Can a Cebu coalition of civil society groups muster enough signatures to initiate a People’s Initiative to eliminate the pork barrel system once and for all?
This is a tall order considering that under Republic Act 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Act of 1989, private citizens can push for the passage or amendment of a law by having a petition signed by at least 10 percent of all registered voters and at least three percent in each of the nation’s 234 legislative districts.
That means slightly over 10 million based on the country’s population which reached the 100 million-mark recently. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) gave a timetable and wants to get it done before they start next year’s preparations for the 2016 national elections.
Cebu is leading the way as the gathering point of a national outcry for change.
The coalition will succeed only if the cause is embraced by all citizens across the nation.
A National People’s Congress will launch the signature campaign today at the Plaza Independencia. While its resources are limited, they have the blessing of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and other bishops who called on the faithful to support it.
The abolition of the pork barrel system faces an uphill battle but received greater currency after it was found out that the national government retained some semblance of the pork barrel funds under a new system.
This new system allows lawmakers to identify priority projects to government agencies for implementation. Unlike before when each national legislator is allocated at least P75 million per congressional district and more than P100 million per senator, they still retain the option to recommend and lobby for projects for their constituents.
Abolition of the pork barrel should be a complete cleansing.
It should remove all discretionary lump sums that can be tapped by lawmakers.
Anti-pork advocates want this guarantee enacted into law. This is the only way to place a permanent restriction on greed and the temptation to use public funds for narrow interests.
Filipino citizens have the right to demand from government full access to a complete listing of all public expenditures to ensure that every centavo is spent for their welfare.
Accountabiilty of the public purse starts with an end to the pork barrel.