#ScrapPork network bares 8 demands

Buena Bernal

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Here are the 8 demands of the #ScrapPork network presented during the Ayala protest on Friday, October 4

AYALA PROTEST. The #ScrapPork network presents its 8 demands during its #MillionPeopleMarch at Ayala Avenue on October 4. Photo by Buena Bernal/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – The movement born out of public fury over the misuse of pork barrel funds is back in the spotlight.

The #ScrapPork network presented to the public its consolidated demands in its protest on Friday, October 4, at Ayala Ave in Makati City.

While the previous Luneta picnic-rally last August 26 expressed disgust over the pork barrel scam, Friday’s Ayala protest offered constructive ways of addressing the “patronage politics” that the system breeds.

READ: #ScrapPork groups: Channel funds to grassroots

Below are the demands issued by the #ScrapPork network:

1) For the Senate to remove all forms of pork barrel from the 2014 budget

The network asks the Senate to do what they believe the House of Representatives failed to do in its deliberation of the 2014 budget: scrap all forms of pork barrel.

2) For the Aquino administration to open the bicameral budget deliberations to the public

“When there is no oversight, insertions in the budget occur,” said Patricia Tan, spokesperson of the #ScrapPork network, in an interview.

3) For the legislative branch of government to create an independent commission to review all laws and orders creating lump-sums in the government budget for specific purposes, and check the efficiency of these allocations

According to Tan, the misuse of the Malampaya Fund and the Disbursement Acceleration Program is partly because of lack of oversight.

However, the #ScrapPork network said that emergency and calamity funds should still be in place.

4) For the legislative branch of government to pass the People’s Freedom of Information (FOI) bill

The network asks for greater transparency by having the People’s FOI bill passed in Congress.

5) To have all cases against the lawmakers involved in the pork barrel scam filed no later than 5 pm on Dec 6, 2013

Peachy Bretaña, among the original organizers of the #MillionPeopleMarch in Luneta, issued a call dubbed #100days to expedite the filing of cases against legislators who allowed fake non-governmental organizations to benefit from their pork barrel. The network supports this call.

6) To realign the President’s Social Fund and Special Purpose Funds to line agencies

The network believes presidential funds must be allocated as additional funds of executive departments in government to deliver social services.

7) For civil society organizations and the private sector to be involved in the budget process of local government units

The network calls for greater participation of civil society in the budget deliberations of their local governments.

8) For the Commission on Audit (COA) to release its audit of presidential funds under Aquino’s term

The #ScrapPork network believes the President is not exempt from any and all mechanisms of independent auditing. – Rappler.com

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