Thursday, August 26, 2004 Ping wants senators to give up entire pork barrel
WHY only 50 percent?
Sen. Panfilo Lacson has challenged his colleagues in the Senate to give up their entirely their Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel to show their full commitment to help the government and the people as the country undergoes a fiscal crisis.
"I urge all 23 of us to forego all our pork at least for calendar year 2005 if we really want to help. Fifty percent is tantamount to a half-hearted gesture to help the government and our countrymen during this difficult time in our history," he said.
Lacson had given up his pork barrel since 2002 because he believed that the funds open all legislators to suspicion by the public of committing graft.
Lacson said such a perception persists even if some, if not most of them, have genuine intentions of helping their constituents.
Earlier, Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan and Sen. Ralph Recto each filed a resolution calling for a reduction by 50 percent of the senators' pork barrel.
The resolution aims to support the Poverty Alleviation Program and other developmental projects described in the 10-point agenda of President Arroyo.
Nine senators have already expressed support to the resolutions and Pangilinan said it is an initial step to drastically improve the country's fiscal standing instead of imposing new taxes.
"We will try to convince the majority senators to support this resolution," Pangilinan said. Every year, each senator receives at least P200 million as pork barrel.
Aside from Pangilinan and Recto, those who co-sponsored the resolution are Senate President Franklin Drilon; Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier; and Sens. Ramon Magsaysay, Juliana Pilar "Pia" Cayetano, Manuelito "Lito" Lapid, Richard Gordon and Rodolfo Biazon.
Drilon said giving up half of the pork barrel is one way for the Senate to help address the fiscal problem.
"This is our way of responding to the fiscal crisis and in so far as the other 50 percent is concerned, I am putting it all in the school building program,"
Drilon added.
On the other hand, Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas III, who did not sign the resolution, said he would study the matter first to see where will the funds go.
"I am willing to forego the pork, so long it goes to promoting, energizing the public market, which is part of my priority," he said.
Opposition Sen. Sergio Osmeña said if the proposal is to give up the pork barrel, it should be 100 percent and must be for all senators. JPM
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