PNoy And Pork Barrel

I'm sorry if I jump on the bandwagon here. I usually shy away from writing about political issues because of this. Since all the journalists out there are writing their respective sides on the issue, it's best to absorb their opinions in silence. Besides, all I have to say is just my personal aggregation of their opinions anyway. 

So much for the intro. I'm writing now because I'm dismayed and disappointed at what I saw in the news. So. So. Dismayed.

Back in college, I've formed my opinion that eventually pork barrel has to go. For all its benefits, it's also prone to abuse and, in this aspect, I agree with the majority that the potential and actual misuse of the PDAF utterly negates whatever advantage it provides. 

Second, the pork barrel is simply a remnant of a very inefficient system of allocating limited government resources. A huge sum of money is basically left to the discretion of elected officials whose judgments are inferior to those of government agencies which have specific charters in place. 

At best, the pork is a transitory device aimed at providing much-need infrastructure financing for programs which have yet to be identified as urgent by the national and local government. The PDAF, I conclude, is meant to extinguish itself. Once it's served its purpose as a bridging mechanism, it's to be removed from the national budget.

But that reckoning point for its abolition has come a long time ago. Nowadays, LGUs know exactly what needs to be done in their respective jurisdictions. The PDAF then is superfluous, unnecessary, and redundant.

For several days now, many sectors have been clamoring for the abolition of the pork barrel. But the President has remained unmoved by the rhetoric. In the news today, he has not supported the idea at all, calling instead for tighter measures to limit abuse.

What he doesn't know (or he knows but refuses to acknowledge) is that his call to limit or regulate the pork is not the first. There have been several attempts in the previous administrations to rein in the PDAF. At this point, it is apt to share a quote by Einstein: "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." If PNoy steadfastly believes that he can stop abuses to the pork barrel, he's betting against history and human nature.

In sum, I am disappointed because this opportunity to remove the pork barrel may not happen again. The clamor is so big. It is thoroughly embraced across all sectors (except probably by those in Congress). The support is so overwhelming.

And at this defining moment in our history, one man who claimed long ago that we, the Filipino people, are his bosses, bluntly rejected our fervent wish.

To you PNoy, I give you the finger.

Postscript: Yes. I didn't go back to Facebook after a long time and shared this post without an ulterior motive in mind. If you're free this coming August 26, Monday (which of course you are), do join the Million People March to start at 9AM. Assembly place is at Rizal Park, Davao City. The event shall coincide with simultaneous marches across the country. See you then. Peace.

More info from Sunstar Davao here.