LEGAL NOTE 0140:  THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF THE PORK BARREL SYSTEM.

 

SOURCE: SC DECISION ON PDAF (G.R. NOS. G.R. NO. 208566; G.R. NO. 208493 AND G.R. NO. 209251, 19 NOVEMBER 2013, PERLAS-BERNABE, J.) SUBJECT: LEGALITY OF THE PORK BARREL SYSTEM) (BRIEF TITLE: BELGICA ET AL VS. HON. EXEC. SECRETARY).

 

 WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF PORK BARREL?


Pork Barrel‖ is political parlance of American-English origin.3


Historically, its usage may be traced to the degrading ritual of rolling out a barrel stuffed with pork to a multitude of black slaves who would cast their famished bodies into the porcine feast to assuage their hunger with morsels coming from the generosity of their well-fed master.

 

This practice was later compared to the actions of American legislators in trying to direct federal budgets in favor of their districts.5 While the advent of refrigeration has made the actual pork barrel obsolete, it persists in reference to political bills that ―bring home the bacon‖ to a legislator‘s district and constituents.6


IN A TECHNICAL SENSE WHAT IS PORK BARREL?

 

In a more technical sense, ―Pork Barrel‖ refers to an appropriation ofgovernment spending meant for localized projects and secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative’s district.7 Some scholars on the subject further use it to refer to legislative control of local appropriations.8

 

In the Philippines, ―Pork Barrel‖ has been commonly referred to as lump-sum, discretionary funds of Members of the Legislature,9 although, as will be later discussed, its usage would evolve in reference to certain funds of the Executive.

 

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 LEGAL NOTE 0140 – THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF THE PORK BARREL SYSTEM