The first activity of the newly-formed alliance of church people against the pork barrel is the simultaneous ringing of bells in churches on October 11 at 1 p.m.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — After participating in several anti-pork demonstrations, religious people formed the Church People Alliance Against Pork Barrel, Saturday, to step up the campaign against corruption.
Bishops, priests, pastors, religious men and women, deaconesses, formators, seminarians, youth and lay leaders from both Catholic and Protestant Churches gathered at the convent of the Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae, or the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM) in New Manila, Quezon City to demand that pork barrel funds be re-channeled to social services.
Sharing her reflection, Sister Maureen Catabian of the Religious of the Good Shepherd said, “Jesus Christ is the real ‘daang matwid’ (righteous path). He is the way, the truth and the life and those who does not take the path of Christ are like lost sheep treading on the wicked path of selfishness, of greed in power and money.”
“Daang matwid” is the slogan of the Aquino administration.
The nun lamented that “the people’s wealth is not being used for the benefit of the majority but enjoyed by the ruling few.”
“In the many years that passed, from Marcos until now, the people have not felt any relief,” she said.
Simultaneous ringing of bells
Nardy Sabino, secretary general of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), announced that the first activity of the alliance is the simultaneous ringing of bells in churches on October 11 at 1 p.m.
Sabino said several several Catholic dioceses such in as Cebu, Jaro, Iloilo and Tuguegarao already confirmed their participation. The Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) also committed to join the activity.
On October 14, the alliance will celebrate a Mass and hold a protest action outside the Batasan Pambansa Complex. “On that day, the Congress will pass in the third and final reading the 2014 national budget,” Sabino told fellow church workers.
Sabino said that contrary to Malacañang’s pronouncement, the 2014 national budget is not devoid of pork.
In the proposed 2014 national budget, P450 billion ($10.42 billion) is being allocated for the President’s Special Purpose Funds (SPF). Legislators, meanwhile, can “recommend” up to five projects for public works with an allocation of P9.954 billion ($230.53 million).
Reading the unity statement, Sister Pat Fox slammed the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) as yet another pork with a different name.
Catabian called on fellow religious not to be blinded by apathy.
“It is not enough that we have faith. We must live our faith as Filipino Christians for the sake of the poor and neglected,” she said. “Let us be that hope to sustain the light of truth which will purify our government.”
She said church people must hold sustained actions to hold the government accountable to the people. 
