Holdaf, Nacaw, Badaf? Netizens rename PDAF

MANILA, Philippines—If the Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF is to be renamed, what would it be?

Holistic Lawmaking for Development of All Filipinos (HOLDAF), former journalist Carlos Conde, who uses the Twitter handle @carloshconde, said.

“National Account for Countrywide Administrative Welfare” or NACAW, suggested Twitter user @SamYunono.

Why not NAPOLES, after Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged Mother of the Pork Barrel.

Netizen @corazonangeles said NAPOLES stands for “National Assistance Program of Lawmakers Engaged in Service (NAPOLES).

Or BADAF – meaning Benigno Aquino Development Assistance Program? A text message that circulated Friday soon after President Aquino said he favored the abolition of the PDAF.

Whether in t-shirts, posters, memes, Filipinos are preparing for Monday’s “Million People March” with creativity and humor.

“Makibaka, wag magbaboy!” has become a battlecry of some sorts by groups who are demanding the abolition of the ‘pork barrel,’ the more popular term for the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

The anti-pork slogan is actually a throwback to the ‘Makibaka, Hwag Matakot!’ slogan of the student activists  who battled President Ferdinand Marcos and the military in the late 60s and early 70s.

While the passion remains as fervid, technology and social media have added a new flavor to the protest.

In fact, the One Million One group has even started its own “selfie protest campaign” by encouraging netizens to come up with their own personal protest photos to be posted on Facebook and Twitter.

One million people are expected to join Monday’s protest at Luneta, a protest picnic initiated by Facebook users who were incensed by the report of the Commission on Audit that 90 percent of the PDAF are actually pocketed by senators, congressmen and their allies through a network of bogus nongovernment organizations.

Simultaneous protests will also be held in the following areas:

• Cebu – Fuente
• Cagayan de Oro – Gaston Park, 2 p.m.
• Davao – Rizal Park, 9 a.m.
• Iloilo City – Museo Iloilo or Plaza Libertad
• Dagupan – City Plaza
• Baguio – People’s Park (Malcolm Square)

With Inquirer Research