on Belmonte and Abad to release the pork since it was no less than President Benigno Aquino III who ordered the complete release of the PDAF.

Earlier, Magsaysay said he heard some of the lawmakers already preparing for the second tranche of the pork barrel.

“Mabuti pa sila pinaghahandaan na ang second tranche, kami nga wala pang una. Our constituents suffer the most, marami ang umaasa sa financial assistance especially in health and education,” Magsaysay said.