Protests against the pork-barrel fund are set in Bacolod City Friday.

Tipon Negrosanon-Pork Barrel Untaton, a convergence of concerned Negrenses calling for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, commonly known as pork barrel, is staging a rally at the Bacolod Public Plaza 3 p.m. Friday.

Progressive organizations will also march down the streets from Rizal Park to the Welcome Rotonda of Bacolod City to call for the eradication of the controversial PDAF on Friday.

They are also urging President Benigno Aquino III to give up his own Malampaya fund, which is vulnerable to misuse since its disbursement is based on his discretion, Christian Tuayon, secretary general of Bayan Negros, said.

Their protest is in coordination with the national-led mass mobilization of their allied groups on Friday.

The PDAF must be scrapped and the money should instead be allocated for basic social services like education, health, housing and job generation, among others, Tuayon said.

Roland Ian Evidente, spokesperson of Kilusang Mayo Uno-Negros, reiterated their call to the congressmen of Negros Occidental not to accept their pork barrel allocation for them to become role models.

Bayan Muna Region 6 coordinator and Makabayan party coordinator Alejandro Deoma said PDAF is no longer necessary because without it, legislator can still extend help to indigents if they want to.

Deoma recounted that during the time of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the Makabayan partylist did not received any pork barrel allocation but were still able to perform their tasks.

About 300 to 500 members of progressive organizations are expected to attend the anti-PDAF Welcome Rotunda rally on Friday.*APN

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