DAVAO TODAY | Photo | HUNGRY EVEN IN SLEEP

Posted by: ACE R. MORANDANTE Posted date: October 05, 2013 In: News In Pictures, SLIDER |comment : 0

HUNGRY EVEN IN SLEEP

As the public rages over misuse of people’s taxes, a beggar in torn pants sleeps off his hunger in a sidewalk along Bonifacio Street. (davaotoday.com photo by Ace R. Morandante)

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THE FAVORITE PROJECTS OF OUR TONGRESSMEN

From half-paved roads to unfinished schools and welcome arches at the entrances of towns -- these are only some of the projects on which taxpayers' money is used.

In short, cosmetic and wasteful, according to non-government organizations (NGOs) that have joined the clamor to remove legislators' discretion in spending what has come to be called pork barrel.

Among such wasteful uses of public funds are the construction of countless bridges that lead to nowhere, dirt roads interrupted by occasional concrete paving and half-roofed schools.

According to law, members of the House each get P70 million in pork barrel every year, whereas each senator, P200 million. But instead of spending them on high-impact projects, taxpayers' money is divided among small projects with little or no significance, such as waiting sheds, entrance arches and multi-purpose pavements -- all in the spirit of distributing public funds among the most number of constituents nationwide.

Meanwhile, the more pressing problems such as public service, housing and education has been left untouched. The congressman do not even care about projects that can lead to creation of means to alleviate the poverty of the people.

The congressman will always give pork barrel to something that they can see immediately, and people can say 'thank you.' They will not do a project whose benefits come out in the fifth year. They want something they can see in three years, even if it means it's a road that leads to nowhere.