CHIZ PUSHES ABOLITION OF PORK BARREL

Opposition Sen. Chiz Escudero said yesterday he favors abolishing the pork barrel system. The 39 year-old lawmaker made his position clear on the issue during ANC's "Face-to-Face" forum with four presidential candidates Tuesday morning.

"My definition of the pork barrel is this lump sum allocation. The current system poses a problem since we do not know where it came from or where it goes. I am in favor of abolishing the pork barrel system and institutionalizing line-item budgeting," he declared.

Escudero said that since 2005, when he was still serving as a representative of Sorsogon, there hasn't been a single release of his pork barrel. "Based on my experience, one could still serve as a congressman or senator without the pork barrel," he said.

With the elimination of the pork barrel, legislators have no jurisdiction and business in the actual identification and implementation of government programs and projects at the national and local levels.

"What you see is what you get. The provinces will be able to see how much is spent and where it is spent on," he said.

Escudero added that this move would solve the problem of corruption and proper utilization of government funds. "Iwasan na natin o tigilin na natin yung 'pichy-pichy.' Ibig sabihin, 100 meters dito, 50 meters dito. Sa susunod na taon na yung kalahating tulay, tapusin natin next year (yung kabila)."

"We have forgotten that a bridge built in half is as good as a bridge not built at all. This is also applicable to school buildings which have not been completed. This will enable us to focus and utilize it properly and finish each project." he explained to the 100 top local officials attending the two-day conference on local governance.

He said that funds intended for the pork barrel can used for priority projects, like the building of waterways for streams and rivers to avoid flooding in areas which were heavily damaged in the latest disasters. He added that a wide and deep landfill could be funded without actually spending local funds to address environmental concerns.

"I believe that funds allocated for each district should be explained in congress," he said.

A study on Countrywide Development Funds presented to the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), pointed out that lawmakers have complete control of project implementation.

It also described that implementing agencies only participate in the planning if requested by the legislators themselves, in choosing the contractors or suppliers for the projects, which makes the procedure open for the facilitation of corruption.

"Again, the pork barrel is a lump-sum that comes from the whole budget. Only a few could benefit from the current system. If it were specific and placed into a line-item, it will favor all parties concerned," he said.