BUDGET Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad was severely criticized yesterday for purportedly increasing the pork barrel of the Executive department through the P101.5 billion “miscellaneous personnel benefits fund” (MPBF) while withholding the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of some lawmakers critical of the government.

A lawmaker from Luzon, who refused to be identified for fear that the release for the second tranche of his pork barrel in the amount of P35 million could be withheld, said Abad should stop playing politics.

“It’s very disappointing that Secretary Abad is now increasing their pork barrel while ignoring the calls from lawmakers to release funds for their districts,” said the solon.

The MPBF or pork barrel of the Executive department lumps together the unspent appropriations for unfilled positions in all three branches of government.

The discretion in the distribution of the MPBF is exercised by the executive branch through Abad’s DBM.

In a related development, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, a member of the majority bloc in Congress, disagreed with the proposed compromise on the issue of MPBF.

Under the compromise, Tiangco said the budget for unfilled positions will be reverted to their respective budgets but subject however to Section 55 and 56 of the General Provisions of the 2012 General Appropriations Act (GAA.)

The 2012 GAA states in Section 55 "Tightened use of Savings" that "Realignment of funds from one allotment class to another shall require prior approval of the DBM" and in Sec. 56, "Savings generated from mandatory expenditures shall also be governed by GP Section 55."

“Clearly, the DBM can do this for Executive Departments but not for agencies whose fiscal autonomy are protected by the provisions enshrined in the 1987 Constitution no less. These are the Judiciary, Commission on Elections, Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman” said Tiangco.”The insistence of DBM (on using the savings for the MPBF) is unconstitutional."

Earlier, lawmakers challenged Abad on his assurance on the release of the delayed pork barrel of minority solons. He should “walk the talk” by immediately releasing the funds as he promised, the solons said.

Abad had said the pork barrel of Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand “Martin” Romualdez and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Ma. Amelita “Girlie” Villarosa was already being processed and would be released soon.