Escudero wants his colleagues to share PDAF with Mindanao

by Che Palicte
Mindanao should feel the presence of the national government through the Senators by allocating funds coming from their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), particularly in the Davao region.
Senator Francisco ‘Chiz’ Escudero yesterday challenged his colleagues in the Senate to give a portion of their PDAF to the region in a talk at the Probinsya Restaurant here.
He said that if the 24 Senators will each give ph500,000 to the municipalities and cities in the Davao region, they can raise a total of Ph12 million every year for the construction and rehabilitation of public markets. Another Ph10 million coming from 24 senators will raise Ph240 million every year that would be of great help to indigent patients in regional hospitals.
“The Philippines is not only Metro Manila and Luzon, Mindanao and the Visayas are part of it and they should feel that they belong to the Philippines not only in words, thoughts but also in deeds,” Escudero added.
The senator said that the entire national budget is about Ph1.6 trillion, one-third of which ship;f be for Mindanao, which means about Ph500 billion.
“That should really be intended for Mindanao because it can help a lot in terms of projects and it can be a big help to the Mindanaoans,” he added.
Meanwhile, Escudero related to media that he is hopeful that President Aquino would sign the Marcos Compensation Bill, adding that it is a historic law that they passed in the Senate because it will recognize, and give reparation to, the victims of Martial Law under then President Ferdinand Marcos.
“I hope that Martial Law will not be experienced again by our country,” Escudero said.
The senator also said that he would continue his reelection campaign in all parts of the country together with senatorial candidate Grace Poe.