DESPITE calls for the abolition of the executive department’s “pork barrel”, President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Wednesday defended the lump sum funds under his discretion, including the Malampaya, calamity and the president’s social funds (PSF). Aquino said lump sum funds are needed to create an elbow room for emergency and unexpected situations. He said that it is difficult to itemize the lump sum funds under his discretion, especially the calamity fund. “The question is, how can you itemize the calamity funds before the calamity strikes? The department should really have a fund to be used in calamities that we cannot,...