An antidote to the much maligned pork barrel system is hastening the process of decentralization envisioned in the Saligang Batas. Local autonomy, which is the devolution of political and economic powers to local government units, is a means to accelerate the process of development with equity. This participative process was thought to be superior to the system of centralized program implementation by swivel chair generals from the ivory tower of Malacañang or from the halls of Congress many of whose tenants seem more interested in pocketing government funds rather than distributing these to constituents.
Indeed economists in the past, the likes of Gustav Ranis of Yale who had prepared a “Program of Employment, Equity and Growth” for this country, had commented that perhaps the tienelas-clad barrio captains in far-flung barangays are more sensitive to and are in a better position to gauge more accurately the dire social and economic needs of their constituents.