PCCI to discuss People’s Initiative issue in annual meeting

THE PHILIPPINE Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, said that its network of member-chambers nationwide will join consultations to support or not a proposed law through People's Initiative to abolish the pork barrel system.

“The signal for the PCCI chambers to mobilize is when the Supreme Court declares that the power of Congress to create pork barrel fund is constitutional,” said PCCI president Miguel B. Varela in a statement. “Our chambers will then convene voters to discuss whether or not they will sign a People’s initiative to abolish the congressional Priority Development Assistance Fund or the Development Assistance Fund or any other discretionary funds.”

“The nationwide chapters of PCCI, as members of development councils, are among the leading influencers in their communities,” said Varela. “Businessmen, as the largest taxpayers, have a right to express their opinion on how their taxes are spent.”

The People’s Initiative, to succeed, needs the signature of at least ten per cent of the registered voters and three per cent of voters in every congressional district.

Varela welcomed pronouncements by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno that the Supreme Court had “decided to come together and deliberate on this with all possible speed”.     

Senior Justice Antonio Carpio also said that the Court will decide by November before Congress finalizes the 2014 General Appropriations Act.

The PCCI president said that mobilization for the education campaign phase of the People’s Initiative has been included in the agenda of the annual Philippine Business Conference of member-chapters from October 22 to 24, 2013, at the Manila Hotel.

A resolution will be proposed and adopted during the conference, and will be submitted to President Aquino.

The People’s Initiative was proposed by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno as a specific actionable measure for those opposing the pork barrel system. A People’s Initiative is allowed under the Constitution.  The Commission on Elections will verify compliance with requirements for support signatures. The minimum required total number is close to 5.08 million, or ten per cent of total voting population.