Philippine Pork Barrel Hot Topic for 2013

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The pork barrel corruption in the Philippines continues to occupy media space this September 2013.  The news broke out last month saying that billions of pesos from pork barrel funds of lawmakers were diverted to fictitious foundations and were siphoned off to who knows where and that we do not know.  It will be revealed eventually.

Whistle blowers opened the can of worms for the public, media and government to become aware of the billion pesos corruption.

Pork barrel corruption by lawmakers have been a nagging problem even during the 60's and 70's.  Since I was a kid, I always see a caricature depiction of the pork barrel corruption in the editorial page of the leading dailies during those days.  It had always been debated in the halls of senate and congress in the past and up to now.  Why doesn't it end.?  Probably, selfish political interest prevents abolition of the pork barrel.

But this recent corruption is already over the top.  Millions of Filipinos are working hard paying taxes only to be pocketed by corrupt politicians whom they voted in office.  It is somehow a very stupid arrangement. I guess we have to wake up.  The outcry of the masses of Filipinos is already saying that this has to be stopped and should not just to be given another name.  Social media bursted from the seams from the outpouring of  indignation to the pork barrel scam.

My suggestion is to totally scrap the pork barrel and that the funds should go back to the people.  Simply copy "welfare states" like the Scandinavian countries and Commonwealth nations,  so that the government funds coming from taxes are distributed evenly and not only to a few corrupt politician.  Also, lawmakers should stick to lawmaking and refrain from pork eating.  Whey can't they do that?  I wonder..maybe its really hard to depart with the tempting and juicy "pork barrel".

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