Press Release
August 26, 2013
The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) challenged senators, congressional
representatives and top executive government officials to lower their pay to
the level of a minimum wage earner. “If our peak legislative and executive officials
are in position for public service and not to wallow in pork then they should
be amenable to a radical pay cut. Besides they can better craft law and
policies beneficial to the masses once they experience the life of the ordinary
worker,” asserted Renato Magtubo, PM chair.
The labor group issued this call as people mobilized today
for the anti-pork barrel protest in Luneta and other key cities in the country.
PM’s chapters in Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog are joining the Luneta rally
this morning while its members in Cebu, Bacolod ,
Iloilo and
Iligan are also participating in similar activities in the provinces.
PM is advocating an “Apat na Dapat” set of demands to
address the pork barrel scandal. First, the abolition of all forms of pork
barrel, principally the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), the
Presidential Social Fund (PSF) and the special purpose funds. Second, the
realignment of pork to fund universal social protection from Philhealth
coverage to public employment. Third, people’s participation in the budget
process from identification of programs and projects to evaluation. And last,
the passage of the Freedom of Information bill to enhance transparency and
accountability in government spending.
Magtubo said that workers are interested in the protest
against pork barrel since through the system of withholding taxes, employed people
are taxed on time and pay fully. “Even the informal sector of the working class—the
urban and rural poor—pay more than their fair share of taxes since every good
and service they buy has value-added tax,” he added.
“But workers do not just want to curb corruption by
abolishing the pork barrel. We also want to curtail patronage by removing the
discretion of politicians in the delivery of social services. Public services
must be accessible to all Filipinos as a right without the need to beg for the
indulgence of politicians.” Magtubo explained.
“Just to cite an example, realigning the proposed P25.2
billion PDAF in 2014 can pay Philhealth premiums for a year to 14 million
Filipinos, a third of the adult population. The PSF and other presidential pork
like the Malampaya funds can cover the Philhealth coverage of the rest of the
population to ensure universal health insurance in one stroke,” Magtubo ended.
1 comment:
Indeed, taxes and representation must be squared up with the social and human services extended to ALL people especially the poor and vulnerable members of the society. The key is the message and organizing that will move people to challenge the status quo. Ilantad ang relasyon ng mga pulitiko at military generals sa mga korporasyon at mga naghaharing uri mula sa barangay level hanggang sa Supreme Court, Kongreso at Malacanang.
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