Rep. Lagman asks House to ensure equitable infrastructure fund distribution

Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman urged the House leadership to implement standards for equitable distribution of infrastructure funds in the 2021 budget.

He stated that the needs of districts must be assessed based on fair standards, raising concerns about the "inequitable allocation of funding in infrastructure projects".

House appropriations panel vice chairman Joey Salceda acknowledged the significant inequitable distribution of funds, stating it is a basis for concerns about "pork barrel".

Salceda suggested that quantifiable approaches, using data on poverty, land area, population density, growth potential, and economic strategy, should be used to resolve these inequities.

Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. specifically questioned the P8 billion and P11.8 billion worth of infrastructure funds allotted to Taguig City and Camariñes Sur, respectively.