By Mary Judaline F. Partlow
DUMAGUETE CITY, Dec. 17 (PNA) – Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo Wednesday announced his 100 percent support to a People’s Initiative calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system.
Degamo met with the media for his regular year-end press conference and fellowship at which he also reported of his administration’s gains for this year as well as his plans and programs for the coming year.
According to Gov. Degamo, he is against the development funds for both the President and members of Congress, saying he would rather see the money downloaded directly to the local government units (LGUs) or through government agencies that will implement specific projects.
The local governments have their own development framework plans, he explained.
The governor noted that since he took over as the provincial chief executive, his administration had only experienced once having received funding from the national government which he lamented was “politically tainted” that led to its current controversy.
Degamo was referring to the P961-million disaster relief fund pledged by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III a few years back after the province was devastated by Typhoon Sendong.
The national government, for unknown reasons, recalled the funding, even as the provincial government had already spent half of it for development projects in relation to disaster risk reduction and management, the governor said.
The other half he is still seeking for its release, and hopeful that the national government will see the wisdom behind the need for the funds to be used for its intended purpose, Degamo said.
Nevertheless, Degamo pointed out that his administration was able to put in place several programs and projects with local funds despite what he believes is a move by his political detractors to slow him down.
Thus, he said he would rather see that the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) fund of the President and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of the members of Congress be declared unconstitutional.
Gov. Degamo said he will sign the petition which proposes to enact legislation for the abolition of the pork barrel system through a People’s Initiative.
According to Degamo, he will help the local organizers in Negros Oriental in encouraging his constituents, particularly the registered voters, to support the signature campaign for the said petition.
“I will campaign for the people to sign the petition and if possible, I’ll be the first one to sign it”, to signify his intention that he is “strongly” against the pork barrel funds, Degamo added.
Meanwhile, Bishop Julito Cortes reiterated the need for continuing education on the pork barrel system for people to understand it before signing the petition.
According to the bishop, the people must understand what cause they are supporting but he believes this can be achieved by a united effort of the different churches, organizations and other stakeholders in the province.
Bishop Cortes signed the petition Tuesday morning, immediately after the first Misa de Aguinaldo (dawn mass) at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral in Dumaguete.
Cortes announced that the signature campaign will continue during the Simbang Gabi or Aguinaldo masses through Christmas and thereafter, with desks or tents put up at the different churches and parishes.
Other churches, such as the UCCP and the IFI, are also spearheading similar activities to be able to gather the required number of registered voters for the People’s Initiative as required by the law through the Commission on Elections.
The People’s Initiative needs at least three percent of the total registered voters per district or ten percent of the total number of registered voters in the country for the People’s Initiative. (PNA)