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Militant groups urges lawmakers to
donate pork barrel to victims of Leyte fatal landslides

Leaders of the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Sunday urged senators and congressmen to donate a significant portion of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) also known as pork barrel to the victims of fatal landslides in Southern Leyte last Friday.

“ We appeal to our senators and congressmen to rise above the occasion by allocating a significant portion of their pork barrel funds to the victims of the Leyte tragedy. Since these funds are taxpayers money, public interest is calling them to do the appropriate act in the name of public trust and national interest,” says Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap in a press statement.

But Pamalakaya’s Hicap did not set any standard or ceiling regarding how much the lawmakers should provide for assistance to the victims of the Leyte tragedy, saying it is up to senators and congressmen how much of their pork barrel funds they would give up or set aside for the victims of the fatal landslides.

“ It is up to them. 20 percent, 30 percent, I don’t know. What is important is that they share and help in rebuilding lives ruined by corporate logging clients of Malacañang. It is public interest and their conscience that should dictate how much they would allocate for the victims. The bottom line is that they should help and that is the tall order of the day,” the militant leader added.

Last year, pork barrel allocations for senators were reduced to P 120 million from P 200 million last 2004, while pork barrel allocations for each congressman was reduced by 30 million pesos from P 70 million last 2004 to P 40 million each last year.

Pamalakaya likewise proposed both chambers of Congress to passed a joint resolution seeking the re-allocation of the P 8 billion Presidential Social Fund currently tucked in the Office of the President for the ongoing immediate relief and rehabilitation operations in Southern Leyte.

“ This is another doable proposal. Remove from Ms Arroyo’s corrupt hands the P 8 billion Kilos Asenso Fund and re-channel it for the speedy relief and rehabilitation efforts in Southern Leyte. This is not a tough act to follow, because it only requires political will and signatures of lawmakers,” the group said.

The militant group also asked both Houses to immediately conduct a separate or joint congressional inquiry on the Leyte tragedy, saying the House of Representatives failed to act on two House Resolutions- HR 047647 and HR 171 last year filed by Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos respectively calling for the investigation on the Leyte mudslides which occurred in 2004.

Both resolutions, according to Pamalakaya asked Congress to look into the possible culpabilities of big time logging activities in Southern Leyte, but the House of Representatives made no appropriate actions.

As of 7:20 pm Saturday, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported that the number of dead had reached 56, while more than 1,000 villagers were feared buried in the six-hectare peasant village. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:51 | link | comments |

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