As every Filipino should know these facts shared by Mayor Benjamin Magalong in his July 2023 speech, the highlights of his speech are reprinted below:
“Let me give you some facts about what is happening in the entire country today.
Last April, news came out that our national debt is already at P13.86 trillion…when President Duterte started his administration as president of the Philippines, our national debt was at P5.7 trillion, accumulated for decades.
In seven years, our national debt increased by as much as 142%. We're now at P13.86 trillion. In short, we are already above the 60% debt to GDP ratio.
Ang ibig sabihin niyan, each and every Filipino kapapanganak pa lang may utang na na P113,000.
Our ability to pay our debt would depend on our ability to manage our financial leakages.
No less than the former Secretary of NEDA said, ang final leakage (refers to) a big chunk that goes to corruption.
Surprisingly, when the news came out na ang utang pala natin is already at 13.86 trillion, only very, very few members of our legislative branch, people from Congress, raised hell.
Ulitin ko, only very few raised hell. I was very concerned.
Are we not going to ask ourselves, is corruption now becoming a norm in government? Is good governance becoming an exception?
It is very saddening that they have a percentage in every project. They have not yet become tired. They already have a percentage. They are still the contractor. They are still the supplier. “
(“I had a chance to talk to several contractors. I asked them assuming that I will take cuts from infrastructure projects, how much will it be? And they said about 10 percent to 15 percent or 20 percent to 25 percent, depending on the decision of the mayors or the lawmakers.”
Magalong also revealed that Bids and Awards Committee members and other individuals involved in the decision-making for projects receive commissions.
“Only about 45-52% will be left to the actual contractor and project. In short, if the project is worth P100, they said, they will have to settle for P42.50 to P55, including their profit so they will be forced to make substandard projects.
The way they dispose of it is institutional.
Some congressmen have several projects and road but the bidding was rigged. You can check the profile of some legislators and LGU executives- many of them are contractors and suppliers. They get a percentage and they also get the projects as contractors.
While the Supreme Court has declared pork barrel as unconstitutional, some lawmakers and LGU officials have managed to go around the ruling just by rigging the bidding process as they are either the contractors or the suppliers, or both.”)
“Nothing have we heard from our legislators that they are willing to give up their pork barrels. Kahit man lang sana sabihin nila na bawasan ninyo yung pork barrel.
But nobody, for some reason, nobody would admit na meron pala silang pork barrel. But now that I am with local government, the fact remains that there is still pork barrel.
Tayo, both from the armed forces and from the Philippine National Police, we risk our life. We risk equality time with our family. And we are willing to give up a small amount of our pension just to help national government. Just to address this huge deficit. Just to address this big national debt.
Hintayin natin kung anong sasabihin ng ating mga magigiting na legislators. Hintayin natin silang magsalita.
Hopefully, one of them will come out in the open and tell us it is about time that legislators should also give a big contribution to address national government issue, especially on our financial debt.”
TIME TO STOP PORK BARREL NOW!