Rama eyes Pdaf summit in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he is mulling a summit that would tackle in detail possible options to take in preparation for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

“I am toying with the idea of a summit…bringing in brilliant minds,” he said.

The mayor supports the total abolition of PDAF and the pork barrel system, wanting instead the decentralization of funds to local government units, which knows best what their constituencies need.

“The issue on pork barrel is never ending. We’ve been calling for its abolition; rallies here and there. But what are we going to replace the pork barrel with once it’s removed? It should go through an intelligent process,” Rama said.

He said the City would spearhead the summit and that he would check with the Metro Cebu Development Council (MCDCB) and civil society groups for their participation and inputs in coming up with a new system that would minimize, if not eliminate, corruption.

Meanwhile, a bigger group of citizens representing several sectors of the Cebuano society has been formed to serve as the umbrella organization against the pork barrel system.

The coalition included the Archdiocese of Cebu, interfaith Organization Preachers and Educators Assembly of Cebu (PEACE), militant groups Bayan and Sanlakas, and civic group Movement for a Livable Cebua and associations of various professionals.

Organizers of the Aug. 26 and Sept. 11 anti-PDAF rallies in Cebu City were also part of the group.

Instead of separate petitions and appeals, the various groups banded together and formed a “Unity Statement Against Corruption” to be signed on Sept. 29.

The activity that day would start with a march from the Fuente Osmena rotunda going to Plaza Independencia, where a program, including the actual signing, would be held.

The five key demands in the unity statement are the “immediate resignation of public servants who are formally charged by the Department of Justice, punishment of convicted pork barrel schemers and the return of their loot to the coffers of the people, abolition of the pork barrel system by whatever name or form.

Respect for and protection of the people’s sovereign right to reclaim management of public funds for the benefit of the common good, such as social services. This is one way of eliminating patronage politics, and providing the people with all the information they need in the interest of transparency, accountability, participation, and co-responsibility.”

The call for abolition of the pork barrel includes the three branches of government and their ancillary departments.— RHM (FREEMAN)