Legislators must fast from pork barrel
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2019 16:12:07 +0000
Today, Good Friday, is the day when members of most Christian denominations, including Catholicism, commemorate in appropriate rites and services the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.
At the same time, many Christians also observe this day by fasting as a sign of faith and reverence.
We believe it is fitting for the nation to pause a moment and reflect on the meaning of the word “fasting.”
Coincidentally or providentially, we are observing Lent this week with the fortuitous congruence of our public life and religious tradition.
This week, in a dramatic and well-considered decision, President Rodrigo Duterte formally signed the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and vetoed various items totaling P95.3 billion from the law.
The President made good his promise to veto all items or insertions that are unconstitutional. He bluntly refused to condone corruption in any form. He is determined to protect the people’s hard-earned money so that it can be truly used principally to improve the conditions of the country and advance the people’s welfare.
In his veto message to the Congress, he wrote: “[I]n the faithful exercise of my office and due fidelity to my oath, I will not tolerate attempts to circumvent the Constitution or any other action that will prejudice the Filipino people whom I serve.”
No words could be clearer. They shut the door emphatically on the shameful schemes of legislators to appropriate more pork barrel for themselves and their electioneering projects.
How will legislators take this slap to their short-sighted politics?
They can respond responsibly, or they can sulk.
We think the best response legislators can make to this disappointment is to align themselves with the tenets of good lawmaking and the spirit of Holy Week.
Instead of becoming obstructionist to the President’s legislative agenda, they should work toward becoming more integral to the achievement of ambitious national programs.
Legislators should realize that they have no choice but to bow to the declared policy of the 2019 budget that everyone should fast this year on consuming pork barrel.
If they are Christians, they can synchronize their fasting at the dining table with a porkless national budget this year.
If the presidential decision is implemented judiciously this year, the resolve to only pass henceforth a porkless budget will no doubt grow stronger. The momentum for reform will become so definitive, it will not be resisted.
Legislators — representatives and senators alike — will learn to be content with their already huge salaries and allowances, lest the hefty compensation is also taken away by an austerity agenda.
They should stop concocting stratagems to evade the clear constitutional directive and public clamor. They should be forewarned by the media that both the House and Senate will be under constant watch to prevent the resurrection of the pork barrel. The most notorious porkers will be exposed and denied room to yield to their addiction. They should be prevented from being elected to leadership positions in the chambers.
This way, the 18th Congress will finally realize that a porkless budget is good for the nation’s political and fiscal health.
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