Anti-pork rally, Mass in Cebu today

Thousands are expected to hit the streets today for citizen protest rallies against the pork barrel in Cebu City, Manila and other key cities in the country.

Social media is also expected to be flooded with memés expressing indignation over government corruption.

The rally, which was granted a road permit by City Hall, starts at Fuente Osmena at 7:30 a.m. and ends up at Plaza Independencia for the ‘Cebu peaceful protest against the pork barrel system,’ the local version of the One Million March to Luneta.

The nationwide protest coinciding with the National Heroes Day stems from the the P10 billion Janet Napoles scam – where pork barrels of senators and congressmen known as Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) were funneled to fake non-government organizations and ghost projects.

Napoles has gone into hiding after the court issued a warrant of arrest against her for alleged illegal detention.

Since the movement started via social networking sites (SNS) like Facebook, Twitter and Google, digital natives are expected to post updates and photos while attending the protest action.

To unify dissemination social media updates, posters are advised to “hashtag” their posts with #ScrapPorkbarrel.

In SNS, a hashtag or tag within a post allows users to identify similar tweets which will then make it easier for users to see updates of a particular topic.

A separate mass calling for “discernment” of how to address political corruption will be celebrated in the Metropolitan Cebu Cathedral at 8 a.m. with Auxiliary Bishop Julito Cortes officiating.

Cebu’s oldest Catholic school, the University of San Carlos (USC) urged its faculty and students to join the Mass.

“Deans and chairmen are enjoined to attend the Mass with their teachers and students as representatives of the USC academic community in this important gathering,” the USC website’s opening page reads.

Dr. Rowena Burden, one of the rally organizers, posted on the rally’s official FB page that participants should wear white and bring food provisions.

She said marhsalls will be around to keep peace and order.

She reminded participants to maintain cleanliness in the Plaza and other areas of convergence.

Citom advisory

Since it’s a holiday, traffic is expected to be light as rallyists walk down Osmena Boulevard.

“We are requesting motorists to cooperate with us. There will be Citom enforcers who will be guiding them where to pass through in case there will be more people that will occupy Osmeña Boulevard,” said Joy Tumulak, Citom operations head.

Roads will be shared by rallyists and vehicles today.

But if there will be more attendees joining, Citom will implement rerouting and road closures when and where necessary.

All intersections from Fuente rotunda to Plaza Independencia will be on close-open status where vehicle and people flow will be based on traffic lights. Intersections will be closed and opened depending on the flow of traffic. /Dale G. Israel and Jose Santino Bunachita