‘Dump the pork barrel system’

Good governance and accountability do not only entail the prudent use of discretionary funds—at all times, they must ensure that public funds are used for the genuine welfare of the public. For it is hypocritical for a government to promise a “tuwid na daan” while taking the students, the youth and the Filipino people to the rugged terrains of budget cuts in basic social services and skyrocketing price increases.

We—the youth, students and young professionals from different organizations, schools, colleges, universities, workplaces and communities—are united with the Filipino people in calling for the abolition of the pork barrel system and for an end to the culture of graft, corruption and patronage politics deeply ingrained in our political system.

Recently, the nation has been shaken by the P10-billion pork barrel scam involving several senators, congressmen and the highest office of the land. We have seen how, year after year, lump sum allocations of Priority Development Assistance Fund, the President’s Social Fund and other discretionary funds have been used and abused to sustain patronage politics.

Amid its purported anticorruption thrust, the Aquino administration continues to uphold the pork barrel system as a form of institutionalized patronage. The Aquino regime clearly wants to continue the longstanding tradition of giving absolute and autocratic discretion to a select few in the disbursement of the taxpayers’ hard-earned money.

Effectively, the administration is endorsing and actively participating in the misuse of public funds as it robs the people of basic services.

We call on the Aquino administration, the House of Representatives and the Senate to abolish the pork barrel system. We call on these public officials to rechannel these discretionary funds to basic social services, including education, health, water and transportation, among others needs, instead of imposing additional taxes and supporting price increases in social services.

We call on the youth to act and mobilize on Aug. 16, a national day of action against corruption; and on Aug, 23, to commemorate the historic Sigaw sa Pugadlawin, to affirm the role of the youth in today’s nationalist struggle.

As the nation faces an intensified political and social crisis, the Filipino youth is called to take action as inheritors of the future. The youth is called to stand up against corruption and take the lead in advancing the peoples’ rights and welfare. The Filipino youth must act now.

Youth Act Now to abolish pork barrel system!

Youth Act Now to end corruption!

Youth Act Now to increase the budget for social services!

Youth Act Now for genuine and meaningful change in the service of the people!

—CAT MANANGAN, national secretariat,

SHERYL ALAPAD, national secretary general,

National Union of Students of the Philippines,

[email protected]