Nth proposal on pork use: Tap program Arroyo started

LUCENA CITY—A former mayor of a town in Quezon pointed to a program launched by the government under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as a way of saving the pork barrel system.

Prudencio Maxino, former mayor of Mulanay town, said a law should be passed to regulate the use of pork barrel funds similar to how funds were used under the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), a program launched during the term of Arroyo.

“It is high time that the Filipinos recognize that there is a program that works to combat graft and corruption. That is through the Kalahi-CIDSS system of governance,” Maxino said on Tuesday.

New name

Kalahi-CIDSS, now known as the National Community Driven Development Program, is one of the poverty alleviation projects of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with the World Bank.

It was launched in 2001 as a strategy of Arroyo, who now faces charges of misusing charity funds, to reduce poverty.

Maxino, mayor of Mulanay town from 2001 to 2010, was judged as one of the best enforcers of the Kalahi program in Luzon.

“The public doesn’t want pork barrel but the congressmen will fight for its retention in the national budget to support their constituents,” said Maxino, one of 10 Quezon model citizens this year.

Neda OK

Maxino said President Aquino could preserve the pork barrel funds and disburse it through the Kalahi program, which Mr. Aquino had already approved through the National Economic Development Authority (Neda).

He called on local government officials across the country who have experienced the benefits of Kalahi to push for its adoption as a conduit of pork barrel funded projects.

Maxino claimed that under the Kalahi program, P1 million worth of projects could result in P1.5-million in outputs, excluding other benefits like employment, education, empowerment and the “inspiration” it brings to recipient communities.

‘Bayanihan’

Kalahi-funded projects require the employment of locals who most often offer their services for free in the spirit of “bayanihan” to maximize the budget.

Maxino said funds for a Kalahi project is deposited in a government bank in the name of the barangay council or local government unit and every resident is encouraged to oversee its day-to-day disbursement.

Ferdinand Maliwanag, mayor of Candelaria town, suggested the creation of a “people’s council” in all local government units to represent the public in the formulation of government projects and programs.