Much as we try to keep our editorial focused on local events, we find it necessary to comment on the latest issue that is making the news nationwide: the ongoing outrage initiated by the middle class against the wanton abuse of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in collusion with fake non-government organizations.
With the escalating public anger at the system that allows big-time criminals to enjoy luxurious lifestyles, amass great wealth, and evade paying taxes, the President of the Philippines, no less, addressed the country last Friday to announce the abolition of the PDAF.
In his televised address, the President blamed the continued and practically-unchecked plunder of public funds on the following reasons: 1) A former President desperate to hold on to power; 2) Congressmen immersed in a culture of transactionalism; 3) A cooped and coerced bureaucracy; 4) Lack of transparency in the system; and 5) A passive and disengaged citizenry.
“Abolish” was probably too extreme a word for what the President wanted to do, for he merely wanted to introduce changes to the system of releasing funds through congressmen.
The primary difference between the old and the new system would be that instead of automatically allocating P70 million per congressman, and P200 million per senator each year — despite having no specific plans on how the money would be spent — the legislators will now have to identify the projects and have them included in the national budget before it is enacted into law.
Another difference is that there will be no more “soft” projects such as fertilizers, seeds, medicine, medical kits, dentures, funding for sports fests, training materials, and other items where the results and impact cannot conclusively be identified.
Say goodbye as well to temporary infrastructure projects such as dredging, regravelling, or asphalt overlay projects.
The bottom line here is that congressmen and senators would still have the say as to what projects to implement. Instead of abolishing the PDAF, the President has merely renamed it, much like the way the Pork Barrel came to be called the Countrywide Development Fund, which later came to be called by other names, until it eventually became the monster that is the PDAF.
The people want accountability. Why, we ask, are the rich getting away from paying taxes? Why are we, middle class folk, giving the rich a free ride while giving them access to all the services government could provide? Can the system be overhauled without having to resort to a “violent revolution” as suggested by one whistleblower, who also implicated two people from Negros Oriental in the Janet Napoles mess?
The demand for change continues. We need to get rid of corruption in all levels of government. We need real service from our elected leaders. Transparency, Accountability, Impartiality.
Onward with the Monday’s protest!
