Organizers expect10T in attendance

CEBU, Philippines - Today’s commemoration of the Cry of Balintawak will find another meaning as a national campaign against the discretionary funds of the government will kick off today in Cebu City.

The People’s Initiative against pork barrel is a move that seeks to permanently abolish the controversial Priority Development Assistance Fund and the Disbursement Acceleration Program.

Thousands are expected to troop to Plaza Independencia today and affix their signatures in support of the call.

According to one of the organizers, Inday Espina Varona, 10,000 people are expected to join the event.

Ten percent of the total voting population in the entire country has to sign for a referendum on this initiative to be done.

Also, three percent of each legislative district’s voting population has to be gathered.

Prior to today’s signing, which starts at 3 p.m., a people’s congress that would discuss legal options and grounds will also take place this morning at the Mariner’s Court at Pier 1, Cebu City.

At 1pm, the protest will start with a march from Fuente Osmeña down to Plaza Independencia.

City Traffic Operations Management executive director Rafael Christopher Yap said no road closure has been set.

“As far as I know wala but andam mi in case daghan,” Yap said.

Traffic enforcers will be deployed at the intersections along the march route to control traffic flow.

Various religious organizations, members of the academe, among other groups, have already pledged their participation.

Bayan Muna partylist representative Neri Colmenares said supporters and organizers from Mindanao and Luzon will join the launch in Cebu.

Luneta Park in Manila will follow and hold a similar event this August 25.

Senate majority floor leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who was in Cebu yesterday for the 23rd Visayas Area Business Conference, said that he is supporting the call of the people for a People’s Initiative for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund or pork barrel in all forms.

“Anything that is good for the people and for the country, I am in support of that. Kasi ngayon kahit wala na ang pork barrel, meron pa ring pseudo-pork barrel,” said Cayetano.

He said people are now active in expressing their opposition against corruption in the government.

“Anything that unite us, dapat tulong-tulong tayo,” said Cayetano.  —/ATO (FREEMAN)