Anti-pork advocates launch people’s initiative in Aklan

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Fr. Ulysses Dalida (left) and Fr. Jose Estolloso, Jr. (second from left) of the Diocese of Kalibo and Fr. Edgar Encarguez, Jr. of Iglesia Filipina Independiente (third from left) signed the petition of the proposed anti-pork barrel law / PHOTOS AKLAN FORUM

Wearing their anti-pork barrel t-shirts, the convenors of Aklan Church and People’s Solidarity Towards Good Governance launched  on Monday the campaign to abolish the pork barrel system.

Organizers said the launching of people’s initiative gathered up to 200 people at the Kalibo Pastrana Park in Kalibo, Aklan.  The campaign was supported by the Diocese of Kalibo and the Iglesia Filipina Independiente. 

Convenor George Calaor said the launching of the proposed People’s Initiative Bill, ‘An Act Abolishing the Pork Barrel System’ signifies the growing public outrage against Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP). 

“The pork barrel is unconstitutional and a source of graft and corruption for public officials. With the people’s initiative, the power to pass a law is no longer exclusively vested to Congress,” he added.

Calaor is not worried of the attendance at Kalibo Pastrana Park, what is important, he said, is the signature campaign after the launching of people's initiative.  

Calaor said they expected to gather at least 20,000 to 50,000 signatures provincewide to support the people’s initiative. At least three percent of all registered voters in Aklan should sign the petition as mandated under Republic Act No. 6735 or the Initiative and Referendum Act of 1989. 

Aklan has 343,000 registered voters, data from Commission of Elections (Comelec) showed. 

 
Once the Comelec verified the signatures, a referendum will be held for registered voters to choose to abolish the funds or not.

Rev. Fr. Ulysses Dalida, director of Social Action Center of the Diocese of Kalibo, led the Church support for the people’s initiative and has encouraged the Aklanons to sign the petition to stop all forms of pork barrel. 

Fr. Edgardo Encarguez, Jr.  also voiced the full support of the Capiz and Aklan priests of Iglesia Filipina Independiente for the people’s initiative that would outlaw the pork barrel system by signing the petition. 

Rev. Fr. Jose Estolloso, Jr. of the Diocese of Kalibo, the local media and members of the militant groups in Aklan also signed the proposed anti-pork barrel law.

The people’s initiative bill calls for imprisonment of six years and one day to 10 years and perpetual disqualification from holding public office for violators, abolition of the President Social Fund and PDAF, special funds such Malampaya funds and other off-budget accounts shall be included in the National Expenditure Program for approval of Congress and all proposed budgets shall contain only itemized or line-item appropriations, except for disaster response and for intelligence funds. 

The petition to pass anti-pork barrel law was addressed to the Comelec and signed by Sr. Mary John Mananzan of the Religious of the Virgin Mary and Msgr. Romualdo Kintanar of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral.