Too much ‘pork’ is bad!

It was quite clear that the President wanted to impress the Filipinos in his last SONA. He wanted to tell us that he did not work in vain and that he did his best. But he should know that his best wasn’t good enough and that he can do more.

Sure some of his reports may have been exaggerated and some of the facts and figures were quite “iffy” but over-all he gave us a run down of what he has done for the country. I’m a bit worried, however, because he believes the reports given to him by his men without any validation. People who know the truth and the real deal behind certain projects laugh at him. Mr. President, please do not believe anything they tell you until you see it. As the old saying goes, “to see is to believe.”

This may not be a popular thing to say but I think PNoy still deserves a pat in the back for all his efforts. Even if his “matuwid na daan” is still full of pot holes causing a lot of sharp turns and sometimes even an accidental fall here and there, down the deepest ravine, it cannot be denied that indeed he has exerted more effort in making this country move forward compared to his predecessors.

His most important test was the issue of Hacienda Luisita which is very close to his heart because it involved family. He passed it with flying colors. The Department of Agrarian Reform has completed the list of qualified beneficiaries in compliance with the decision of the Supreme Court. Some 4,000 hectares of the Cojuangco estate have been titled to the government, with land for distribution to about 6, 212 farm workers. PNoy has completed the cycle his mother began years ago. When former President Cory Aquino introduced the land reform act, we were disheartened and disillusioned for years because she did not include her family’s estate. But now the issue is coming to an end because PNoy has made it a point to see that justice is given to these farmers.

Another stinging admonition made by the President was the inefficiency of the Bureau of Customs officials which resulted in the filing of resignation of BOC Commissioner Biazon and closely followed by BOC Deputy Commissioners Danilo Lim and Juan Lorenzo Tañada. I think this was such a great move for our government officials who want to clean up. But they must also have the courage to speak up and tell us who these bozos in government are. We know that many powerful and mighty mayors, congressmen and senators try to put their weight around. They should stop such corrupt practices. Filipinos do not deserve public officials who have no respect for the law and for the country.

By the way, I loved all the beautifully crafted barongs and gowns during the SONA. It was such a good display of Filipino fashion design. But last week’s event was not the right venue for such an exhibition. This was a SONA in case everyone has forgotten. The event should have been about our country, its state and condition as seen through the eyes of our President. Unfortunately, the public was distracted with the overt show of an extravagant fashion sense. Sanamagan! Isn’t it so insensitive of our leaders (and their wives) to flaunt the wealth they have as they strut down the red carpet clad in the most expensive gowns made by top couturiers in the land while most of our countrymen continue to wallow in poverty? That was a glaring confirmation that indeed in this country, our leaders are getting so rich, while the poor are getting poorer. There was not even an iota of “delicadeza” there! Susmariosep!

At times like this, our leaders should put more effort in exercising self-control, moderation, frugality and austerity as they go about their work and in living their lives.

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So, what happened to the Pork Barrel issue? Mind you this is the greatest “deal” in the history of Congress and the Senate. It is bigger than any scandals put together. My alikabok says that many officials who were just voted to top positions are allegedly involved but they are making us believe that they are not part of the problem. They are pretending to be very concerned giving suggestions left and right on how to solve this mess. They are giving ideas on how to avoid any future anomaly. Susmariosep! How long have they served the country and used pork barrel money for them to just realize now that there is a problem? They have used up the pork barrel fund and have ‘fattened’ themselves up – literally and figuratively.

Some quarters want to scrap the pork barrel, which they consider as the root of all corruption, while others maintain that the purpose is noble and the abuse of some should not prejudice those who really need the allocation. But how will all these be resolved when the “accused” in the pork barrel anomaly are the very same lawmakers who should resolve the problem? You think they have the ability to sacrifice all these? Naaah! They will delay its resolution until we forget about everything again.

Unless the men and women of Congress will miraculously make a great sacrifice, one thing is sure, the congressional pork (reportedly at P27B) is here to stay. Malacañang claims it cannot interfere with the “power of the purse” which, by law, is lodged with the legislators. But of course, there are stories that the PDAF could be an effective control mechanism for legislators to support the legislative agenda of the Palace. Besides, is not the Presidential Social Fund (PSF) the Pork of the Executive branch? And perhaps, the once controversial Judicial Development Fund (JDF) is also the Pork of the Judiciary. Come to think of it, maybe our country is sick and lagging behind our neighbors in terms of economy and development because of too much PORK in the system. And you know that too much pork is not healthy. Think about it!