Peoples Congress OKs Bill Scrapping Pork Barrel InterAksyon, August 23, 2014 A Peoples Congress convened in Cebu on Saturday approved a draft bill calling for the scrapping of the pork barrel system, which the participants hope to enact through a peoples initiative. The groups pushing the proposed law come from a cross-section of society and various political leanings. Major Christian and Muslim groups have also voiced support for the effort. The Cebu congress, which organizers said drew more than 1,000 participants -- more then double the 500 who had pre-registered -- was held two days ahead of the Stand Up! Sign Up! mass protest at Manilas Luneta Park on Monday. The mass action at Luneta marks the first anniversary of the #MillionPeopleMarch that condemned corruption in government and demanded the scrapping of the now defunct Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), or lawmakers pork barrel. PDAF had since been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, as have key provisions of the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which critics have dubbed the presidential pork barrel. The proposed law, to be officially called An Act Abolishing the Presidential Pork Barrel, Strengthening the System of Checks and Balances Over Public Funds, Prohibiting Certain Acts, and Providing Penalties Therefore, would scrap all lump sum public funds over which the Office of the President, along with legislators and public officers, are given discretion. It also mandates line item budgeting, prohibits and criminalizes the appropriation and use of lump sum discretionary funds, and penalizes violators with six years and one day to ten years imprisonment and disqualification from holding public office. This initiative aims to rid the nation of a corrupt system of patronage that undermines the principles of separation of powers, checks and balance, transparency and accountability, the congress participants said in a declaration. Under Republic Act No. 6735, or The Initiative and Referendum Act, a peoples initiative to enact a law needs a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the total number of registered voters in the country, with at least three percent of voters from each legislative district. Organizers said they aim to collect at least 6 million signatures within a year for the proposed anti-pork bill. We know we are up against entrenched and well-organized forces currently holding the reins of political power. We are also faced with the lack of resources as well as the inertia and cynicism that attend any attempt at meaningful change in the unjust status quo, their declaration said. Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle sent a message to the congress that said: Thank you for making democracy alive and active. Thank you for advancing decency in public life. Thank you for giving voice to the countless victims of corruption, especially the poor and marginalized. At the congress, Ustadz Najeeb Razul, the mufti of Region 7 (Central Visayas), called on Muslims to educate others on the evils of pork and to use the pulpit and mass media to do so. Calling the pork barrel gatasan ng mga korap (cash cow of the corrupt), he said Allah would not help change the situation unless people choose to change it themselves. Integrated Bar of the Philippines national president Vicente Joyas also announced the organizations endorsement and vowed to help push the peoples initiative nationwide. Among the salient points of the proposed law are: Mandatory acts All proposed budgets shall contain only itemized or line-item appropriations, except in the case of disaster response, the contingency fund of up to 5% and intelligence/confidential funds of the National Security Council, the Department of National Defense and the Department of Interior and Local Governments. Special Funds like Malampaya Funds and other off-budget accounts shall be included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to be approved by Congress. The President Social Fund is abolished. All unspent, unobligated and unreleased funds by the end of the fiscal year shall revert to or remain in the General Fund and shall be subject to Congress appropriation. Prohibited acts The penalty of imprisonment of six years and one day to ten years and perpetual disqualification from public office shall be imposed those who commit any of the following acts: Any national official (the President, his subordinate or member of Congress) who authorizes the spending of public money that is not covered by or is in violation of any appropriation law. Any national official who includes a lump sum amount in any budget proposal submitted to Congress, or any member of Congress who approves the inclusion of lump sum discretionary fund in the general or supplemental appropriations acts. Any member of Congress or his agent who directly or indirectly intervenes or participates in the implementation of any appropriation law through any post-enactment act or practice. Any national official who declares and utilize savings in circumvention or violation of Article VI Section 25 (5) of the Constitution and this Act. Any national official who withdraws unobligated funds and declares and utilize as savings said unobligated funds before the end of the fiscal year. Any national official who impounds any appropriation or portion thereof unless there is an official declaration by the President of an unmanageable National Government budget deficit. Any person, including a private individual, who persuades or cooperates with any national official in violating this Act. interaksyon/assets/images/articles/interphoto_1408783567.jpg Ustadz Najeeb Razul speaks at the Peoples Congress in Cebu. Photo contributed by Inday Espina-Varona representing Change.Org
Posted on: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 16:17:51 +0000
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