A Call for Bicolanos High time to take Initiative: Stand Up and Sign Up!

A Call for Bicolanos

High time to take Initiative: Stand Up and Sign Up!

For Reference: Vince Casilihan, Karapatan-Bikol

                        Ptr. Dan Balucio, BAYAN-Bicol

                        August 25, 2014

Bicol region landed as top performing regional economy in 2013 according to Philippine Statistics Authority. However, “does this rating enough to justify Bicolanos’ current economic status and clears the name of the local officials in their political obligation without any taint of corruption?” BAYAN-Bikol urges people in the region to take initiative. “ If not, if their rights are still violated and being corrupted, it is high time to Stand Up and Sign Up against corruption and Pork Barrel System”.

The economic growth should be felt by majority of its subordinates,” Vince Casilihan of Karapatan Bikol said. “The black and white report is useless because most Bicolanos are still victims of poverty and corruption”.

Together with young and professionals from religious community, Legal community, Academic community, Small Business community and other sectors across the Philippines, progressive organizations in Bicol region  assert their call to all Bicolanos through the initiated a protest and signature campaign against Pork. “Be part of the historic movement against Pork Barrel System! We must join force to pass a law and let the perpetrators be accountable,” they agreed.

People’s demand for accountability and transparency, which were promised by the President, are never been happened under his term. Philippines is still the most corrupt country. According to United Nations Development Program, roughly 13 percent of the country’s annual budget is lost to corruption each year.

Aquino administration fails to prosecute and punish corrupt officials, especially its president. Just like their boss, Local corruption also remains rampant. One rampant sample of corruption is the implementation of President BS Aquino’s unconstitutional Disbursement Acceleration Program or DAP. It is a form of presidential pork barrel declared as savings.

More than Php 144 billion projects funded by DAP that are questionable priority projects. It only served as well of corruption according to Dan Balucio of BAYAN-Bicol. “The economic growth of Bicol only refers for pro-imperialism and self-interest political patronage”.

Aside from rampant human rights violations in the region, there are also overfishing, widespread corruption and uncooperative local executives. There had been instances where commercial fishing vessels were sighted operating within the 15-kilometer economic zone reserved for municipal fishers along the Ticao-Burias Pass of Masbate City.

There are also road scam in Bicol funded by PDAF and DAP. “Even the Supreme Court already declared PDAF and DAP unconstitutional, the informal practice of pork barrel system still remains through “Congressional Insertions” and allocating funds for the government agencies to be their connivance in the system,” Balucio said.

We need a law that will directly criminalize those who enact lump sum discretionary funds and are involve in any way with creating and dispensing pork barrel,” Casilihan stated. “To require transparency, accountability proper budgeting and auditing proceduresm, we need a law”.

With that, it is high time to gather the power of the people to propose and enact such pro-people Act, an anti-imperialist but national democratic.

People’s Initiative on August 25 is a nationwide drive to collect 6 million signatures to stop President Benigno Aquino III’s discretionary powers over all lump sum funds. Under the people’s initiative law, signatures of at least 10 percent of the total voting population, of which every congressional district must be represented by at least 3 percent of its voters, are need for an initiative to succeed. Bicol region consists of 16 congressional districts.

Let’s Abolish all forms of Pork Barrel! Join the wider and stronger protest against US-Aquino regime. Bicolanos must support and join us to campaign People’s Initiative Against Pork Barrel System.  

Be A Hero of the new Generation and be part of the broad alliance of agents of change!###