EVENT: Martsa sa Luneta

Earlier in the Philippines, National Heroes Day was celebrated in a different way. Well, rally was (as usual) involve, but the agenda is about “Living a Healthy Way: Say no to Pork Barrel.”

Despite coming up short of their target, participants in the Million People March held on National Heroes' Day in the Philippines expressed their indignation over the pork barrel system in many ways. Thousand of Pinoys – Militant groups, NGO’s, public and private employees, catholic church, Muslims and other religious sects, and even known celebrities participated on the said event.

Even though the said Martsa sa Luneta did not reach their target One Million partiticpants, OFW’s also participated by sending photos to media showing their support to abolish the said pork barrel.

But wait a minute, what is it all about? Ano ba talaga ang Pork Barrel???

Priority Development Assistance Funds or simply Pork Barrel is the appropriation of overnment spending for localized projects. Filipino legislators are allocated large sums of the annual national budget (200 Million for each senator and 70 million for each representative) in a program called PDAF.

Ayun nman pala eh. Pork Barrel is a legal fund allotted by the Government. But sad to say, the fund is always use in a wrong way. At ang madlang pipol ang unang una at laging naaapektuhan. That’s why Martsa sa Luneta was launched to hear the silent scream of every Filipino.

But Philippine President Pnoy has difeerent outview:

Pabor ka ba sa mga inihayag niya?
Narito ang buong talumpati ni PNoy tungkol sa PDAF o "pork barrel" funds:
Taong 1990 nang binuo ang tinatawag na nating PDAF ngayon para sa isang marangal na layunin: Ang bigyang-lakas ang inyong mga Kinatawan sa Kongreso, upang tumukoy ng mga proyektong hindi kayang pondohan ng mga local government units. Wala pong mali o masama sa polisiyang ito. Ang mali, ang masama, at ang siya ngang ikinagagalit ng taumbayan, ay ang pagsasabwatan sa pagitan ng isang pangulong handang makipagtransaksyon para manatili sa kapangyarihan; mga mambabatas handang makipagkuntsabahan; at kung nariyan ang kooperasyon ng burukrasya; at mga mamamayang tila namanhid na sa panlalapastangang ginagawa sa kanila—kung nagsama-sama po ang mga sangkap na ito, maaaring maabuso ang PDAF. Kailangan nating maniguradong hindi na maaabuso ang sistema.

(Read the full content here:)

"It is true that Politics is not a dirty thing at all, but it’s the Politician who makes everything filthy."

 

Photo Credits:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTRCE7pzK8SKsYfr81IB3SizO9ZOjY0aaM8Mtdck3LMDDwtABadarGb7b6zoA_FbhKhq1o_E8CQ6uCtRQiMsHHyGn8USxjLNz7Jwi8-MTsSNTRV8oyXfyJn1NOBtQo1Bbtkc27IHhnY9i/s1600/million-15.jpg