By JUAN ESCANDOR JR
NAGA CITY: Joining the call to abolish the pork barrel system, the
Archbishop of Caceres here asked the faithful to initiate social reforms with
their active participation in governance.
In his pastoral letter, Msgr. Rolando J TriaTirona, OCD, DD,
asked the faithful to demand for speedy and fair investigation of those who
misuse public funds.
“The lawful conviction of those guilty will signal
commitment of our government to truth and justice.”
Tirona said the faithful must demand as well transparency and
accountability from political leaders and push for the passing of the Freedom
of Information Bill “as it will provide for the structure for public to have
greater access to data on government spending".
He also rallied the faithful to demand for projects that are truly
responsive to the needs of the people.
“When people themselves identify the
services and infrastructure, there is no room for ghost projects and vigilance
will be enhanced.”
He cautioned not to partake of the ‘pork’ in any form that he said is
being dangled by corrupt politicians even as he criticized the move of
President Aquino to simply regulate the pork barrel system which “does nothing
to patronage politics which hurt the poor the most".
Tirona pushes for the restoration of integrity of public office from
the barangay level, starting with the selection of candidates in the Barangay
Election of leaders who do not represent political patrons.
He said that pork barrel is not merely an administrative or an
accounting issue but a moral issue that can only be resolved with a fidelity to
truth and justice.
Tirona tagged the pork barrel system as a cause of unending poverty
like the political dynasty which makes the people “beg for what actually belong
to them.”
He said the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) is used for
personal interest with the Chief Executive controlling the release of funds and
congressmen and senators releasing the funds for their pet projects.
Tirona said that only fragments of benefit from the PDAF reach the
people compared to the benefits reaped by the congressmen and senators while
strengthening patronage politics.
“Truly, the pork barrel system is a way for politicians to appear clean
when their intent and purpose are in fact corrupt,” he said.
“The decision of the President
to regulate the PDAF is meaningless for as long as the heart of the pork barrel
continues to beat strongly in our political system. It is the same heart that
gave life to political dynasties.
"The essence of pork barrel system and
political dynasties is the concentration of power,” Tirona added. - Bicol Mail
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