AFTER the revelation brought upon by the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel controversy, there hasn’t been a more perfect time to call for greater and more meaningful participation and accountability of the government, particularly when it comes to how public resources are allocated.
Some Filipinos strongly believe that pork barrel will still cripple the Philippine government as it takes another form, concealed somewhere within the proposed national budget for 2015, despite an earlier assurance from President Benigno Aquino III and the Congress that the pork barrel system no longer exists in government spending.
On Monday, August 25, around 20,000 Filipinos decided to take a stand against any form of “pork.” Members of various sectors and organizations trooped to the Rizal Park in Manila to join the protest against the pork barrel system and demand an end to corruption.
The “Stand Up, Sign Up Against All Pork” event launched the People’s Initiative signature campaign, which aims to have at least 5.2 million signatures to abolish and criminalize the allocation and use of ‘pork barrel’ funds.
Just like last year’s “Million People March to Luneta,” which also coincided with the National Heroes Day, Filipinos are encouraged to take their outrage over the apparent misuse of the people’s money by those in power, away from the computer screens and into the streets.
When citizens share a common cause and join popular uprisings to assert their rights, democracy is at work. It demonstrates that the people have the power. While this year’s anti-pork protest decreased in number—a far cry from last year’s 75,000 attendance—it remains a positive development in fostering public awareness and participation in the government’s affairs and policy-making.
This practice is very common among the Philippines considering its two popular uprisings against former presidents, the People Power or EDSA Revolution in 1986 (to oust a dictator, Ferdinand Marcos) and in 2001 (to end the regime of a corrupt leader, Joseph Estrada).
Filipinos seek a better life through a democratic form of government. There has never been a disagreement about the desired destination. Current political upheavals have empowered even the average Juan to air his own opinion on social media.
Filipinos have become more watchful, involved and less tolerant of non-sequitur and ad hominem arguments. In this day and age where information is at its easiest access, it’s up to the Filipinos themselves to put this stand on a test, to utilize such power to make better choices.
Democracy was not constituted to just say people have the right to vote. It was made to give people an avenue to decide, and get they what they need and deserve. This will not change the system unless Filipinos fully realize the responsibility they have: to inspire good governance.
(AJPress)
