People’s initiative pushed for Congress to scrap ‘pork’
Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares. PHOTO by Nestor Corrales/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippine – A signature campaign to pressure Congress to pass a bill abolishing the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel is being pushed by various anti-pork groups Saturday.
“The fight against pork is not yet over,” said Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares who discussed key provisions of a proposed law that would prohibit not just congressional fund but the Development Acceleration Program (DAP) or the “presidential pork”.
“Malacañang and Congress do not have any intention to abolish PDAF so we will launch a people’s initiative to pass a law prohibiting the pork barrel,” Colmenares said.
He said that the bill sought the removal of lump-sum discretionary spending and off-budget items and the return of all unobligated and unreleased funds be returned to the general fund to avoid corruption.
“The lump-sum of the president amounts to P932 billion but this is not itemized. This is prone to corruption,” he said.
He added that this was a public fund but only the president decides on where to use it.
“It is now time to bring back the power of the people to scrutinize the government’s budget and have access to information,” he said, asserting that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill should now be passed.
“As long as the DAP is intact, the pork barrel could be resurrected,” he added.
Colmenares said the Makabayan bloc in Congress would support the realignment of pork barrel funds for the rehabilitation of the Visayas as long as all expenditures would be itemized and not as lump-sum.
Congress, Colmenares said, would feel the rage of the people if it would resurrect the pork or block any move to abolish it.
Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno attended the event discussed the high court’s ruling on PDAF as well as the challenges related to the pending petitions on DAP.
Puno supported the move for a people’s initiative against pork barrel and has also opposed lump-sum discretionary funding of the government.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Secretary General Renato Reyes called on the people to expand anti-pork alliances in anticipation of a bigger battle against DAP in 2014.
Reyes said the strong people’s campaign would set up the machinery for the initiative against pork.
The event was also attended by anti-pork advocate May Paner or popularly known as “Juana Change” and the alliance of the Abolish Pork Movement.
The group said they were preparing for a broader alliance and bigger movement for the total abolition of the pork barrel system.
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