‘Pork’ by another name? Lawmaker questions P10B Growth Equity Fund in 2022 budget

By Billy Begas

House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas has flagged the proposed P10 billion Growth Equity Fund included in the 2022 national budget.

Brosas warned that this could be a “new pork barrel variant” that “could be used for electioneering purposes.”

She said that the Growth Equity Fund was part of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) under the national budget for next year.

The equity fund was supposed to be used to assist local government units (LGUs) in the implementation of Supreme Court’s Mandanas ruling, which gives LGUs a bigger share of the national government’s tax collections.

Brosas said no specific agency was tasked to implement the budget and to which LGUs will it be given. “Lump sum ito na bukas sa abuso at pamumulitika kung hindi tutukuyin ang LGUs.”

“This P10-billion Growth Equity Funds looks more like Greater Election Fund, as it can arbitrarily used to ensure votes for Duterte and his top bets in the 2022 elections. Bagong pork barrel variant ito,” Brosas added.

Brosas said the equity fund should be transferred to programs that will directly benefit poor families like additional financial aid.

The post ‘Pork’ by another name? Lawmaker questions P10B Growth Equity Fund in 2022 budget first appeared on .

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)