The NBN and the pork barrel

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

There is a well-known saying that it’s an ill wind that blows no good. We are beginning to see proof of this in the current controversies going on in our country which is now being shaken as if an ill wind is, indeed, blowing through it.

The strongest gale, among the many gusts we have experienced in the past few months, is the exposé on the alleged overpricing and demands for commission by high-ranking government officials, and even members of their families. This all started with the disclosure of the son of former speaker Jose de Venecia that the transaction between the government and the Chinese firm ZTE involving the installation of a national broadband system in the country, was tainted with corruption in the form of an overprice of some $130 million that was supposed to go to commissions of officials who had brokered the deal.

The younger De Venecia, named Jose III, or just “Joey”, stirred the proverbial hornets’ nest with his disclosure, made particularly before the Senate, where he pointed to then Commission on Election Chairman Benjamin Abalos, and the president’s husband, lawyer Mike Arroyo, as among those involved.

The continuous hearings on the case has caused whirlpools of involvement, where more and more officials in very important offices and agencies appeared to also be part of the alleged scam that has exploded into the prayer rallies and calls for the resignation or ouster of the President again. The anger seems to be escalating and damage control measures seem not to be working very well.

But the good that may be expected from all this includes the recent proposal for a more intensive monitoring of the abominable pork barrel funds given in prodigious amounts each year to senators and congressmen which they can spend or use as they like, without need for accountability or audit, and with so much freedom that it is so easy to abuse. According to the proponents, such funds should now be subject to liquidation just like all other government releases, and given out to the solons upon presentation of a project, with every centavos spent accounted for. If this proposal, by miracle, of course, gets approved and adopted, how much freer from opportunities for graft and corruption we will be, and how much more in government money will truly go to the welfare of our people and country.*