HOUSE Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was dared yesterday to fulfill his promise to release the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of some opposition lawmakers.

Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay said that what they can do for now is wait for the  Speaker’s word to come true. This is only what they can say to their constituents for now, she added.

“For the sake of my constituents, I hope the Speaker’s words will come true,” Magsaysay said.

Earlier, Speaker Belmonte said the PDAF or pork barrel of four opposition lawmakers -- Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap and Negros Occidental Rep. Amelita Villarosa -- are already being processed and will be released soon.

He also promised to work for the release of the PDAF of other lawmakers including Magsaysay.

But while he assured the minority solons that the Special Allotment and Release Order (SARO) will be released soon, there is no assurance yet from the Speaker on when they will get the Notice of Cash Allotment (NCA).

Aside from Magsaysay, among the opposition lawmakers who have yet to receive their pork are Negros Occidental Rep. Iggy Arroyo, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado Arroyo, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo and Iloilo Rep. Augusto Syjuco.

According to Magsaysay, the pork barrel is very important to the lawmakers as these is used for medical and educational assistance to the constituents.

In her case, she has thousands of scholars who until now have not yet paid their tuition and many of her constituents were not able to get medical support due to the delay in releasing the pork barrel.

“The year is almost up and there are a lot of unpaid bills for scholarships and medical bills of constituents that need to be settled,” Magsaysay said.

She said Belmonte should also work for the release of the pork of other lawmakers.

“Why only few? why not release all? Anyway it is long overdue,” the lady solon stressed.

In a separate interview, Suarez said he will wait for the actual release of the NCA before believing the Speaker.

“It is just SARO, what is important is NCA,” Suarez said.

And while the first tranche of the pork of the luckless lawmakers are yet to be released, majority solons are already preparing their respective menu to be submitted for the release the second tranche.

Every year, each lawmaker receives P70 million pork which is given in two tranches of P35 million each.