The Long Awaited Death of Philippine Legislators’ Discretionary Funds aka “PDAF” (Pwedeng Dukutin at Angkinin ang Funds)

Let me go to the heart of the matter: Legislators don’t need PDAF. PDAF is like one gigantic Petty Cash fund that is easily abused. Hopefully, they design a system that demands accountability from the time the budget is created and submitted for approval. If they find it too slow, then they should set targets for expediency and simplify long winding “red tape” processes.

We should spend money where it’s most needed. Education, Security, Infrastructure (Flood Control, Fast and Massive Public Transport Systems, Ensuring Roads made exceed the standards of safety required of them, etc.), Fix the broken and susceptible to corruption SK, Complete Financial Transparency of where each peso goes from the Barangay level all the way up the chain of command, build more jail cells to house those convicted of PDAF Plunder, among others.

Every official who fails the lifestyle check and cannot prove that money they spent on their SUV’s, Mansions, etc. came from legal means should be prosecuted and made accountable for their actions. No special treatment. Magkano ba ang sweldo ng Senator, Congressman, Mayor, Councilor, Barangay Captain, etc. ? Sa sweldo ba nila eh kakayanin nilang bumili ng kotse AT MGA Bahay at Lupa na ang presyo ay higit pa sa kikitain nila sa isang taon? Lokohan yan.

Kung ang snatcher nga eh kung ninakaw ang wallet mo, KAHIT WALANG LAMAN, eh gusto mo itong parusahan at ipakulong at minsan ginugulpi muna para “matutunan ang leksyon”, eh ano pa ang dapat para sa mga “Honorable” Sena-TONG at TONG-gressman na ang sarap ng buhay ay galing sa pinagpawisan ng Pilipino?

Remove PDAF and any other reincarnation of it and you will remove the “prize” politicians fight and die for during every election. Tamang sweldo lang at benefits tulad ng natatanggap ng karamihan ng kawani ng gobyerno ay sapat na. Removing the “Pork” COULD help ensure that those who will run for office are not those looking to perpetuate the grand lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to by virtue of stealing the people’s money systematically for years now.

Yung tatakbo eh yung desididong maging servant leader at tunay na uunahin ang kapakanan ng mamamayang Pilipino dahil wala na siyang PDAF na pwedeng pambawi ng Capital na pinagkampanya niya nung eleksyon! Kung walang nanakawin, saan pupunta ang magnanakaw na “Honorable”?

Tolerance Is A Two-Way Street

If you desensitize the public (through a savvy, encompassing PR campaign that immediately labels those who stand up against the cause as bigots, for example), you can make anything “normal”, legal and acceptable.

Most people will tolerate everyone else; until you disagree with them that is.

  • You’re called a bigot if you don’t support allowing “mothers” to choose to murder the defenseless unborn (like the kind of murder that Dr. Gosnell and ALL abortion clinics globally do regularly).

Thinking of 2016 (It’s NEVER too Early in the Philippines)

Project Nancy

I think “Project Nancy” was an effective dry-run for 2016. It seems like a savvy political strategy to gauge the strength of the Binay brand in every Region. The results are in and his team now knows exactly where they need to improve on a precinct level. The question is, will it pay off in a victory in 2016?

“Binay Poe”, at your service in 2016?

Do you really think Sen. Grace Poe can say “NO” to Erap, her late Dad’s best friend, who still actively campaigned for her even if she was “dropped” from UNA? What if she was “dropped” on purpose as part of a larger strategy to unwittingly become “nobody’s enemy”? If the Erap+Binay alliance holds, who’s to say we won’t see a “Binay-Poe” ticket in 2016?

Let’s Collaborate To Choose Better Leaders in the Philippines

We know that the “party system” in our country is broken. Elections have become a popularity contest with the ones with the most cash and influence to throw around during the campaign having their way. The faces change, but the names ring familiar as always.

Now, is there anything we concerned citizens can do to begin making elections, starting with 2013, based on issues and not personalities? Can you suggest any set of actions or ideas that can lead to actions that we can take collectively to ensure we get the leaders we deserve?

We don’t have forever and we certainly cannot wait any longer to bring about the kind of change our citizens need. Before we know it, our children will be old enough to ask us what we did to make our country better. (some of you may even have children that have asked you that already)

Simply doing what we’ve been doing in the past 15-20 years clearly isn’t working. We need to make something happen. Enough talk, more action. We need to get involved and apply ourselves to the task of choosing better leaders.

Any suggestions on actions we can do collectively that can begin to make a difference? Let me know of any ideas you may have in the comments.