Many people love to eat dishes made especially out of that greasy pork: pork adobo, pork sinigang, pork barbeque, grilled pork, lechon and many more. The taste of the meat with each bite is a gastronomic nirvana for carnivores.
But eating more than enough is also fatal as frequent intake of pork may result to high cholesterol level, cardio-vascular diseases and problems on one’s digestive system. What the mouth may enjoy could also be the quick pass for the whole body to its own experience of calvary. At that, medication may easily burn holes on one’s pocket for maintenance medicines or worse surgery and hospital treatment driving one’s sanity to the limits forgetting the whole experience of a gastronomic nirvana as a bad dream but implore with litanies to high heavens, “if I had only learned to moderate.”
The Philippine government under the new administration of President Aquino inherited a record-breaking P340 billion budget deficit from Gloria Arroyo. With this serious financial problem at hand, one congressman wisely suggested for the “pork barrel” or PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) of his fellow lawmakers be reduced of 35% – 57% in order to help the government. Congressman Erin Tañada explained that with P70 million per congressman and P200 million per senator annual “pork barrel”, the reduction will result to P10 billion in savings annual savings.
But a staunch ally of the former president easily dismissed this suggestion as “flawed” and P10 billion he said is a “meager savings” for the government that on the other hand will result to the reduction of government’s social projects especially on countryside. Congressman Edcel Lagman furthered,
“While PDAF has been suspected to be prone to corruption, no legislator has been convicted…but the lifeline for development and poverty alleviation must not be sacrificed.”
While lawmakers are experiencing their financial nirvana after getting their “pork barrel” allotments, the whole body of Philippine citizenry has since then been earmarking and burning holes on their pockets only to see below-standard roads, waiting sheds, basketball courts and tents with their names foolishly etched on it.
Indeed, none has yet been convicted though it was revealed on many studies that almost 40% of government funds are pocketed by politicians and individuals involved on government projects, as “pork barrel” has also been used for patronage politics if not as a bargaining tool of the one who signs the checks. If Congressman Erin’s proposal will save the government P10 billion annually, this P10 billion more less is the same amount that goes to private pockets if we are to believe that 40% of the fund on government projects flies out of the window.
With the Philippine government finances in serious trouble, the moment for “moderation” and ultimate discipline on how these funds are spent by lawmakers are the ultimate solutions lest President Aquino break his word of plugging in the leaks in government.
Lawmakers should get back to their senses that they do not own what they spend but comes from the pockets of every hardworking and diligent Filipino. On the other hand, Filipinos must always insist their supreme right for government funds to be spent wisely if not given back to public coffers to ease its financial burden, or else we may see our country experience another cardiac arrest and our leaders begging our nation to be delivered and revived inside the emergency rooms of World Bank or IMF in exchange of these banks foolish demands.
President Aquino should reconsider his stand on this suggestion if he is not to impose new tax measures as the pork barrel is not only a leak in the government but rather a flood gate that empties our public treasury.
What is your thought, do you agree with Congressman Tañada’s proposal of reducing the pork barrel of lawmakers in order to help the government save due to the budget deficit it has to face?
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This congressional “power of the purse” is a major source of corruption which Pres. Aquino himself abhors.
Of course most legislators will fight for it because it is important for them to build patronage ties with local officials and mostly for “kickbacks”
I agree with Cong. Tañada, pork barrel must be reduced and the policies in using it must also be reviewed.
It’s very disappointing how our hard-earned tax are distributed to these vultures!
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Grabe talaga, garapalan…our lawmakers can easily let go of their moral obligation to the public but cannot let go of their pork barrel allotment.
What a shame!
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Lagman is an a-hole. If he is correct that the pork barrel is the “lifeline for development and poverty alleviation” then the Philippines should have risen out of poverty decades ago.
Instead, we’ve been getting the exact opposite. Filipinos are getting poorer, while those in government are getting richer.
It’s because he is correct, the pork barrel is indeed a big source of corruption and patronage politics in this country. He knows this well because of his former boss, now a colleague in the Lower House.
I agree with you bro, totally a**-holes! Wait, why are we censoring our comment, ahhaha!
The argument is indeed plain and simple: if they say that they need for poverty alleviation, then why is our country especially the country side still saddled in poverty all these years.