ANGELES CITY- The Aquino government’s P20-billion “bottoms up budget” (BUB) fund to “eradicate poverty” was allegedly designed for the presidential plans of Local Governments Sec. Mar Roxas in 2016 and ”merely treats poor people as hostage of patronage politics carried out by local government officials identified with the Liberal Party (LP).”
“The intention is not to help the poor, but to maintain the political support of local government officials to the ruling Liberal Party. The P20-billion BUB program is a trade-off in exchange of local officials’ support to Mr. Aquino in the next three years or until 2016,” said a statement by militant groups led by the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).
Earlier, Budget Sec. Florencio Abad Jr. said those to be funded under the P 20-billion anti-poverty program include projects for pre-schools, health centers, water supplies, reforestation and flood mitigation.
The statement of the militant groups noted Abad’s declaration that the program would be carefully planned by a local poverty reduction action team chaired by Roxas.
“It is a good thing Secretary Abad mentioned the name of Secretary Roxas. Now it is clear to us, the BUB project is in preparation for the presidential bid of Mar in 2016,” the statement said.
The statement was also signed by leaders of the Save Laguna Lake Movement (SLLM), Koalisyon Kontra Kumbersyon ng Manila Bay (KKK-Manila Bay) and Anakpawis partylist.
“The BUB program will usher an intensified era of patronage and blackmail politics at the local level, because local execs identified with Aquino will use the money to buy political loyalty and support,” the statement also said.
The statement vowed to “carry out an all-the-way protest and vigilance against all possible plunder of taxpayers’ money by the LP syndicate in Malacanang for the presidential dream of Roxas.”
Meanwhile, Anakpawis vice chairperson Fernando Hicap lambasted Pres. Aquino over the reported veto of the recently passed Magna Carta for the Poor.
Aquino did not sign the law reportedly because it contains a provision where the poor can file cases against the government for abandoning its obligations to the poor folk.
“What the President wants perhaps is for Congress to enact the Magna Carta for the Rich so he can protect Hacienda Luisita from free distribution beyond 2016. He wants the rich like him to be eternally protected including all the wealth that were consistently acquired through coercive and illegal means,” said Hicap.
Sources said the President has no problem with the Magna Carta when it comes to funding, but he does not want to be pressured or bothered by possible cases to be filed against him or any officials close or identified with LP and the current leadership in Malacanang.
