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[From the web] Estado ng Kalikasan – Mayu Uno Virtual Rally – Pagbabahagi ng ATM/Kalipunan

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Estado ng Kalikasan – Mayu Uno Virtual Rally – Pagbabahagi ng ATM/Kalipunan

1 Isang maka-kalikasan at mapag-palayang araw sa ating lahat. Nakiki-isa ang ATM at marami pang ibang maka-kalikasang grupo sa paggunita ng Araw ng Paggawa. Kasama rin po natin ang KALIPUNAN ng mga Masang Kilusan sa hanay natin ngayon.

2. Maganda ang paunang paliwanag kanina ni Kasamang Josua. Naniniwala kami na batay sa syensya at mga pag-aaral, malaki ang ugnayan ng pandemya at ng nagbabagong-klima. Ang mga mapanirang gawain ng kapitalista at tao – tulad ng pagmimina, pagto-troso at pag-gamit ng maduming enerhiya galing sa coal power plants – ang nagpapabilis at nagpapalala ng “climate change”. At dahil nauubos na ang mga puno, kalbo na ang gubat, madumi na ang mga katubigan at malala ang polusyon sa mga syudad, apektado ang mga hayop at insekto. Nagbabago ang kanilang mga gawi, kilos at biolohiya, at sila ay nagdadala ng mga bagong sakit tulad ng pandemyang ito.

3. Batid din natin na ang paglala ng air pollution ay masama para sa kalusugan ng mga manggagawa na araw-araw susuungin ang trapik at init at usok sa kalsada. Mas madali tayong makakapitan ng covid19 dahil sa lumalalang polusyon.

4. Ngayong COVID19 lockdown, nakakalungkot at nakakagalit ang sitwasyon ng ating kalikasan at likas-yaman:

a. Ilegal na pagmimina sa Homonhon, Leyte, Palawan at Nueva Vizcaya

b. sa Nueva Vizcaya kung saan ang isang mapayapang protesta ng mga katutubo ay marahas na na-disperse ng mahigit 100 pulis para lang makapasok ang mga diesel sa isang minahan

c. Ang paglo-load ng coal sa Semirara, kung saan Chinese shipping vessels ang pinigilan sana na maka-daong

d. Ang mga manggagawa sa mga minahan ay exposed sa sakit, at meron tayong alam na mga minahan na nagkaroon ng kaso ng COVID19, pero tuloy pa rin ang mga operasyon.

e. Batid din natin ang kalagayan ng mga simpleng manggagawa na mahirap ang karanasan ngayong COVID19 lockdown. Mga waste workers na walang PPE (kahit na nga patuloy ang pagkolekta ng mga basura kahit lockdown)

f. Lalong pagdami ng plastic pollution dahil sa disposable na PPEs, masks at plastic bags para sa relief goods.

g. Ang pag-payag ng DENR sa pag-gamit ng incineration o pagsusunog ng mga basura ng hospital. Ito ay malinaw na paglabag sa Clean Air Act.

5. Ang ilang sa ating mga panawagan:

a. Huwag maging bulag ang DENR sa mga banta na dulot ng mapanirang industriya at ng mga maling polisiya ngayong panahon ng Covid19 lockdown. Hindi essential economic activity ang pagmimina, kaya dapat itong itigil ngayong lockdown. Sa pagsasara ng mga minahan, dapat ay siguruhin ang lahat ng benepisyo para sa mga mine workers.

b. Pangalawa, siguruhin ang sapat na ayuda sa mga apektadong komunindad, lalo na ang mga katutubo at kababaihan, kasama na ang mga manggagawang apektado ng lockdown

c. Ayusin ang koordinasyon ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno para maging kumpleto at sapat ang ayuda sa lahat ng apektado ng lockdown dulot ng Covid19

6. Sa pagtatapos, gusto naming ipaalala sa lahat na ang “bagong normal” ay naririto na. Kaya naniniwala kami, na ito na ang tamang panahon para igiit natin ang isang bagong porma at anyo ng kaunlaran na hindi dikta ng kapitalista. Ito na ang tamang panahon para isulong ang kaunlaran na hindi sinisira at sinasakripisyo ang likas-yaman. Isang lipunan at kaunlaran na tao at kalikasan ang nasa gitna. At sa pangunguna ng mulat na uring manggagawa, sigurado kami na makakamit natin ang pangarap na lipunang ito.

Magandang araw po sa ating lahat at mabuhay ang uring manggagawa!

Source: www.alyansatigilmina.net

From the web

[From the web] Philippines: Arrests and detention Marred International Labor Day 2020 -CTUHR

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Philippines: Arrests and detention Marred International Labor Day 2020

Seventy-six (76) were arrested and detained yesterday in separate incidents, — the biggest number of arrests in the recent history of Labor Day celebrations in the Philippines.

Ten (10) volunteers of CURE COVID, a citizens’ alliance that included workers who were running a Community Kitchen and distributing food packs in their communities were arrested and detained in Marikina City. If not for the intervention of the good Mayor Marcy Teodoro, and as there was no crime committed, they were later released.

In Quezon City, eighteen (18) persons, including 4 volunteers of Tulong Kabataan simply echoing the call for livelihood, rights and health written on placards, as they were conducting relief operations were also arrested in Brgy. Central, Quezon City and detained at Camp Karingal. They were later charged of illegal assembly and violations of the lockdown rules even if they observed social distancing protocols.

Meanwhile, four (4) individuals, including Kilos Na Homeless leader Fidel Columna and 3 members of Liga ng mga Manggagawasa Valenzuela City, were arrested in Valenzuela City. They participated in an online protest and later on arrested as their pictures were seen on social media. Two (2) members of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) from Montalban, Rizal suffered the same fate.

In Jaro, Ilo-Ilo City, forty-two (42) were also arrested including a priest, Fr. Marco Sulayao when they conducted a caravan (while observing physical distancing), in grievance and protest of the brutal killing of Jory Porquia, an activist and member of Bayan Muna and a lawyer who offered his services.

While 16 workers of Coca-Cola in Laguna were falsely presented as NPA rebels who surrendered and used as black propaganda against the workers’ organizations.

The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) condemns these arrests and detention and calls for their immediate and unconditional release. “To feed the hungry and to protest and criticize the government for its ineptness, especially during Labor Day is an exercise of the right to freedom of expression,” says CTUHR Executive Director, Daisy Arago.

“These arrests only unmasks this government further, that in the midst of a public health emergency and social aid chaos, all it can do is arrest, detain and threaten people who are in fact, filling in the inadequacies caused by its incompetence. Workers’ welfare and people’s health should be at the forefront of this battle against COVID19 not attack on activists and critics,” Arago added.

On May 1, 2020, amidst the pandemic and a militarized lockdown, workers successfully claimed the International Workers’ Day as a Day of voicing out their legitimate demands for mass testing, sufficient food supply, and government assistance, guaranteed income and livelihood and respect for human rights. Different labor groups and other human rights organizations used creative ways such as online protests, selfie protest, noise barrage, community kitchen, etc. while ensuring that they are abiding by precautionary measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19. “Instead of recognizing its deficiencies and listening to the demands of the people, the Duterte government chooses the easy way out – threaten to silence dissenters. If only the government has heeded the call to increase the wage of workers to P750 nationwide, eradicated contractualization and ensured freedom of association in the workplace, then the workers would have been better prepared for this crisis,” CTUHR ended.#

—
CENTER FOR TRADE UNION AND HUMAN RIGHTS (CTUHR)
Public Information and Education Department

Visit our site:ctuhr.org
Follow CTUHR PH on Twitter
Like CTUHR on Facebook

From the web

[Statement] Release all May 1 political prisoners now! -BMP

Posted on May 5, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Release all May 1 political prisoners now!

Socialist labor alliance Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa (PAGGAWA) strongly condemns the PNP’s arrest of labor leaders BMP Vice President Lito Rastica and Reynaldo Dulay on the morning of May 1, 2020, at Rodriguez, Rizal.

The two were arrested for leading a picket protest to mark International Worker’s Day near their residences inside Eastwind Subdivision, Barangay San Isidro. The protesters – who were calling for mass testing, sufficient government aid during the lockdown, and paid quarantine leave and hazard pay for all workers especially frontliners – followed lockdown precautions such as wearing face masks, observing physical distancing, and carrying their barangay passes with them.

Their compliance with lockdown precautions alone should have prevented authorities from penalizing their constitutional right to free speech.

Now the PNP have detained Mr. Rastica and Mr. Dulay for 2 days in San Jose Precinct and have hurled a flurry of trumped-up charges against them such as Alarm and Scandal, Violation of RA 11469, RA 11332 (Non-cooperation), Art. 151 of RPC (Resistance and Disobedience), and Municipal Ordinance 20 s. 2020 sec. 3. Their inquest scheduled for tomorrow May 4.

Far from being an isolated incident, Mr. Rastica and Mr. Dulay join the more than 80 workers and activists persecuted and arrested for peacefully celebrating International Worker’s Day and exercising their right to free speech. These include the Iloilo 42, the Marikina 10, the Quezon City 18, the Valenzuela 4, and the Sta. Rosa 16.

In stark contrast to these arrests, Mocha Uson and her opportunistic gathering of more than 300 OFW’s in Lian, Batangas last April 26 received none of the aggression and stigma that authorities gave to workers and activists on May 1.

Click the link below to read the complete article:

Statement

[Statement] WORKERS ARE NOT VIRUS-PROOF! Advocacy groups call for expanded massive testing before economic restart -PAHRA, iDEFEND, #MassTestingNowPH

Posted on May 2, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

WORKERS ARE NOT VIRUS-PROOF
Advocacy groups call for expanded massive testing before the economic restart

As the nation commemorates Labor Day amid the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists, artists, youth, human rights, public health, and citizen groups join forces with the labor sector to demand the increase and expansion of mass testing capacities of the country before lifting the enhanced community quarantine protocols and reopening the economy. The government and business groups have been keen to start economic activities the soonest to save the country from further economic meltdown. However, civil society groups have expressed their concern over the risks of this move and the need to address the public’s fear and panic with the possible lifting of the ECQ for the interest of the business.

Molecular biologist Joshua Danac of Scientists Unite Against COVID-19 (SUAC-19) cited the poor execution of mass testing in the country. “There are still massive backlogs in testing centers, and results take very long to be released. The Department of Health has failed to attain its initial stated target of 8,000 tests per day.” Since the government’s declaration on the start of mass testing on April 14, Danac pointed out that there are only 19 accredited testing centers in the whole country as of April 30, with around 50 percent of those centers based in NCR alone.

Danac further said, “The actual testing capacity of our country still lags behind because laboratories and personnel have not been capacitated in the first place. For massive testing not to fail, we must ask the government to be transparent and to act on the following issues: how will capacity be increased to clear the backlogs and shorten turnaround times? How will they increase the number of tests done per day? What about funding — will the government dedicate part of its budget for increasing testing capacity by buying equipment and hiring personnel?”

Meanwhile, human rights-based health service organization Medical Action Group (MAG) pointed out that aside from incapacitated testing centers and personnel, a public health and rights-based approach was not initiated by the government as well. According to MAG Executive Director Edel Hernandez, “The lack of diagnostics and cure for COVID-19 underscores the need for the government to scale up the mass testing using international standards, protecting the health of frontliners, and improving the delivery of healthcare services around the country. Inaction on the part of the government is a disservice to the nation. The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly creating a climate of fear and panic through restrictive, stigmatizing, and punitive measures imposed by the government as infectious disease control.” MAG urged the government to veer away from compulsory restrictions towards a human rights-based approach, centered on evidence-based response and promoting community empowerment and engagement.

The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) emphasized the demand for the government to take a human rights-based approach in tackling the COVID-19 situation in the country. According to PAHRA, while mass testing is an important step to address the public health crisis, the government must also address the social impact of the community lockdown. It pointed out that the basic human rights of workers especially their safety and security should be guaranteed by the government, not neglected. PAHRA Secretary General Rose Trajano said, “Testing, continuing assistance, and security of work are the basic human rights that should be effectively addressed by the government. Though certain limitations on fundamental rights and freedoms are unavoidable during public health emergencies, any disproportionate response can definitely lead to significant human rights violations. It amplifies the already underlying barriers that people face in protecting their health and their inability to meet basic survival needs.” Recent news reports and viral social media posts have shown arbitrary arrests and ill treatment by law enforcers to people who have breached quarantine restrictions.

With the government preparing to loosen the lockdown by May 15, the artist-activist collective DAKILA criticized plans of the government to reopen the economy without providing proper safety nets to the labor sector and the poor. Conglomerates and major business owners earlier announced Project ARK, a joint initiative to conduct massive testing on workers using rapid antibody test kits to help them assess who is fit to return to work. Medical experts have warned against the use of antibody test kits as diagnostic tools due to their tendency to display ‘false negative’ results. DAKILA spokesperson Leni Velasco said, “The return of work operations around the country is essential for the economy to run again, but to facilitate that using unreliable means will put workers into danger. The move to use to rapid antibody tests for mass screening for COVID19 will only give workers a false sense of security and run the risk of spreading the virus in the workplace — leading to a second wave of infection that our public health system won’t survive.”

DAKILA also slammed the recent statement of the Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion saying that the workers and the poor are more resilient to the virus and should be separated from those who are healthy through isolation. The statement, they pointed out, is a gross manifestation of the unjust treatment of the working poor, as well as businesses’ lack of value for laborers. “Workers and the poor are NOT virus-proof. They remain one of the most vulnerable sectors in this pandemic. In any situation, their lives must never be put in danger; it must be protected at all times. We can’t restart the economy at the expense of workers’ safety,” Velasco ended.

In line with this demand, a group of volunteers who started the campaign on mass testing named #MassTestingNowPH calls on the government to strengthen the Test-Treat-Trace approach in addressing the pandemic. The campaign urges business owners to use rRT-PCR testing to assist the return of employees to work after community quarantine protocols are lifted and they call for workers to demand the same. “Only through expanded RT-PCR testing can we have an accurate picture of the COVID-19 infection in the country. This should serve as the basis for any government decisions and actions. We should strengthen our call for mass testing, contact tracing, isolation, and treatment along with the continued provision of health and socio-economic assistance to our people,” #MassTestingNowPH said.

DAKILA, PAHRA, MAG, SUAC, and #MassTestingNowPH expressed their social solidarity with the Filipino working class which for the first time in Philippine history held Labor Day 2020 protest online in the context of the pandemic. In its unity statement, the groups said, “While the economy should be saved from further decline, it is by protecting and safeguarding the workers that can ensure the continuing lifeline of the economy. The working people are not virus proof and yet like the health workers, the government is sending them out like sacrifical lambs in this pandemic.”

The groups committed to intensifying the #MassTestingNowPH campaign until laboratories and personnel are capacitated, massive RRT-PCR-based testing is conducted, public health and rights-based approach are adopted by the government and the business sector, and the safety of workers are not put in danger amidst the desire to restart the economy.

Statement

[Video] Watch now! LIVE – SILANG MGA KALASAG. Pagkilala.Pagkumusta.Pakikiisa sa mga #frontliners sa gitna ng #CoVid19 -iDEFEND & PAHRA

Posted on May 2, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

SILANG MGA KALASAG.
Pagkilala.Pagkumusta.Pakikiisa sa mga frontliners sa gitna ng CoVid

iDEFEND Live

May 2, 2020, 4:00PM/ SEE LINKS.
SILANG MGA KALASAG

Kasama sina:

Dr. Faith Mesa Gaerlan
Emergency Room Consultant

Dr katerina Abiertas
Municipal Health Officer , Motiong, Samar
President, Samar AMHOP

Dr. Ela Romano
Psychiatrist ,
Bicol Medical Center

Dr. Nemuel Fajutagana
Chairperson,
Medical Action Group

Video

[From the web] Workers Demand for Guaranteed Income, Protection, Respect for Rights Before Returning to Work -CTUHR

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Workers Demand for Guaranteed Income, Protection, Respect for Rights Before Returning to Work

“This year’s International Labor Day celebration is historically different, there will be no huge demonstrations on the streets in the Philippines and in other countries as well, due to the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the calls for a living wage, job security amidst lay-off, humane conditions of work, safe workplaces, right to organize and collectively bargain that send thousands of workers to flood the streets annually are even more glaring now than ever. The pandemic deepens the problems that workers have to face even before the public health crisis and they have no one to lean on but their solidarity and strength. The system has failed them and continues to fail them, said Daisy Arago, CTUHR Executive Director.

The workers are hit hardest with the suspension of most economic activities, while others in essential services or even in business process outsourcing suffer from difficulties in transportation, inhumane work hours, and unsafe temporary accommodations. The government’s sluggish and inefficient response and assistance even to the most affected only worsened the anxiety that engulfed them. A recent study of the International Labour Organization (ILO), estimated that around 1.25 billion workers are at risk of losing their jobs due to the economic impacts of COVID-19. The ILO also calls the current situation “the most severe crisis since the Second World War.”

Before the pandemic, millions of Filipino workers are beset with unemployment and underemployment. The government continues exporting Filipino workers abroad to ease unemployment and earn from them. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of unemployed increased ten-folds but the Department of Labor and Employment estimated only an additional 2 million. Yet, government assistance only reached less than 30% of those affected. OFWs suffer from job losses overseas and are coming home and also demanding the P10,000 assistance that they have not received.

Before the crises, workers were barely surviving from low income. The minimum wage remains insufficient for the basic needs of a family. (NCR), the highest at P537 while Region 1 at P282 is the lowest, and many of them are not members of SSS – the agency appointed by the Duterte government to give wage subsidy to workers allegedly in support of SMEs. The lockdown deprives them of this meager income and made them dependent to government assistance that in many places never come. When they find the means to eat, many were arrested and called them `pasaway’, (hard-headed).

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reports say that it has documented and apprehended more than 150,000 violators of enhanced community quarantine measures. This includes informal workers who are simply trying to earn a living like Michael Rubuia, the fish vendor whose brutal arrest (because he was not wearing a face mask) was caught on video and went viral on social media. In another incident, on April 5, 19 vegetable vendors were arrested for illegal selling.

Contractualization schemes that are rampant and take away the benefits of workers from job security, social protection, and unions or organizations can be exploited in the pretense of COVID 19 response as more employers resort to that under a `new normal’ situation. Similarly, unions and those striving to unionize are attacked by both the company management and state forces under the pretext of a crisis response that can resort to more abusive practices. On top of 48 killings in the ranks of unionists, farmworkers, and labor rights defenders that CTUHR has documented.

On this day and days ahead, we join the workers in calling the Duterte regime not to use the current crisis to heighten attacks against activists and critiques. A day before May 1, a known activist in Iloilo City, Jory Parquia was murdered in his house. A union of Coca-Cola in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and several workers were forced to surrender as NPA rebels.

We reiterate our calls and echoes the demand of the people, #AksyongMedikalHindiMlitar. We demand an urgent realignment of government funds to health, to strengthen hospitals, and to conduct mass testing to curb the spread of the disease. We call on all on government and employers to test all workers before resuming work operations, hazard pay, and give the necessary protection against COVID-19. Lastly, we demand that labor and human rights be respected at all times and not be abused in the pretense of crisis management.#
—
CENTER FOR TRADE UNION AND HUMAN RIGHTS (CTUHR)
Public Information and Education Department

Visit our site:ctuhr.org
Follow CTUHR PH on Twitter
Like CTUHR on Facebook

From the web

[Video] Laban Manggagawa! Discussion ng mga lider-manggagawa sa Araw ng Paggawa -iDEFEND & PAHRA

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Discussion ng mga lider-manggagawa sa Araw ng Paggawa

Kasama sina:

Val Vibal
Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)

Judy Ann Chan-Miranda
Partido Manggagawa

Atty. Luke Espiritu
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino

Joshua Mata
Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa

Ellene Sana
Center for Migrants Advocacy

Primo Amparo
Workers for Peoples Liberation

Tagapagpadaloy:
Joseph Purugganan
Focus on the Global South

Video

[Press Release] Akbayan Party on Labor Day: Make workers resilient with protection, just wages and strong unions

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

Akbayan Party on Labor Day: Make workers resilient with protection, just wages and strong unions

Today, we celebrate Labor Day in extraordinary circumstances. When traditionally the working-class celebrates on the streets, today we are confined to our homes and social media. But our calls remain the same: for just and fair wages and benefits, for safe working spaces, for the strengthening of workers’ unions, and the end to unfair practices like ENDO.

Though these past few weeks our country has found itself sick with COVID-19, the Filipino working class has long suffered under the crises caused by the exploitative nature of capitalism and neoliberal government policies. Employment schemes like ENDO deprive workers of their right to security of tenure. Women and LGBTQIA+ individuals are prone to workplace discrimination and harassment. The past few years have seen increasing incidents of labor union harassment and violent picket dispersals by police and company administration. And instead of actively seeking to remedy these issues with key legislation, the government has simply prioritized the interests of multibillionaires and foreign corporations over Filipino workers. The weaknesses and ill effects of such a system have manifested over the past few months, with workers in both formal and informal sectors severely affected with no wages or access to basic necessities.

But this COVID-19 crisis allows us to see how we can move forward to empower our Filipino workers. It is imperative to give a voice to workers and unions disenfranchised by abusive employers or exploitative systems, and to uphold their rights to fair wages, security of tenure, workplace safety, and collective bargaining. By fighting for these rights to be upheld as national policy, we secure not just the welfare of our workers but of their families and the continuously growing Filipino labor force. Most importantly, in doing these we can slowly break down the economic and political structures that exploit labor for profit.

Akbayan Party stands with all Filipino workers, now in the time of crisis and in the continuing fight for labor rights. May our healing as a nation push everyone to work towards a more just and equitable society, and end the systems that have long disempowered and starved workers and their families.

Press Release

[Statement] Kalusugan, kabuhayan, kapakanan, at kapangyarihan sa masang manggagawa -BMP

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

BMP STATEMENT MAYO 1, 2020
(Mababasa rin dito: bit.ly/mayouno2020)

Kalusugan, kabuhayan, kapakanan, at kapangyarihan sa masang manggagawa

Sa Araw ng Paggawa ngayong taon – sa gitna ng pananalasa sa maraming bansa ng sakit na COVID19 at sa malawakang kagutuman ng milyon-milyong Pilipinong hindi makapaghanap-buhay dahil sa kwarantina, tahasan nating idinedeklara na:

Makakamit lamang ng masang manggagawa ang malusog na katawan at isipan, regular na hanapbuhay na may sapat na kita, at panatag na buhay na may maalwang na kinabukasang maipamamana sa susunod na henerasyon – kapag nakamit na ng uring manggagawa, ang totoong mayorya sa lipunan, ang kapangyarihang pampulitika para distrungkahin ang kasalukuyang bulok na kaayusang nakabatay sa tubo at sa pribadong pag-aari ng iilan.

Hangga’t ang may hawak sa kapangyarihan ay ang mga kinatawan ng interes ng kapital, na organisadong pwersa ng dahas at panunupil ng iilan sa nakararami, ang batas na kanilang babalangkasin at ipapatupad ay maglalagay sa panganib sa buong sambayanan.

Ang patunay ng peligrong hatid ng paghahari ng minorya sa mayorya ay makikita kung ano ang nilalaman at paano ipinapatupad ang lockdown o kwarantina, na kanilang ipinataw sa sambayanang Pilipino.

KALUSUGAN NG MASA: ISINAKRIPISYO SA NGALAN NG TUBO
Bago pa man ang pandemyang COVID19, naghihingalo na ang health care system ng bansa. Mayroon lang tayong 101,688 hospital beds, na nakakalat sa 1,223 ospital sa buong bansa. 75% ng ospital ay pribado.

Ang ideyal na bilang ay 44 health care workers (doktor, nars, medtech) sa bawat 1,000 Pilipino. Sa ngayon, mayroon lamang tayong 19 health care workers sa bawat 10,000 katao. Ang bilang ng ventilator (na kailangan ng pasyente ng COVID) sa bansa ay nasa 1,572 lamang, kung saan 423 ang nasa Metro Manila.

Taon-taon may 26,000 nars ang nakakapasa ng board exam mula 2012 hanggang 2016. Subalit sa panahon ding ito, 18,500 nars kada taon ang lumilikas para maging OFW. Tinayang may kakulangan ng 23,000 nars sa buong bansa. Samantala, nasa 150,000 nars ang kasalukuyang nagtatrabaho sa Estados Unidos.

Kung ang transmisyon ng COVID19 ay nasa 10% sa 107 milyong populasyon, at kung 10% ng magkakasakit ang mangangailangan ng ospitalisasyon, ito ay nasa 1.07 milyon pasyente na (ibig sabihin nito, isa sa bawat sampung maoospital sa COVID19 ay walang hospital bed!).
Subalit hindi naman lahat ng nagkakasakit ay nagpapaospital, ayon sa datos, 6 sa bawat 10 Pilipino ang namamatay nang hindi nagpapakonsulta sa doktor. Lagpas kalahati (56%) kasi ang dumudukot sa sariling bulsa (own-pocket) kapag naoospital. At marami (kahit mga may-kaya) ay lumalabas sa ospital nang naghihikahos. Sabi nga ni manong taxi driver, na nainterbyu, sa simula pa lang ng lockdown, “Mahirap maging mahirap”.

Ito ay sa usapin pa lamang ng health care system, na nakatuon sa pagpapagaling ng may-sakit. Paano naman ang prebensyon ng sakit? Kailangan ay may maayos na nutrisyon at malinis na tubig.

Ang problema sa kakulungan sa nutrisyon ay ramdam sa mga kabataan. Sa bawat araw, 95 bata ang namamatay sa malnutrisyon. 27 sa bawat 1,000 bata ang hindi umaabot sa ika-limang taon. Isa sa bawat tatlong bata ang maliit kumpara sa kanyang edad. Ang dalawang taong pagkaantala sa nutrisyon ay maaring maging permanente, di na kayang maihabol pa, o nakamamatay.

Ibang usapin pa ang kawalan ng malinis na tubig, hindi lang dahil ito ay batayang pangangailangan ng katawan ng tao. Bukod dito, ang paghuhugas ng kamay sa minimum na 20 segundo ang isa sa pinakamabisang paraan para labanan ang pagkalat ng COVID19. At ayon sa World Bank, 10% (10 milyong Pilipino) ang walang akses sa malinis na tubig!

Pinalala ng COVID19 ang matagal nang mga banta sa kalusugan ng mamamayang Pilipino. Kulang sa medikal na personel. Kulang sa ospital. Kulang sa malinis na tubig. Kulang sa nutrisyon.

Bakit ganito ang nangyari? Dahil sa patakaran ng pribatisasyon. Ito ang patakaran ng pagsasapribado ng mga batayang serbisyo na dapat ay binibigay ng mura o libre ng gobyerno sa kanyang mamamayan. Tubig. Kuryente. Ospital. Paaralan. At oo, maging internet. Kapalit ng buwis na kanyang kinakaltas sa mamamayan, lalong higit sa mayayaman (na kung tutuusin, ay mas maraming ligal na paraan para makaiwas sa kanilng obligasyon sa gobyerno).

Ang pandemyang COVID19 ang pinakamatibay na argumento laban sa pribatisasyon ng mga serbisyong pangkalusugan (at iba pang batayang pangangailangan). Simula sa Mayo Uno 2020, dapat mamulat ang kilusang paggawa na tumugon ito sa panlipunang usapin – gaya ng pangkalahatang kalusugan ng mamamayan, bukod pa sa pagtitiyak sa mga probisyon sa CBA ng mga unyon ukol sa occupational health and safety, medical insurance (bukod sa Philhealth), atbp.

KABUHAYANG ITINIGIL NG KWARANTINA
Milyon-milyon ang itinulak sa kawalang trabaho at kagutuman ng biglaang pagkwarantina sa buong bansa. Mayorya kasi ng lipunan ay mga manggagawa. Walang pag-aari kundi ang lakas-paggawa. Halos lahat ng pangangailangan ay kailangang bilhin. Magkakapera lamang kung magbabanat ng buto kapalit ng sweldo.

Hindi tayo kinonsidera ng gobyerno nang ipataw nito ang kautusang mag-“stay at home”. Noong una’y nakiusap lamang ito sa mga employer na ipagamit ang ating mga sick leave at vacation leave. Suhestiyon daw na magkawanggawa sila para sa atin.

Subalit nang maobliga nang bumunot mula sa pondo ng gobyerno, maglalaan daw ng 5K para sa sahurang empleyado ang DOLE sa pamamagitan ng programang CAMP (Covid Adjustment Measures Program). Nga-nga! Employer kasi ang mag-iinisyatiba para maghain sa kanilang manggagawa. Kailan pa kinalinga ng mga kapitalista ang kapakanan ng kanilang manggagawa? Hindi nga sila nakokonsensya na magbigay ng kararampot na sweldong hindi makakapagbigay ng disente’t marangal na buhay sa ating mga pamilya! Lalo pa sa panahong hindi tayo nagtatrabaho, hindi umaandar ang kanilang negosyo, at higit sa lahat, hindi natin nililikha ang kanilang tutubuin at ating seswelduhin!

Ang masakit, nang dumagsa na ang hinain ng mga employer, sinabi ng DOLE na ubos na ang kanilang pondong P1.6 bilyon. Subalit huwag daw tayong mag-aalala. Dahil naihanda diumano ni Sonny Dominguez ng Department of Finance ang P256 bilyon para sa medium-small-microenterprises (MSMEs) na bibigyan ng wage subsidy para may ipapasweldo sa kanilang manggagawa.

Nga-nga ulit, mga kamanggagawa! Paano ang milyon-milyong sumesweldo sa mga kumpanyang hindi itinuturing na MSME ng gobyerno? Paano tayo na inabot na ng mahigit isang buwan ngunit hindi naman nakinabang sa naunang DOLE-CAMP (at hindi naman papasok sa kategoryang “poorest of the poor” para sa 4Ps program ng DSWD)?

Ganyan rin ang nangyari sa social amelioration program (SAP) ng DSWD. Makalipas ang anim na linggo, 22% pa lamang ng target ang nabahaginan ng SAP dahil sa burukratikong proseso para ma-avail nito tulad ng validation ng beneficiaries. Dagdag mo pa kung paano namamanipula ng mga pultiko ang ayudang ito. Ganito tayo suklian ng gobyerno (matapos ang mahabang panahong ang ating pagtatrabaho ang siyang pinagmumulan ng industriyal na tubo, renta sa lupang inookupa ng ating employer, interes sa kanilang utang, at buwis sa sahod at tubo! Gagawin tayong mga pulubi. Nawalan ng dangal ang paggawang lumlikha ng pangangailangan at bumubuhay sa tao!

Wala naman talagang pakialam sa ating pagtatrabaho ang nasa gobyerno.

Hindi ba’t agad nitong inutos ang pagtigil sa pampublikong transportasyon – kahit pinahintulutan ang pagtatrabaho ng tinaguriang mga magigiting ng “frontliner”? Ano ang nangyari! Ang nars, at iba pang nagtatrabaho sa mga ospital (bukod sa mga duktor na karaniwang naka-kotse) ay naglalakad para pumasok sa trabaho!?! Walang pakialam ang pala-utos na gobyerno. Kaya nga’t hindi pinaghandaan ang pagkuha ng mga kasangkapan sa kanilang proteksyon (face mask/shield, personal protective equipment, atbp.) para sa mga medical frontliner!

Ang lockdown ay nangangahulugan ng ibayong gutom para sa masang manggagawa. Kaya naman, marami ang papabor sa pag-aalis ng mga restriksyon upang pahintulutang makapagtrabahong muli ang mga tao. May mga employer nang nagpanukala nito sa dulong linggo ng Marso. Pinahinto kasi ang produksyon at distribusyon. Tumigil kasi ang sirkulasyon ng kalakal at kapital. Hindi na lumilikha ng bagong halaga ang manggagawa. At kapag walang nabebentang kalakal, hindi nila nalalasap ang tubo sa anyo ng pera.

Hindi pwedeng isakripisyo ang manggagawa sa altar ng tubo. Alam nating mas makikipagsapalaran ang manggagawa sa posibleng kontaminasyon sa COVID19 kaysa sa tiyak na gutom sa kanyang pamilya. Subalit, kailangang ilagay lahat ng proteksyon para tiyak na hindi mahawa ng manggagawa ang myembro ng kanyang tahanan kung sakaling makontamina siya ng COVID19 dahil sa pag-alis ng bahay upang makapagtrabaho.

Proteksyon sa paggawa! Ipatupad ang social distancing sa trabaho. Gastusan ng employer ang face mask/shield, o PPE kung kinakailangan. Regular na paglilinis (disinfection) sa mga sasakyan. Shuttle bus para ihatid ang mga manggagawa. At higit sa lahat, bilang pagkilala sa risko na kanilang pinapasok sa pagtatrabaho, doble o tripleng sahod bilang hazard pay!

Sa kabilang banda, may positibong ipinamalas ang lockdown sa usapin ng paggawa. Ang pansamantalang pagtigil sa pang-ekonomikong aktibidad ay nakabubuti sa kalikasan at ekolohiya. Subalit higit dito, sobra-sobra na ang nalikha ng tao kaya’t maari nang tumigil sa pagtatrabaho. Ang problema sa kagutuman at kahirapan ay hindi ang kakapusan sa produksyon ng pangangailangan; kundi nasa distribusyon nito, dahil ang mga ito ay kalakal na kailangan munang bilhin ng tao bago makatugon sa anumang pangangailangan.

Ano ang ibig sahibin nito? Sa inabot na produktibidad ng tao, may kapasidad na tayong bawasan ang oras ng pagtatrabaho sa isang araw (working day) at araw ng pagtatrabaho sa isang linggo (workweek) – nang walang kabawasan sa sahod ng manggagawa. Mula sa pandemyang COVID19, isisilang ang bagong kilusan para sa pagbabawas ng oras at araw ng pagtatrabaho. Ito ang isa sa mga kilusang maghuhubog sa tinaguriang “new normal”, sa isang post-COVID na pandaigdigang ekonomya.

KAPAKANANG HINDI PRINAYORIDAD NG ELITISTANG GOBYERNO
Ang pamamahagi ng pagkain sa populasyong gutom at nakakwarantina ang unang sukatan kung totoo ngang kinakalinga ng gobyerno ang kanyang mamamayan. Wala nang singlinaw pa sa pahayag ni Dra. Rowena Mangubat. Aniya, “Nauubos din ang mga doctors. Ipamahagi niyo ang mga pagkain para hindi lumabas ang mga tao. Kung hindi, mauubos tayong lahat”.

Ang tagumpay ng ipinapatupad ng lockdown ay nakasalalay sa pamimigay ng pagkain sa mamamamayan. Hindi ito simpleng usapin ng kawalan ng disiplina. Kahit sinong magulang, gaano man kadisiplinado, ay lalabas ng bahay at gagawa ng anumang paraan, mapatigil lamang ang kumakalam na sikmura ng kanyang mga anak.

Ang problema sa distribusyon ng ayuda ay nasa bulok na pulitika na namamayani sa ating bansa. Nakuha na ng Malakanyang ang hinangad niyang pagkonsentra ng pondo sa executive branch. Pinadaloy ito sa mga LGU o local government units (kahit pa alam ng lahat na ang mismong makinaryang ito ay tadtad ng korapsyon). Ang standard-operating-procedure (SOP) sa pamahalaang lokal ay ang paggamit sa rekurso at pondo ng gobyerno para mapanatili sa poder ang mga naghaharing pampulitikang angkan.

Sa ayuda sa panahon ng kwarantina, nag-anyo ito hindi lamang sa pagtatatak sa mukha ng pulitiko sa binibigay na relief goods. Mas masahol dito ay ang pagtitiyak ng mga makinarya ng pulitiko na mabiyayaan muna ang kanilang mga pamilya (mula sa konsehal hanggang sa ward leader ng mga barangay). Ang masakit, ang sahurang manggagawa, na hindi naman aktibo sa mga pulitika sa barangay dahil abala sa paghahanapbuhay at kapag hindi naman nabibilang sa malaking pamilyang sinusuyo ang boto tuwing eleksyon – ay siguradong hindi na mabibiyayaan ng ayuda mula sa LGU. Kahit pa ang kanyang pagtatrabaho ang pinagmulan ng sahod at tubo, na pinagkukunan ng buwis ng kapitalistang estado!

Dahil dito, ang manggagawa ang dapat manguna sa pagigiit ng audit sa lingguhang ulat na dapat na gawin ni Duterte sa taumbayan. Saan napunta ang trilyon-trilyon pisong pondo para sa COVID19? Hindi lamang ang pondo mula sa badyet ng 2020 kundi ang utang at ayuda sa mga pinansyal na institusyon gaya ng World Bank (WB) at Asian Development Bank (ADB).

May karapatan ang manggagawa sa usaping ng pampublikong utang. Una, dahil dapat siyang makinabang dito. Ikalawa, dahil kasama siya sa pagbabayad nito! Kung gayon, kaisa rin siya ng sambayanang Pilipino na kahilingang huwag nang bayaran ang nauna nang utang ng gobyerno. Bayad na ito nang higit sa prinsipal. Kalabisan nang ibayad pa dito ang pondo lubos na kailangan ngayon para iahon sa gutom at kahirapan ang sambayanang Pilipino.

Nagdulot man ng paghihikahos ang ipinataw na kwarantina. Ang ginagawa ngayong “grow your own food” ng mamamayan ay sumisilip sa mga kahinaan ng kasalukuyang “import dependent, export oriented economy”. Tayo ay isang tropikal na bansang pinagyaman ng matabang lupa at maayos na klima. Kabalintunaang umaasa tayo sa importasyon ng pagkain, laluna ng bigas. Kailangang ayusin ang plano sa paggamit ng lupa upang iprayoridad ang agrikultura kaysa sa komersyo, na pinakikinabangan lamang ng mga negosyanteng landlord at mga nagpipinansya sa kanila. Balangkasin ang panibagong ekonomyang pangunahing nakatuon sa pangangailangan ng mga Pilipino hindi sa mga dayuhang monopolyo korporasyon.

KAPANGYARIHAN SA IILAN: “SUMUNOD NA LANG KAYO” PARA SA NAKARARAMI
Gaya nang ating nabanggit sa simula, ang kailangan ng manggagawa ay pampulitikang kapangyarihan upang tiyakin ang kanyang kalusugan, kabuhayan at kapakanan – na sumasaglit sa isip ng gobyerno kung kailangan ito para lumikha ng tubo sa kapital. Malusog para magtrabaho. Sumesweldo para bumalik sa trabaho sa susunod na araw. Pinaiiwas sa sakit o delubyo para manatiling produktibo sa paglikha ng tubo, buwis, at renta para sa iilang naghahari at nagmamay-ari sa lipunan.

Teka. Iyan ay mistulang isang diktadura?! Hindi ba’t nasa ilalim tayo ng diumano’y demokrasya? Oo. May kapangyarihan ang manggagawa – bilang magkakahiwalay na botante – na pumili tuwing eleksyon kung sino ang susunod na magsasamantala at manloloko sa atin.

Sa pagitan ng mga halalan, tayo ay pinepwersang maging maamong tupa. Sinasabihan na “sumunod na lang kayo”. Kinakastigo dahil kulang daw sa “disiplina”. Ang trabaho ng mga manggagawa bilang mabuting mga indibidwal na mamamayan ay sumunod, kahit inaabuso ng mga nasa kapangyarihan, kahit binabataan ng dahas o kamatayan sa mga checkpoint, kahit binabaril ng mga abusadong pulis (gaya ng nangyari sa ex-army na si Winston Ragos).

Narito ang kahinaan ng mga ginagawa ng rehimeng Duterte laban sa COVID19. Ang taumbayan ay hindi kasali. Taliwas sa ginawa ng sosyalistang bansang Vietnam, na kahit mas maliit ang ekonomya kumpara sa Pilipinas, ay nagawang maimobilisa ang gobyerno at ang taumbayan para pigilan ang pagkalat ng pandemya. Sa Vietnam, umasa ang gobyerno hindi pasibong sa pagpapasunod sa taumbayan kundi sa kanilang aktibong partisipasyon sa mga hakbang para labanan ang pandemya.

Nakakamit lamang ng manggagawa ang ganitong kapangyarihan, kung sila ay organisado. Ito ang unang aral na natututunan ng manggagawa sa pag-uunyon. Mag-isip at kumilos para sa kapakanan ng kabuuan. Hindi sa watak-watak at kanya-kanyang indibidwal na interes. Armado ng kaisipang lahat ng manggagawa ay magkakapatid bilang uri. At dahil organisado ay may kapangyarihan at lakas para baguhin ang kanilang kalagayan.

Ang ganitong mulat na disiplina ang nagpanday sa mamamayan ng Vietnam para tugunan ang salot na COVID19, na siya ring ginawa ng kanilang mga ninuno nang talunin sa digmaan ang Estados Unidos na pinakamakapangarihang bansa sa daigdig. Ito rin ang klase ng disiplinang bakal na kinatatakutan ng mga naghaharing uri sa Pilipinas at sa buong daigdig.

Dalawang pwersa ang kailangang magsanib para iligtas ang sangkatauhan sa COVID19: (a) syensya para sa kabutihan ng lahat at (b) pagkakapatiran ng sangkatuhan. Iisa ang banta laban dito – ang interes ng mga kapitalista, ang kapangyarihan ng pribadong pag-aari. Sapagkat ang matutuklasang bakuna ay pipilitin ng mga korporasyong medikal na magiging kalakal imbes na maging serbisyo sa sangkatauhan. At magagawa nila ito, kung mananatili ang pagkakanya-kanya ng mga tao, na gagawing magkakumpetensya bilang buyer sa merkado ng naturang bakuna. Ang tanging uri na maaring lumagpas sa ganitong makitid na pag-iiisip ay ang uring manggagawa.

Kung gayon, sa okasyong ito ng Mayo Uno – at sa darating na mga araw na pagtatalunan ang mga patakaran sa ilalim ng “new normal” sa isang pandaigdigang ekonomyang sinasalanta ng COVID19, isulong natin ang mga kagyat at pangmatagalang mga kahilingang mag-oorganisa sa kapangyarihan ng masang manggagawa at magtuturo sa istorikal na direksyon ng ating pakikibaka.

Tungo sa lipunang totoong kumakalinga sa interes ng lahat ng myembro ng lipunan, hindi lamang para sa iilang may-kapital. Isang lipunang totoong asosasyon, hindi separasyon, ng mga tao. Isang lipunan ng pagkakapatiran at kooperasyon, hindi kompetisyon, sa pagitan ng mga tao. Isang sosyalistang lipunang ipupundar ng kilusang paggawa at magbabagsak sa paghahari ng kapital.

Itaguyod ang kalusugan, kabuhayan, kapakanan ng mamamayan. Kapangyarihan sa masang manggagawa!

Statement

[Off the shelf] No Letup in ‘Drug War’ Killings, Upsurge in Attacks on Activists, Environmentalists -HRW

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

The Philippine government’s murderous “war on drugs” remained the Philippines’ gravest human rights concern in 2019, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing its World Report 2020. Security forces were also implicated in often deadly attacks on activists.

“President Duterte’s anti-drug campaign remains as brutal as when it started, with drug suspects being killed regularly across the country,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director. “Four years into the ‘drug war,’ the need for international mechanisms to provide accountability is as great as ever.”

In the 652-page World Report 2020, its 30th edition, Human Rights Watch reviews human rights practices in nearly 100 countries. In his introductory essay, Executive Director Kenneth Roth says that the Chinese government, which depends on repression to stay in power, is carrying out the most intense attack on the global human rights system in decades. He finds that Beijing’s actions both encourage and gain support from autocratic populists around the globe, while Chinese authorities use their economic clout to deter criticism from other governments. It is urgent to resist this assault, which threatens decades of progress on human rights and our future.

Duterte’s appointment in November of Vice President Leni Robredo as co-chair of the Inter-Agency Committee Against Drugs (ICAD) raised hopes that drug campaign violence would be tempered. But Duterte fired Robredo, an opponent of the anti-drug campaign, just days later.

In July, the Philippine National Police reported that its forces had killed more than 5,500 people during drug raids. Local rights groups, as well as the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, contending that the number could be more than 27,000. Except for three police officers involved in a highly publicized killing in August 2017, no one has been convicted in any “drug war” killings. Duterte continued to defend the drug war and promised to protect law enforcement officers who killed drug suspects in these raids.

In December 2019, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported that its forces had killed 5,552 people during drug raids from July 1, 2016, to November 30, 2019. The International Criminal Court (ICC) had yet to conclude its preliminary examination into “drug war” killings, which it began in February 2018. A UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution on the Philippines adopted in July 2019 directs the UN human rights office to issue a report in June 2020.

There was an upsurge in 2019 in often deadly attacks against left-wing activists, including peasant leaders, environmentalists, tribal leaders, and religious figures who were deemed to be linked to the communist New People’s Army (NPA). Violence was particularly high on the island of Negros, where alleged state security forces killed peasants, their leaders, environmentalists, religious leaders, and their community supporters.

Left-wing, politically active groups faced police raids that resulted in arbitrary arrests and detention. Groups alleged that police planted weapons and other “evidence” to justify the raids and arrests. The government and military frequently labeled these groups and individuals as communist rebels or sympathizers, a practice commonly known as “red-tagging.” Some journalists also faced similar political attacks.

As with the anti-drug campaign, the Duterte administration has done little to investigate and prosecute those responsible for politically motivated attacks against activists. Duterte has instead seemingly encouraged such attacks, for instance, in August calling on the military to “implement a more severe measure” against the insurgency.

“There are sadly no signs that President Duterte is going to end ‘drug war’ killings or act to stop attacks on activists,” Robertson said. “That makes it all the more important for international institutions like the International Criminal Court and the UN Human Rights Council to do what they can to hold Duterte and other senior officials to account for their abuses.”

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2020