Davide refuses to heed Palma’s call: Guv won’t join anti-pork rally

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Hilario Davide III stands firm in his position in favor of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and has refused to heed the call of Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma for him to support the public clamor versus the pork barrel.

“Di lang ko. Mu-pass lang ko ana kay sa ako nang giingon niadto, ang akong posisyon  gayud ana,  pork barrel is okay as long as it is judiciously and wisely used,” Davide said.

Davide said the Philippines is a democratic country and anyone is free to express his or her opinion on any issue involving public interest.

Here in Cebu, activities are in place for the September 29, 2013 protest versus PDAF.

Davide reiterated that he is in favor of PDAF as long as the money would be utilized for projects that would reach intended beneficiaries. He stressed that the crucial point is in putting safeguards to ensure transparency and accountability in the utilization of the funds.

Instead of non-government organizations, Davide suggested that PDAF should be coursed through the local government units.

“Ang mga congressmen mu-reklamo kay sila man gud… they, of course, carry the voice of their constituents, so they feel duna sad sila’y right really to point to identify which project would go to their respective district,” Davide said.

Palma earlier said he shares the same sentiments of the people and that of Manila Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle who has expressed his disappointment on the use of the pork barrel.

Palma said the great amount of money involved in the pork barrel scam should have been used “for the good of many people.”

Palma said everyone should speak up, clarifying, however, that they are not accusing anyone in particular of involvement in the scam.

Palma has yet to confirm if he, too, would be present on September 29 since he has prior commitments as president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

He would be ending his term as president of the CBCP this November.

Meanwhile, organizers are eyeing a new route for the interfaith anti-pork barrel rally on September 29.

It was announced earlier that the march would start at the Fuente Osmeña Rotunda to the Plaza Independencia, but one of the organizers said this may change because the rotunda is also the venue of another activity on that day.

“A new route has been set, but formal approval on Monday yet. Our previous application was verbally approved, but some other group got priority. We learned our lesson again,” Rudy Alix told The Freeman.

In a Friday meeting between organizers and the city government particularly the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM), the initial alternative route was not favored since it would entail closing the road bridging downtown and uptown Cebu City.

“The new proposed route starts at the Capitol, moves towards Fuente but does a U-turn one corner before getting there, and goes back to the Capitol. This has not been formally approved yet. We will announce the new route on Tuesday after the convenors’ meeting,” Alix explained.

CITOM Executive Director Atty. Rafael Christopher Yap, for his part, said they have yet to be presented with the new proposed route.

“We will assess their amended proposal and adjust our traffic response accordingly. We anticipate minor inconvenience only for our motorists considering it’s a weekend and it will be in an enclosed area,” Yap said.

The September 29 protest calling for the abolition of PDAF is an initiative of a Cebu Coalition Against the Pork Barrel System, a multi-sectoral and interfaith group.

Organizers of the August 26 first anti-pork rally in Cebu following the exposure of the PDAF multi-billion scam as well as the September 11 anti-pork protest inside Fuente Osmeña Circle have joined hands to merge with different religious and civic groups like Movement for a Livable Cebu, Bayan Central Visayas, Sanlakas among others.

The rally at the end of the month is set to start at 1 p.m. with a march followed by an interfaith prayer, talks with representatives from civic society, interest groups, business sector and practicing professionals in Cebu. —/JMO (FREEMAN)