Rep. Genaro Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6 th district) yesterday said the P200,000 Christmas “bonus” released to members of the House is spent for their constituents needs.

Alvarez said he received the P200,000 because it enables him to help requests from barangays in his district for assistance over the holidays.

The amount is not for my personal use but to help residents of my district, and it is not even enough, he said.

Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr. (Neg. Occ., 5 th district) said he has not received his P200,000 yet but “if and when given, I will give it to my constituents in food certificate form so that they can have food on their tables this Christmas.”

Rep. Monico Puentevella ( Bacolod ) said it's been the tradition of Filipinos to share with the less fortunate during Christmas.

“It is in this spirit that we can meaningfully share…whatever we will receive as a gift from the House,” he said.

He cited ABS-CBN's Bantay Bata, the Home for the Aged, Boys' Home and the Home for the Blind.

Malacañang yesterday said the cash bonuses reportedly distributed to members of the House are legal because the chamber is fiscally autonomous.

"They can do it legally. If you're fiscally autonomous, you can realign your budget to suit the needs of your members," Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said in Manila.*CPG

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