Pork abolition signature drive is on

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Key church leaders of different denominations in Negros Oriental have agreed to move ahead and embark on the signature campaign to support a People's Initiative for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

Calling themselves the inter-faith ecumenical council, the group, accompanied by representatives from other sectors and civic society organizations, early this week met to discuss the next move on how they can support the People's Initiative.

Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete said, during hours of lengthy discussions on the pros and cons of the controversial pork, the signature campaign is a collective agreement of the council and not initiated by the Catholic Church, although the talks were held at the Cathedral compound in the city.

Leaders of the different churches, represented in the meeting held early this week, proposed that individual and joint approaches be adopted in the information and education campaign on the People's Initiative to make the public understand its importance and implications before signing the petition. 

They, however, admitted that before the signature drive can take off, more time must be allocated for the education aspect, while believing there is enough time now to gather many more signatures in Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces by next year.

Doctor Oliver Jimenez, executive director of the Community Empowerment Resource Network, Inc. Said the churches play an important role in achieving the needed percentage of the total number of registered voters for the People's Initiative to succeed.

The People's Initiative for the scrapping of the pork barrel would require at least 10 percent of the total registered voters, or at least three per cent of registered voters of each legislative district.

If this is achieved, the Comelec will then subject this proposal to a referendum to get a majority vote for approval, said Jimenez, adding that this must be achieved before President Benigno Aquino III steps down from office in 2016.  —  (FREEMAN)