JDV fund drive draws criticism

THE proposal of Speaker Jose de Venecia to raise money from donations as a way of heading off a fiscal crisis has earned the ire of some lawmakers who refuse to pledge a month’s salary, because doing so would hardly dent the country’s debt problem.

The House minority leader, Francis Escudero of Sorsogon, on Monday criticized de Venecia’s initiative because it did not specify which agency would take charge of the donated funds.