"In societies where Robbing Hoods are treated like a celebrity it is but natural to expect political parties to act like a Mafia syndicate" Political Jaywalker "In a nation where corruption is endemic people tend to confuse due process with aiding and abetting criminals" Political Jaywalker "War doesn't determine who is right, war determines who is left" Bertrand Russell "You have just one flash flood of money, you keep your people poor. It's like a time bomb and it's scary" Philippine Lawmaker

Legislative Office a BIG Taxpayers Burden...conclusion

conclusion........

In 2002 Representatives of Congress receive's:

Monthly Salary

P35,000.00 a Month

Published expenses

P200,000.00 a month

Allowance from the Speaker

P50,000.00 – 100,000.00 a month

Christmas gift from the Speaker

P100,000.00 – 150,000.00

Occasional gift from Malacanang (Christmas)

P100,000.00 – 150,000.00

Pork Barrel (Priority Development Assistance Fund and Public Works Fund) per Representative

P65,000,000.00 a year P195,000,000.00 for 3 years

Annual income per Representative plus Pork Barrel (Priority Development Assistance Fund and Public Works Fund) not including other perks such as Emergency Funds, travel per diem @US$300.00/day, attendance to plenary sessions, voting for bills, etc.

P3,620,000.00 – 3,720,000.00 + Pork Barrel = 68,620,000.00 to P68,720,000.00 – 30 to P50 Million (personal or donated legitimate or illegitimate campaign funds that may come from various criminal elements such as Jueteng, tax evaders, big vested interest etc.) = 38,620,000.00 to P18,720,000.00

Annual income of 230 Representatives plus Pork Barrel (not including other perks such as Emergency Funds, travel per diem @US$300.00/day, attendance to plenary session, voting for bills, etc.)

P832,620,000.00 - 855,600,000.00 + Pork Barrel = P15,782,620,000.00 to P15,805,600,000.00

Add annual cost of maintenance for 24 Senators

P4,072,000,000.00 + 15,782,620,000.00 = P19,854,620,000.00 low

P4,072,000,000.00 + 15,805,600,000.00 = P19,877,600,000.00 high

No, there is nothing wrong with your eyes; the figures are in BILLIONS of pesos costing us P19.854 + to 19.877 + BILLION every year to maintain 24 Senators and 230 Representatives watching their circus like session oftentimes acting like a mob when they impose their numbers over reason.

Every six (6) years our battered nation will spend somewhere around P123.667 + BILLION and every time you visit your hometown marvel at the monstrous billboards of your representatives touted accomplishments who hopefully you have not voted into office while enjoying the bumpy ride of a thousand lakes (pot hole ridden streets and national roads). We have not even look into the BILLIONS of pesos we give through our hard earned blood, sweat and tears income taxation, OWWA fees and other fees required to be hailed as “modern day heroes” to our President and her Cabinet, the local governments of our Governors, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Mayors, and Councilors all the way down to Barangay Tanod.

We have contributed US$12.8 Billion through our remittances amounting to 10% of our GNP leaving our families behind risking dire social consequence in a hometown mired in poverty hoping that our sacrifices will improve their lot through the competent leadership of our present breed of politicians.

Lo and behold what we left behind seems to have gotten worse, poverty and desperation still prevails, corruption so pervasive affecting every facet of our lives. Where did all the money go? While there are billions and billions of pesos for our elected leaders there are no decent medical facilities, ill equipped equally corrupt law enforcement agencies, justice for a fee, impassable roads due to the usual excuse of lack of funds.

While our elected officials calls on us to sacrifice for their broken promises of economic progress our beloved distinguish members of the upper and lower house have a never ending supply of pork barrels in hundreds of millions beyond scrutiny of any government audit agencies or the people accountable only to themselves. Yes, funds are flowing like never ending stream for our high maintenance public officials while basic government service are relegated at the end of the totem pole.

We can mention all the maladies and sufferings of our people like a mountain load of man made Payatas Mountain of corruption and neglect or blame ourselves like a battered wife or husband for our nations ills but it will not change anything to stop the bleeding. Now is the time to demand accountability and responsibility on our candidates running for public office or forever whine and complain why we are the basket case of Asia. Read the Migrants Manifesto for Issue-based Electoral Contest, be counted and add your name. At the rate we are going our nation may end up like what is happening now in Abra where Warlords dictates the outcome of the electoral contest.

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