Tag Archives: ESCR

[Right-up] What is Duterte building in the Philippines? -by Aileen Macalintal

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What is Duterte building in the Philippines?
by Aileen Macalintal

iapsdialogue.org

A beauty pageant contestant in the Philippines was in hot water during a Q&A recently after revealing that she was clueless about “Build Build Build,” President Rodrigo Duterte’s flagship economic programme. The government reacted in a manner that people from crisis management would rate with high marks. Representatives from tourism and public works departments met with the candidate to brief her and released photos of the contestant sitting in a briefing or reading a catalogue with a cover that reads: “Building the Present and Future.” Media outlets published these photos with headlines such as: “Now she knows.”

One would wonder, however, how much she and the rest of the Filipinos actually know about this programme.

“Build Build Build” is the mega-infrastructure programme of the current president, who has been quoted saying he only wants a comfortable life for the Filipino people. News reports usually describe it as the administration’s US$167 billion or Php8 trillion project to build roads, airports, bridges, railways, and bus transits across the Philippines to decongest the Manila gridlock and elevate substandard transportation systems in the Southeast Asian country. But the programme also includes flood control and water supply projects, an agro-industrial park, IT facilities, a Metro Manila subway, a real estate development, a housing project, and even a Php97 billion “Philippine Sports City.”

President Duterte is poised to leave Build Build Build as his legacy to the Philippines, in a way that the One Belt, One Road Initiative of President Xi Jinping is to China. In a similar manner to the Belt and Road Initiative, Build Build Build is also seen as an inter-connectivity project that will facilitate better movement across the archipelago. The government claims this is aligned with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity. Indeed, it isn’t just in the Philippines that major urban and economic developments are happening, but in the region as well. By 2025, China and six of the world’s largest economies will be located in Asia, experts claim, showing how the centre of global political economy will increasingly move away from Western Europe and North America to the Asia-Pacific region.

Read full article @iapsdialogue.org

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[Video] #AyawNaminSaKarahasan #KarapatanHindiKahirapan -TFDP

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Hindi lahat ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao ay palaging madugo… Ang kahirapan ay karahasan din ng pamahalaang dapat nag-lilingkod sa mamamayan. #AyawNaminSaKarahasan #KarapatanHindiKahirapan

http://bit.ly/2o5AJau

Website: tfdp.net
Facebook: @TaskForceDetainees
Twitter: @TFDPupdates

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[Statement] Tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin at serbisyo, nganga ang gobyerno! PALAG NA! Laban sa pamahalaang manhid! -PALAG NA!

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PALAG NA! Statement
February 9, 2018

Tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin at serbisyo, nganga ang gobyerno!
PALAG NA! Laban sa pamahalaang manhid!

Habang patuloy ang sunod-sunod na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin at serbisyo patuloy ring minamaliit ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan ang epekto nito sa ordinaryong mamamayan. Patunay ito ng matinding kawalang malasakit at kawalang kahandaan ng gobyerno upang tugunan ang dagdag-pasanin ng taumbayan. Habang patuloy na lumulubog sa kumunoy ng kahirapan ang masang naghihirap, tila may pangungutya pang ipinagmamalaki ng administrasyon ang ipamumudmod na konswelo de bobong P200 kapalit ng mga kontra-mamamayang buwis.

Ayon na mismo sa National Economic and Development Authority o NEDA, pumalo na sa 4.5% ang inflation o pangkalahatang pagtaas ng mga presyo sa mga pangunahing bilihin at inumin (4% sa pangkalahatan) sa unang buwan pa lamang na 2018. Ang antas ng pag-akyat ng presyo na ito ay pinakamataas sa nagdaang tatlong taon at naganap bagamat iilang linggo pa lamang ipinatutupad ang Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion. Patunay ito na mapanlinlang ang
binitiwang pangako ng mga promotor ng TRAIN na minimal ang magiging epekto ng mga ipinasang buwis sa mga mamamayan.

Sa monitoring ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), tumaas na ng mula P1-P2 kada kilo ang presyo ng bigas sa pamilihan. Pinalala pa ito ng kasabay na pag-atras sa merkado ng mas murang bigas mula sa National Food Authority na siya sanang inaasahan ng mga mahihirap. Bukod sa bigas, tumaas na rin ang presyo ng karne ng baka at baboy ng P10 kada kilo habang aabot na sa P20 ang itinaas ng presyo ng manok sa ilang pamilihan.

Ang pasakit na dulot ng sumisipang halaga ng mga pangunahing bilihin ay dinagdagan pa ng pag-akyat ng singil sa mga mahahalagang serbisyo. Kahapon lamang ay inanunsyo ng Meralco na aabot sa mahigit P1/kwh ang itataas ng singil sa kuryente ngayong buwan. Bago dito ay nagtaas na rin ang singil sa tubig sa buong Kamaynilaan.

Nakapanggigigil isiping ang singil sa tubig at kuryente ng mga dambuhalanag korporasyong gaya ng Meralco, Maynilad at Manila Water, na kabilang na sa pinakamataas sa buong mundo ay lalo pang magtataas sa panahong nararamdaman na ang epekto ng mga bagong buwis na pilit isinabatas ng administrasyon noong nakaraang taon. Subalit sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang iskema ng pribatisadong serbisyo—na sa halip na iwaksi ay ipinagpatuloy pa ng administrasyong Duterte—ang tubo ng mamumuhunan at hindi interes ang taumbayan ang laging mananaig.

Ang mga sunod-sunod na dagok sa mamamayan sa pagpasok ng taong ito ay sapat nang patunay na walang tunay na pagbabago tayong darating hanggang gobyerno ng trapo’t elitista pa rin ang nakaluklok. Walang tulong na magmumula sa itaas at bagkus ang sama-samang pagkilos lamang natin mula sa ibaba ang mag-aahon sa atin mula sa patong-patong nating pasanin. Huwag nating palagpasin lamang ang pagpapataw ng sapin-saping pasakit ng manhid nating pamahalaan. Sama-sama nating ipaglaban ang ating karapat sa buhay na may dignidad.

Palag Na!

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[Press Release] Electric consumers with CSO protest in front of ERC and Meralco main office to expose Meralco’s anomalous ‘sweetheart’ deals over its PSA applications

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Electric consumers with civil society organizations protest infront of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Meralco main office to expose Meralco’s anomalous ‘sweetheart’ deals over its power supply agreement (PSA) applications.

Photo by FDC

Led by the members of the Power for People Coalition (P4P), Sanlakas, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), and the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development blasted Meralco for virtually “dealing with itself” by entering into PSAs with companies which it has large shares of.

“With a contribution this big, this company must have strengthened its commitment to be faithful to its consumers in solving our energy crisis. However, it seems that they have been fooling behind our backs together with their ‘sweethearts’,” said Butch Junia of the Power for People Coalition.

Meralco’s ‘sweetheart’ Companies

The current Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) allows distribution utility to contract with affiliated generation companies at 50% of its total demand. However, based on Meralco’s 2016 Annual Report, its PSA partners are actually their subsidiaries, associates and/or joint venture partners.

Thru MGen or MERALCO PowerGen Corp., Meralco’s fully owned subsidiary, has major investments in Atimonan One Energy (A1E); 50% in St. Raphael Power Generation Corporation (SRPGC); 49% in Mariveles Power Generation Corporation (MPGC); 47% in Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc (RPE); and 14% in Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC).

“This is nothing but a clear connivance between Meralco and the said generation companies—a deal made out of mutual benefits and equal exchange of favors, just like how ‘sweethearts’ do,” said Erwin Puhawan of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC). “If the PSAs would push through, Meralco would have freedom to exercise influence over the cost of both the generation and the distribution of electricity,” Puhawan claims.

Meralco’s continued betrayal to the people

“What is clear is that consumers will end up carrying the cost of these incestuous deals, with Meralco profiting from both ends of the power sector,” said Gerry Arances of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development. “This undermines any semblance of commitment by the government to increase energy access in the Philippines, and will only reinforce the electricity oligarchy in place in the country’s energy sector,” Arances said.

Out of the total 592 PSA cases reported by ERC as of February 2017, 30 cases were Meralco applications giving them the biggest amount of shares.Meralco has responded negatively to these accusations saying they are being singled out from all the companies who submitted their PSA applications; which was then immediately answered by the protesters claiming that Meralco is playing the victim card.

“We are not singling them out. It is true that there are 90 applications submitted and only 9 of them are from Meralco but we should take note that in terms of demand it is 3,551MW out of a total of 4,500MW, making it 78% of total demand. That means that 7% of total PSAs own 78% of total demand,” said Sanlakas Secretary General Atty. Aaron Pedrosa.

Groups also added that it is very unusual and worrisome that this had gone unnoticed with ERC seemingly unconcerned. “We urge the ERC to slam the PSAs and break up this abusive relationship between Meralco and consumers,” Pedrosa said. “We cannot have a relationship based on lies,” he added.

Meanwhile, PMCJ National Coordinator Ian Rivera said that these partnerships can make or break our environment’s future. “These sweetheart deals are mapped-out destruction of our environment bringing us 5 steps backwards in achieving sufficient, affordable and clean energy,” Rivera added.

###

FOR INQUIRIES:

BUTCH JUNIA, POWER FOR PEOPLE: 09175215611
GERRY ARANCES, CEED: 09778406098
IAN RIVERA, PMCJ: 09174746178
ERWIN PUHAWAN, FDC: 09328726174
ATTY. AARON PEDROSA, SANLAKAS: 09275924830

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[Press Release] A Comprehensive Audit, Not Selective Rejection of Aid -FDC

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A Comprehensive Audit, Not Selective Rejection of Aid

MANILA, Philippines—A comprehensive audit of public debt and related policies is what the Filipinos need, not an impulsive and selective rejection of development aid from a critic of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, debt watchdog Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) said in a press release on Tuesday.

“The President’s recent decision to reject EU aid with conditionalities interfering with the Philippines’ internal affairs and the huge loans from China and other lenders for the administration’s ambitious infrastructure program should sound a sense of urgency for Congress to examine whether public debt, the government’s borrowing policies and institutional arrangements on debt management are serving the interest of the people,” said Sammy Gamboa, FDC Secretary-General.

Gamboa added that the Duterte government is already on the right track with the approval in the 2017 General Appropriations Act of a provision for an audit of 20 national government foreign loans being challenged by FDC as fraudulent.

FDC’s initial research found that the 20 loans were marred by corruption, bloated budgets, violations of legal procedures, lack or insufficient public consultations and used as lender’s conditionality for privatization of essential services such as power and water.

“The findings of a comprehensive audit will provide the basis for the steps that the government can take to address loans that do not benefit the Filipino people, particularly those deemed to have facilitated the lenders’ agenda in the country’s affairs through debt conditionalities,” Gamboa said.

Section 95 of the 2017 GAA mandates the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Official Development Assistance Law (COCODA) to implement the audit on the 20 loans, many of which came from the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the World Bank.

However, FDC laments that COCODA has not reconvened yet. Almost half of the year has passed but the House Panel, led by the Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, has not even been reconstituted.

“The President’s rejection of EU aid and active solicitation of borrowed capital from other lenders affirm the immediate need for a comprehensive audit to determine the legitimacy of existing and new loans and whether these should be rejected, cancelled or even repudiated,” said Gamboa. ###

PRESS RELEASE
23 May 2017

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[From the web] The Rise of Chinese TNCs, BRICS, and Current Global Challenges -Focus on the Global South

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The Rise of Chinese TNCs, BRICS, and Current Global Challenges -Focus on the Global South

focusweb_logoDoes BRICS still offer an alternative model of development that can address the current global crisis? Is this grouping of the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa actually challenging the hegemony of the old powers for the benefit of the rest?

These were the main questions raised in the recently held two-day “People’s Forum on BRICS,” held in Goa on October 13 and 14, attended by more than 500 representatives of various mass organizations, people’s movements, community-based, and social justice groups from 10 countries and around 25 states in India.

There was a strong interest to understand China’s new role in the global political economy and in how to engage and confront the growing operations of Chinese and BRICS transnational corporations or TNCs. People in Goa were also particularly concerned about the impacts on their livelihoods of the growing number of Chinese TNCs in their state and in India in general. There were questions too on whether China as the most economically powerful BRICS country has become a new imperialist or a sub-imperialist country that is actually supporting the status quo of elite dominance.

The environmental footprints and social impacts of Chinese TNCs are increasing due to the growing expansion of their operations in developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as in old centers of capitalism Europe and the US. For many countries, the Chinese have been making more affordable goods available. However, Chinese investments and finance capital are also carving out territories for oil, coal, minerals, and other important resources. Representatives from the National Hawkers Federation who attended the forum share the perspective that the flooding of cheap Chinese products in markets are killing or bringing down small and local businesses and producers.

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[From the web] Committee on ESCR hears from human rights institutions and CSOs from the Philippines and the Dominican Republic -OHCHR

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Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights hears from human rights institutions and civil society organizations from the Philippines and the Dominican Republic

Civil society organizations from the Philippines

ohchrInternational Service for Human Rights, in a joint statement on behalf of three non-governmental organisations, said that the Philippines ranked as the second most dangerous country in the world in terms of the number of murdered human rights defenders, and as one of the most dangerous to be a land and environmental defender, with 25 deaths alone in 2015 belonging to the indigenous communities.  Economic, social and cultural rights defenders continued to suffer threats, harassment and attacks. The criminalisation of defenders, used to silence them and protect business interests, had increased. Many were subject to judicial harassment.

FIAN-Philippines said that the irony of growth without human development was sadly seen in the Philippines. Despite being Asia’s second fastest-growing economy, hunger and poverty persisted in the country.  FIAN focused on several urgent issues, including the lack of a right to food and nutrition law; the inadequate implementation of the Land Reform Programme, the Law to Modernize Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Law on Indigenous Peoples Rights; and the exacerbation of the poverty situation of citizens due to natural disasters. The Government had to consider climate change mitigation. Finally, there had to be an assessment of the insurance-based systems on social protection.

Defend Job Philippines stated that, since the passage of the Wage Rationalisation Act of 1989, and the Herrera Law, violation of workers’ rights had been made legal and systematic. Wages were pinned down to starvation levels and the unemployment rate was left at 12 percent. To make matters worse, the passage of the Herrera Law attacked not only security of tenure but also other rights, such as fair wages, maternity benefits and union rights.  Workers worked 10-17 hours a day for a three to eight USD wage. There was no job security – only short term contracts or piece-rate system.  There were no benefits and cases of non-remittance of social security premiums were rampant.

E-Net said that the Philippines had ratified the main treaties protecting the right to education, however that right was far from being fulfilled for a large number of Filipinos, particularly the poorest and excluded groups.  Millions of children dropped out of school every year and only 75.3 percent completed six years of primary education.  Some 10 percent, or 6.9 million Filipinos, 10-64 years old, were functionally illiterate in 2013.

TEBTEBBA-Indigenous Peoples’ International Center for Policy Research and Education noted that there continued to be a serious lack of data on the number of indigenous peoples in the Philippines. There were also serious rights violations of indigenous peoples due to mining activities. Medium and large-scale corporate mining and conflicting laws governing natural resources were major problems that indigenous peoples faced in their communities. The free, prior and informed consent process was being manipulated in favour of mining corporations.

DINTEG-Indigenous Peoples’ Legal Centre was concerned about the extrajudicial killings related to the war on drugs. It asked the Committee to say something in that regard. It also asked the Committee to ask the Government about the lack of trust among indigenous peoples with respect to the National Commissions for Indigenous Peoples,

Center for Reproductive Rights, in a joint statement with six other organisations, noting the positive steps on women’s rights to reproductive health services, said that the State party had failed to fully and immediately implement the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.  In addition, a reduction in the budget for family planning had been made. The Philippines was the only country where there was a rise in teenage pregnancies. There were more than half a million abortions conducted in spite of the abortion ban, which was one of the leading causes of maternal deaths. The Centre urged the Committee to question the State party about access to contraceptive information and services, abortion, and post-abortion care. – See more at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20585&LangID=E#sthash.Q0hPTIxI.dpuf

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[Statement] Panawagan para sa Unang Isandaang Araw ni Presidente Duterte: Mamamayan, Manindigan Para sa Buhay, Karapatan at Kabuhayan -iDEFEND

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Panawagan para sa Unang Isandaang Araw ni Presidente Duterte: Mamamayan, Manindigan Para sa Buhay, Karapatan at Kabuhayan
October 8, 2016Photo by PhilRights

Photo by PhilRights

1 copyBago pa man dumating ang unang isandaang araw ni Presidente Duterte, nagpahayag ito sa media na ang kanyang performace mula nang mag-umpisa ito sa pwesto ay “6”. Dagdag pa nito, ang momentum na inabot ng agresibo at madugong kampanya laban sa droga ay dapat umanong ituloy at i-extend ang deadline sa pagsugpo sa droga’t krimen ng anim pang buwan.

Una nang inamin na ni Presidente Duterte na ang kanyang kampanya kontra krimen at droga ay magiging ‘madugo. Mahigit na sa 3,500 na ang namamatay sa kampanya laban sa droga, pinakamalaki dito ang namamatay mula sa mga ng mga vigilante o di-kilalang mga salarin at susunod ay mula sa sinasabi ng mga kapulisan na ‘lehitimong police operations’ at may bilang din ang natatagpuan patay o mga tinuturing na ‘salvage’ victims. Samantalanoong Agosto, may nakatalang sampung pulis naman ang namatay sa encounter.

Kung susumahin, nasa 38 ang patay kada araw sa halos tatlong buwang implementasyon ng OPLAN DOUBLE BARREL. Hindi pa kasama dito ang mga 700 libong surrenderees (ilan sa mga namamatay ay mga sumurender na!) kabilang ang mahigit na 20 libong bata (edad 18 pababa).

Wala pang dalawang buwan sa pwesto si Pangulong Duterte, iwinawasiwas na nya ang pagdeklara ng Martial Law, gayong matagal na niyang iniisip ang pagdeklara ng state of national emergency, ayon mismo ng sa Presidential Legal Counsel, Atty. Panelo, ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon sa pagbobomba sa Davao Roxas Market noong ika 2 ng September 2, sa bisa ng Proclamation 55 noong ika-5 ng September 5.

Pinagtatangkaan ding ilibing sa Libingan ng mga Bayani ang diktador na si Ferdinand Marcos Sr. bilang utang na loob ni Duterte sa suporta ng mga Marcos noong nakaraang eleksyon, Ang ,  ganitong hakbang ay pagbura sa buong record ni Marcos bilang mandarambong, diktador at pasista.

Nakakapagtaka ang deklarasyon ng national emergency gayong sinabi ng Hepe ng PNP na mababa ang krimen at naka- cease fire sa mga armadong grupo. Sa kabila ng kawalan ng batayan para sa lawless violence na iniuugnay sa droga at terorismo, inatas ni Pangulong Duterte ang AFP na sumama sa PNP sa pagsugpo ng droga at krimen.

Kasama sa inilabas na guidelines para sa State of National Emergency ang pagbibigay pahintulot sa warrantless arrests at searches. Inilatag agad ang checkpoints at sinasanay tayong mamamayan na makita ang mga unipormadong sundalo na naruon sa mga matataong lugar. Di nagtagal may mapapabalita na isang OFW na matatagpuan patay pagkatapos na ma-aresto sa isang checkpoint sa Cavite.

Kasabay ng umiiral na state of national emergency ay nagpapatuloy ang mga paglabag sa demokratikong karapatan ng mamamayan sa pagpapatupad ng Oplan Tokhang/ Oplan Double Barrel tulad ng mga kaso ng mga inosente’t bata na nadamay, kaso ng mga mistaken identity, mga insidente ng panghihiya, panggigipit at ang walang habas na pagpatay – bala na ang humuhusga sa isang pinaghihinalaang ‘drug dependent’ o ‘drug peddler’.

Maging mga alagad ng karapatang pantao (human rights defenders) – lider manggagawa, magsasaka at mga kritikal sa coal energy/coal storage ay napabilang sa napapatay sa panahong ito, kahit na walang tuwirang koneksyon sa droga, nagagawang samantalahin ang klima ng animo’y pagpayag (tolerate/encourage) sa extra-judicial/ summary executions ng mga grupong may vested interests at nais na patahimikin ang mga grupong kritikal sa kanila.

Ang ganitong kondukta ay agad na umani ng batikos mula sa loob at labas ng bansa, sa pagtugon dito ni Presidente Duterte, ipinamalas nya sa publiko na wala itong galang sa opinyon ng iba. Kung hindi kukuyugin ng buong makinaryang pang social media, ay magsasagawa ng ‘demolition job’ sa mata ng publiko ma-nyutralisa ang mga bumabatikos.

Ngunit para sa karaniwang mamamayan, lalong walang kapanatagan ang dulot ng patuloy na pagpapatupad ng kampanya laban sa droga ng hindi napapanagot ang mga pulis na lumalabag sa due process at rule of law at mga vigilate groups. May malalim na usapin kung bakit sumusulpot at laganap sa ating lipunan ang droga at krimen. Bunga ito ng kawalan ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng isang buhay na sapat at buhay na may dignidad—pagkain sa mesa, damit at bahay, pagkakataong makapag-aral at mag-trabaho at kakayahang ipagamot ang mga kaanak kung sakali ma’y magkasakit.

Dahil sa hindi naman binago ang batayang estratehiya sa ekonomiya ng Pamahalaang Duterte, lalong nagiging delikado ang ekonomya ng Pilipinas sa bawat kombulsyon ng pandaigdigang ekonomiya na nasa gitna ng matinding pandaigdigang resesyon.

Pumalo ng 2.3 % ang implasyon inflation noong Setyembre, ibig sabihin, mas kaunti na ang kayang bilhin ng piso kumpara sa dati. Lalong kawawa ang mga karaniwang mga manggagawa na ayon sa pag-aaral na isinagawa ng World Bank ay kalakhan ay nagtratrabaho sa mga panadalian/ casual/kontraktwal na trabaho na mababa ang sahod at kulang sa benepisyo ( 17 June 2016).
Sa ngayon, tinapos ang ENDO sa hanay ng contractors/contracting agencies lamang at hindi sa mga kumpanya mismo habang sa kabilang banda , hindi pa rin mahusay na naipapatupad ang karampatang sahod at mga benepisyo ng mga manggagawa.

Sa naunang sarbey ng Social Weather Station (SWS) noong Abril 2016 ay 46% ang nagsasabing sila ay mahirap (‘self-rated poor families’). Kung titingnan ang mga panukalang dagdag buwis ng bagong pamahalaan tulad ng patataas ng Value Added Tax ( 12 to 15%) , dagdag na excise tax sa gasolina, kerosene, LPG at diesel, maging pagbubuwis sa mga senior citizens, ang mga maliliit ang masasaktan.

Sa kabilang banda, naka-abang ang mga negosyante’t mamumuhunan sa pangakong pagtatanggal ng mga makabayan at makabansang probisyon sa Konstitusyon o ‘Economic Charter Change’. Alam nating walang mabuting idudulot ang lalo pang pagbubukas ng ating ekonomya sa walang habas na pasok ng dayuhang produkto at puhunan.

Kahit ang pagiging kritikal ni Presidente Duterte sa presensya military ng US sa Pilipinas ay hindi indikasyon na ito ay isang makabayan. Nagsisikap na mag-ipon ng political leverage ang pakikipag-alyado nito sa Russia at China laban sa relasyon sa US. Hangga’t hindi nito pinapawalang bisa ang lahat ng mga di-pantay na kasundua’t tratado ng US at Pilipinas o kaya ay paalisin ang US Special Forces sa Mindanao, mananatiling ‘porma’ lamang ito.

Kahit sa usapin ng trapik na pahirap din sa ekonomiya at kalusugan ng mga tao, ang nais ng gubyerno ay ang magkamit ng ‘emergency powers’, hindi pa malinaw kung ano ang sakop at itatagal ng naturang mga kapangyarihan bukod sa hindi ito solusyon sa congestion sa Metro Manila. Habang patuloy ang kawalan ng ekonomikong oportunidad sa kanayunan hindi epektibong matutugunan ang pagsisikip sa kalunsuran.

Ngayon ay matatapos na ang unang isandaang araw ng Panguluhang Duterte, may inumpisahan ito sa kanyang mga pangako tulad ng pagbibigay ng Executive Order sa Freedom of Information, gayung marami namang mga exemptions, o kaya ang pagsususpinde ng mga minahan gayung nananatili ang mga ito sa bansa, sa pagdeklara ng dalawang taong moratorium sa land conversion habang, itinutuloy din nito ang mga dirty energy projects tulad ng coal, kasabay ng panukalang muling buksan ang nuclear power plant sa Bataan!

Lubhang marahas ang pagtugon ng Pangulong Duterte sa sa loob ng 100 araw niya sa pwesto habang kapos sa pagtutok sa pag angat ng ating kabuhayan. Malaking hamon sa atin iniaalok na “pagbabago” ng Pangulo. Sa ngayon ang pagbabago ay nakalapat lamang sa pagyurak ng demokratikong karapatan ng mamamayan habang delikado pa ang usaping pangkapayapaan at lalong nahuhuli ang usaping pang ekonomiya. Ang tunay na pagbabago ay dapat resulta ng demokratikong prosesong kinabibilangan ng malayang mamamayan at may paggalang sa alituntunin ng batas.

ANG TUNAY AT TULOY-TULOY NA PAGBABAGO AY MAKAKAMIT LAMANG MULA SA PAMAHALAANG KUMIKILALA AT NAGTATAGUYOD NG LAHAT NG KARAPATAN PARA SA LAHAT. TAMA NA ANG PATAYAN! KABUHAYAN AT KARAPATAN NAMAN!

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[From the web] UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to review the Philippines

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UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights to review the Philippines

OHCHRGENEVA (23 September 2016) – The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is due to review the Philippines on Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 September. The Philippines is one of the 164 States* that have ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and so is required to undergo regular review by the Committee.

The Committee, which is composed of 18 independent human rights experts, will discuss a range of issues relating to the Philippines’ implementation of the ICESCR with a Philippine delegation. The Committee’s meetings with the delegation are public and will take place on 28 September from 15:00 to 18:00 (21:00 to 24:00 in Manila) and on 29 September from 10:00 to 13:00 (16:00 to 19:00) in Room XVI at Palais des Nations in Geneva. The meetings are public and will be webcast at http://webtv.un.org/.

The Philippines has submitted a report to the Committee which is available here:   http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/SessionDetails1.aspx?SessionID=1060&Lang=en

Any information submitted by civil society organisations can be accessed through the same link.

The Committee will issue its findings on the Philippines and the other States being reviewed – Costa Rica, Cyprus, Poland, Tunisia, Lebanon, Dominican Republic – on 10 October and publish them at the above link.

For more information, please contact: Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9466 / +41 79 752 0488 ethrossell@ohchr.org

Media accreditation for the Palais des Nations:   http://unog.ch/80256EDD006B9C2E/(httpPages)/70991F6887C73B2280256EE700379C58?OpenDocument

Background: Members of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights are independent human rights experts drawn from around the world, who serve in their personal capacity and not as representatives of States parties. The Committee’s concluding observations are an independent assessment of States’ compliance with their human rights obligations under the treaty. More information:  http://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/cescr/pages/cescrindex.aspx

*Check which countries have ratified the two Covenants and the other main international human rights treaties: http://indicators.ohchr.org/

50 years of the International Bill of Human Rights

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These treaties, together with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, form the International Bill of Rights. A campaign by the UN Human Rights Office, entitled “Our Rights, Our Freedoms, Always”,  is running throughout the year to promote and raise awareness of the two treaties, focussing on the timeless themes of rights and freedoms, in particular freedom from fear, freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want. Check the campaign website at http://2covenants.ohchr.org

For your news websites and social media: Multimedia content & key messages relating to our news releases are available on UN Human Rights social media channels, listed below. Please tag us using the proper handles:
Twitter: @UNHumanRights
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– See more at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=20557&LangID=E#sthash.ZIdqZhx3.dpuf

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[From the web] Defenders of economic, social and cultural rights need to be protected -ISHR

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Defenders of economic, social and cultural rights need to be protected

ISHRIn a joint submission (available here), the International Service for Human Rights, the Medical Action Group, the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates and the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact have highlighted the risks human rights defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights face in the Philippines.

Defenders are subject to threats, harassment, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and murder; all within a deep-rooted culture of impunity. In fact, Front Line Defenders ranks the Philippines as the second most dangerous country in terms of the number of human rights defenders murdered, while Global Witness ranks the Philippines as one of the most dangerous to be a land and environmental defender.

The 59th session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will be held in Geneva from 19 September to 10 October 2016. The aim of the review will be to assess the Philippines’ progress towards compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

The joint submission seeks to ensure that the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’ concluding observations in its review of the Philippines include concrete recommendations for the Philippines to improve the protection of human rights defenders.

In particular, the submission urgs the Committee to make recommendations that the Philippine Government:

take immediate measures to prevent attacks against defenders and end impunity for crimes against all them;
develop and implement, in consultation with civil society, a specific national law on human rights defenders and establish, mandate and resource a mechanism for their protection;
strengthen and increase communications and cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms, including by accepting requests for country missions by Special Procedures mandate holders and by responding promptly and substantively to allegation letters and urgent appeals.

‘The situation for defenders working on economic social and cultural rights in the Philippines is dire and is not improving’, said ISHR’s Asia Program Manager Sarah Brooks.

‘The Committee should take this opportunity to urge the Philippines to take steps to guarantee the protection of defenders working on economic, social and cultural rights. Impunity for attacks against defenders must be addressed’, said Brooks.

The joint submissions builds on a joint briefing paper that was submitted on behalf of eight NGOs this February which informed the issues examined by the Committee in its review of the Philippines.

For more information, contact Sarah Brooks at s.brooks@ishr.ch

http://www.ishr.ch/news/philippines-defenders-economic-social-and-cultural-rights-need-be-protected

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[Press Release] Taxpayers to shoulder Aquino’s payment of P4-B for illegitimate debts in 2016 -FDC

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Taxpayers to shoulder Aquino’s payment of P4-B for illegitimate debts in 2016

FDCMANILA, Philippines – Out of the total P214.5 billion scheduled debt servicing for foreign liabilities of the national government, at least P3.7 billion will go to interest and principal payments of five questionable and illegitimate loans, the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) revealed in a news release on Thursday.

“This huge amount, which could have been redirected to inadequately funded social protection programs such as education, health and housing, covers only five loan-funded programs and projects that FDC finds fraudulent, wasteful and useless. Imagine how much more will be uncovered if we scrutinize all the loans contracted by the government?” said Ed Tadem, FDC president.

Illegitimate debts are debts arising from loan-funded programs or projects that violated principles of human rights and sustainable human development, justice and fairness, accountability and responsibility, sovereignty of peoples and nations, and democracy.
The five programs and projects funded by illegitimate loans were the Power Sector Development Program, Sixth Road (Tullahan), Pampanga Development Flood Control, Bohol Irrigation II, and Angat Water Supply Optimization.

FDC said that these five projects were marred by corruption, bloated budgets, violation of legal procedures, lack or insufficient public consultations and used as lender’s conditionality for privatization of public utilities such as power and water services.
Of the five, the most glaring was the US$750 million lent to the Power Sector Development Program (PSDP) by the Asian Development Bank and the Japan Eximbank.

“PSDP is a US$9.2 billion program basically meant to facilitate the privatization of generation and transmission sectors of the power industry and to pay back the debts of the National Power Corporation including assumed liabilities due to anomalous contracts with independent power producers,” Tadem said.

FDC had previously successfully lobbied the Congress in 2008 and 2011 for a moratorium on P25.9 billion interest payments for illegitimate debts and for an independent audit of all public debts but its efforts were blocked by former President Gloria Arroyo and the current Aquino administration.

FDC has repeatedly called for the cancellation of illegitimate debts and the repeal of the law on automatic appropriations for debt servicing which was promulgated by Ferdinand Marcos in 1977 through Presidential Decree 1177 and reiterated by then President Corazon Aquino through the 1987 Revised Administrative Code or Executive Order 292.

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[Press Release] Asian alliance joins global call for tax justice -APMDD

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Asian alliance joins global call for tax justice

MANILA, 6 November 2015 – An alliance of people’s movements across Asia united with the world’s largest civil society groups this week in celebration of the Global Week of Action on Tax Justice.

“It is past time for tax justice. It is past time for corporations to stop abusing our economies and environment, and for governments to stop coddling them at the expense of their people,” said Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD).

Recent International Monetary Fund calculations have showed that developing countries are even more affected than rich economies by corporate tax dodging and secrecy. Tax evasion in Asia is valued at $666 billion, or about 21 percent of global tax evasion, according to Ross McGill, managing director at GlobeTax, in another report.

The All Nepal Women Association (ANWA), a member of APMDD and the Asian Fiscal and Tax Justice Alliance (AFTJA), echoed the GlobeTax findings.

“Tax evasion by multinational corporations is rampant in South Asia. A fair and just tax system needs to be in place and spending for quality public services needs to be increased and prioritized to address poverty and inequality in the region,” said Sujita Shakya, ANWA secretary, from Kathmandu.

Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh (EquityBD), also an APMDD and AFTJA member, called for the reduction of corporate tax and the end for tax incentives.

“While least developed countries (LDCs) confront ever more challenges to their economy post-2015, nation-states scramble to offer all sorts of tax incentives for multinational corporations (MNCs). Reducing corporate tax will only create more poverty and ensure that LDC countries get stuck in that category,” said Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, EquityBD chief moderator, from Dhaka.

Indonesia’s Solidaritas Perempuan (Women’s Solidarity for Human Rights), also with APMDD and AFTJA, highlighted the gender gap in taxation.

“The Indonesian tax system involves various biases against women so they pay more taxes than men. Meanwhile, MNCs get away with lower tax rates and tax incentives. We demand just taxation to finance development and address this inequality,” said Puspa Dewy, SP chairperson, from Jakarta.

The Indian Social Action Forum (INSAF), another APMDD and AFTJA member, also demanded tax and fiscal justice, calling out the large illicit financial flows in their country.

“US$ 35 billion flows out of India illegally every year while at least 250 million Indians fall below the poverty line. The government has to stop this illicit financial practice and such schemes that favor the global companies and some of India’s rich and further oppress the poor,” said accountant Rakesh Mittal of INSAF.

###

NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (formerly Jubilee South–Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development) is a regional alliance of peoples’ movements and organizations, coalitions, and NGOs. It is a member of the Global Alliance for Tax Justice, which led the Global Week of Action for Tax Justice from November 2-6.

The All Nepal Women Alliance, Equity and Justice Working Group Bangladesh, Solidaritas Perempuan, and Indian Social Action Forum are members of both APMDD and the Asian Fiscal and Tax Justice Alliance.

CONTACT:
Denise Fontanilla, dmfontanilla@gmail.com, +639178514890

Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development
PRESS RELEASE

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[Press Release] Asian alliance co-publishes review of countries’ climate pledges -APMDD

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Asian alliance co-publishes review of countries’ climate pledges

An alliance of people’s movements across Asia co-published in November 4,2015 an independent civil society review of national climate pledges, ahead of the November 8-10 informal dialogue of climate negotiators in Paris.

The full review, entitled “Fair Shares: A CSO Equity Review of INDCs”, was released online today. It compares the initial climate action pledges, called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), of countries to their actual fair share of climate action.

The review shows that the INDC commitments will likely lead the world to a devastating 3°C or more warming above pre-industrial levels. The current INDCs amount to barely half of the emissions cuts required by 2030.

Moreover, the INDCs submitted by all major developed countries such as the United States, European Union, Japan and Russia fall well short of their fair shares in terms of both emissions cuts and finance.

On the other hand, the majority of developing countries’ mitigation pledges, including China and India, exceed or broadly meet their fair share. It also shows they still have mitigation potential beyond their fair share.

“The INDCs of developed countries are condemning us to even much greater devastation than what we are already experiencing now. On the other hand, the review results do not mean a free pass for developing countries. Developing country governments must deliver on their fair shares, and be firm on their demands for finance from developed countries so that they can undertake more mitigation actions to save our peoples and communities from climate catastrophe. All governments must ensure a just transition; workers and communities must not be displaced in the process,” said Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development, from Manila.

“It also comes at a poignant time for us Filipinos as we prepare to commemorate the second anniversary of Haiyan’s landfall on Sunday. The destruction the super typhoon wrought on our country is but one reminder that we cannot wait a decade or more for countries to improve on their climate pledges,” she added.

The equity review was initiated by a broad group of social movements, networks, and other civil society organizations in the international, regional, and national levels.

###

NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (formerly Jubilee South–Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development) is a regional alliance of peoples’ movements and organizations, coalitions, and NGOs. APMDD co-initiated the Fair Shares equity review of INDCs.

For the full report and for more details on the Fair Shares review, go to http://www.civilsocietyreview.org.

CONTACT: Denise Fontanilla, dmfontanilla@gmail.com, +639178514890

Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development
PRESS RELEASE

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[Press Release] PH-EITI report reveals problems in mining industry regulation -Bantay Kita

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PH-EITI report reveals problems in mining industry regulation

Bantay Kita, a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) pushing for transparency and accountability in the extractive industries, supports the passage of an alternative mining law to replace the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. The current mining law has failed to boost economic gains from the extractive industries and to protect communities and the environment by extractive operations in the country.

Last December 31, 2014, the first Philippine Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (PH-EITI) Report was submitted to the EITI international secretariat. This was considered one of the milestones in the extractive industry in the country as it accounted for Php 6.2 billion contribution from mining companies and Php 52.7 billion from oil and gas in 2012.

However, a simple calculation using the financial statement of companies submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission shows that we lost about P2.01 billion or almost 25% of the proceeds from mining because of income tax holidays granted to the following companies:

· Carmen Copper Corp.

· Carrascal Nickel Corp.

· Marcventures Mining & Devt. Corp.

· SR Metals Inc.

· TVI Resource Development Inc.

· Adnama Mining Resources

· Berong Nickel Group

· APEX Mining Company Inc.

Semirara Mining Company, which refused to participate in the Philippine EITI, reported an income of Php5.2 billion in 2012 to SEC. They only paid Php 1.2 million in income tax and around Php 1.6 billion to the Department of Energy as the government’s share in the extraction of coal according to the PH-EITI report. This is about 30% share in the company’s profit in 2012. It begs to ask whether it is fair for the Filipino people, as the owners of this resource, to only get 30% share in profit.

Bantay Kita believes that all incentives awarded to extractive companies should be cancelled. Extractive companies invest in a country because of the value and quality of the minerals and not the incentives given to them by the government.

The PH-EITI report also highlights the failure of the government to protect the rights of indigenous peoples. According to the report, the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) could not validate if the indigenous communities indeed received Php 52 million in royalties the companies are claiming they’ve remitted to the IP communities hosting mining operations.

The PH-EITI report also highlighted the problems in the monitoring of the different environmental funds. These are the funds for Environmental Management and Protection Program (EPEP), Mine Waste, Mine Monitoring Trust Fund and Tailings Reserve and the Mine Rehabilitation Fund. Supporters of the Mining Act of 1995 claim these environmental funds to be among the key features of the law that ensure protection of the environment. The government and the companies could not agree if these funds actually exist or not and if they exist, they could not explain how the monies were spent.

“Mining requires effective government regulation. We cannot allow mining if the government cannot guarantee a fair share in natural resource extraction or protection and rehabilitation of the environment,” Dr. Cielo Magno, National Coordinator of Bantay Kita. Bantay Kita supports the passage of the Alterative Mineral Management Bill and advocates for the review of the fiscal policy governing the extractive industry.

###

About Bantay Kita

Bantay Kita (BK) is a coalition of organizations pushing for transparency and accountability in the extractive industry. It is affiliated with Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Coalition. It takes the lead in engaging mining companies, national government agencies as well as local government units towards achieving greater transparency and accountability in the mining industry through capacity-building, conducting dialogues with communities, and engaging in fiscal policy reforms.

About PH-EITI

The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global coalition of governments, companies and civil society working together to improve openness and accountable management of revenues from natural resources. Countries implement the EITI Standard to ensure full disclosure of taxes and other payments made by oil, gas and mining companies to governments. These payments are disclosed in an annual EITI Report , which allows citizens to see for themselves how much their government is receiving from their country’s natural resources.

The establishment of Philippine EITI (PH-EITI) was pursuant to EO No. 79, “Institutionalizing and Implementing Reforms in the mining sector providing policies and guidelines to ensure environmental protection and responsible mining in the utilization of mineral resources” by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Media Contact:
Paola G. Ceriola
Communications Officer, Bantay Kita
Email: communications@bantaykita.ph
Tel. No.: +63 9218016

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[Announcement] The FoodFirst Information and Action Network (FIAN Philippines) is looking for a WRITER-RESEARCHER.

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The FoodFirst Information and Action Network (FIAN Philippines), a non-profit human rights organization advocating for the right to adequate food is looking for a WRITER-RESEARCHER.

The full-time position demands working closely with the National Coordinator and the Board.

Key Responsibilities

Write and edit occasional papers for web and print
Write public statements for the media
Collect and organize data and researches related to the right to adequate food
Conduct in-depth studies on the right to adequate food and related issues
Perform other related duties as assigned

logo-fian

Qualifications and Skills

Excellent writing and editing skills
Relevant experience working in a non-profit organization
With flexibility and ability to multi-task
Willing to interact with various networks especially grassroots communities
With strong human rights background particularly on economic, social and cultural rights
Familiarity with current human rights issues and events

Please send your application letter addressed to Ms. Ria Teves, President, with attached Curriculum Vitae and sample works (research paper, article) to fian.philippines@gmail.com.

Deadline for submission of application is March 1, 2015. Only shortlisted applicants will be notified for an interview.

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[In the news] Aquino, Abaya lying about fare hikes -Manila Standard Today

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Aquino, Abaya lying about fare hikes
By Christine F. Herrera, Vito Barcelo, Manila Standard Today
December 30, 2014

THE youth group Anakbayan on Monday called President Benigno Aquino III and Transport Secretary Emilio Abaya “barefaced liars” after Abaya said the extra revenue from the planned fare increases in the MRT and LRT train systems will not go to improve the trains but will be used to pay for the onerous deals with private firms.

manilastandardlogoB

Malacañang and the Transport Department had previously said that the fare hikes would go to improve the train service.

“The Aquino government and Liberal Party president Emilio Abaya are barefaced liars. They have been decieving the public to justify the train fare hikes,” Anakbayan national chairman Vencer Crisostomo said.

“In fact, they are implementing the fare hikes to fund the onerous and corrupt deals with private firms which have been getting super profits and are set to gain more from these hikes.”

Read full article @manilastandardtoday.com

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[Press Release] Right to water advocates storm MWSS office -FDC

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Right to water advocates storm MWSS office

Water consumers from urban poor communities and indigenous peoples leaders held a protest in front of the office of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System office today to denounce its role in water privatization and to call on government to turn its back on water privatization policies.

FDC

“It is because of privatization of water services which government implemented under the guidance and full financial technical backing of international financial institutions led by the World Bank that the Philippines now has the fifth highest water rates among major cities in the Asia-Pacific. It is also because our water is privatized that the water rate cuts of P1.46 per cubic meter for Maynilad and P7.24 per cubic meter for Manila Water which the MWSS Regulatory Office imposed last year remains unimplemented until now,” Samuel Gamboa, Secretary-General of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) said.

The protesters demanded the immediate implementation of the water rate reduction saying there is no legal impediment which prevents the MWSS-RO from doing so especially considering it will benefit millions of consumers.

“The failure of the MWSS to implement the Regulatory Office’s decision has deprived Metro Manila consumers of what would have been welcome relief from high water tariffs charged by Manila Water and Maynilad. It is shameful that the MWSS, instead of standing by their own decision which came after a thorough audit, has been parroting the water companies’ argument that the rate cuts cannot be imposed while arbitration is ongoing,”Gamboa added.

According to FDC, government’s is going full-steam with water sector privatization with PPP projects for bulk water supply in Bulacan worth P24.4 billion and the Kaliwa dam project under the New Centennial Water Source Supply Project woth P18.72 billion, and expansion of private sector investment outside of Metro Manila.

“The Kaliwa dam project which will be implemented under the PPP scheme further highlights the current administration’s emphasis on private sector investments in the water sector. In its eagerness to entice corporations to invest in the NCWSSP, the Aquino administration is running roughshod over indigenous peoples rights and environmental concerns. Why else would they invite investors to bid for the project when they know that the indigenous peoples in the area have not given their Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) as required under Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act,” Gamboa revealed.

Indigenous groups from the dam site travelled all the way from General Nakar in Quezon province to express their objection to the planned Kaliwa dam.

“We join people from other parts of the world who are taking part in an international week of action expose the truth behind World Bank marketing of key water privatization
successes.

Our own experience with water privatization has thoroughly exposed this lie. In the 17 years since Metro Manila’s water service was privatized, water rates for Manila’s East and West zones have skyrocketed by 800 percent and 1,000 percent respectively. We call on government to turn its back on privatization and focus on polices that will help in the realization of the human right to water,” Gamboa said.

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[Resources] The Impact of Philippines’ Conditional Cash Transfer Program on Consumption By Melba V. Tutor

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The Impact of Philippines’ Conditional Cash Transfer Program on Consumption
By Melba V. Tutor
University of the Philippines School of Economics;
mvtutor@up.edu.ph

Impacts of 4ps

Abstract

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program provides cash grants to poor households conditional on pre-determined investments in human capital. This study analyzed its impact on consumption using the 2011 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey. Average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) is estimated through propensity score matching methodology. Heterogeneous impacts are examined among the bottom 20% of income distribution.

The study finds that among the total sample, per capita total expenditures is not affected by the program. In per capita monthly terms, only carbohydrates and clothing significantly increased. As expenditure shares, education and clothing registered significant positive impact. No impact is observed on health spending, both in per capita terms and as a share of expenditure. The impact of Pantawid Pamilya on consumption is more pronounced among the poorest fifth of households.

Results show that households have responded to program conditionalities but there is very little room to improve consumption of other basic needs. The recent program modification of increasing education grants to older children and covering up to secondary school completion will help households sustain induced behavioral changes over time. Stronger impact on the poorest fifth of households underscores the need to improve the targeting mechanism to address leakage issues.

Read full article @ The Impact of Philippines’ Conditional Cash Transfer Program on Consumption
By Melba V. Tutor [ Impacts of 4ps by Melba Tutor ]

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[Statement] Isulong ang Karapatang Pantao, Bagong Pulitika, Bagong Ekonomiya, Bagong Sistema -FDC/PAHRA/KonTRAPOrk

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Pahayag sa Okasyon ng 2014 State of the Nation Address (SONA) ni Presidente Benigno Aquin0 III.

Isulong ang Karapatang Pantao, Bagong Pulitika, Bagong Ekonomiya, Bagong Sistema
Bulok at Huwad ang “Tuwid na Daan”

SONA 2014. Photo by FDC

SONA 2014. Photo by FDC

Muling nagigising ang buong bayan samapanlinlang na panunungkulan ng gobyernong Aquino. Bulok at huwad ang “Tuwid na Daan.”Bigo ang masang Pilipinong makaahon mula sa gutom at kahirapan.Mula kay Cory na nangako ng tunay na demokrasya pagkabagsak ng diktadura,walang natupad sa mga pangako ng lahat ng mga administrasyong umupo sa Malacañang.Nananatiling pangarap ang pagtatamo ng kaginhawaan at katarungang panlipunan na nagtutulak sa mamamayan upang paigtingin ang pakikibaka para sa tunay na pagbabago sa pulitika, ekonomiya at sistemang panlipunan.

Ang Pangulong Noynoy (PNoy) na mismo ang sumira sa kanyang “Social Contract” sa taumbayan. Nabugok ang pangakong mabilis na pagpapatupad ng hustisya, trabaho para sa lahat at mga serbisyong panlipunan na magpapalaya sa madla mula sa kahirapan at inekwalidad. Umaalingasaw ngayon ang gobyerno sa iskandalo ng pangungulimbat at pandarambong sa pera ng bayan at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan. Nitong huli, sa deklarasyon nitong ilegal ang Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) ni Aquino at Abad, ang Korte Suprema na ang naglantad sa tunay na anyo ng administrasyong Aquino bilang bulok, abusado, elitista at trapo.

Walang makabuluhang reporma at kaginhawaang natamo ang sambayanan sa ilalim ng gobyernong Aquino. Pinapasasaan ng iilan ang ekonomiya, bagsak ang mga sektor ng agrikultura at industriya, kakaunti ang mapagkukunan ng trabaho at kabuhayan, palpak ang reporma sa agraryo, laganap ang kagutuman at kahirapan, matindi ang inekwalidad, tumitingkad ang imperyalistang panghihimasok sa bansa, patuloy ang karahasan at paglabag sa karapatangpantao, lumalala ang pagkasira ng kalikasanat krisis sa klima. Ang epekto ng lahat ng ito ay lalong pinabigat ng malawakan at iskandalosong pandarambong sa pera ng bayan dulot ng grabeng katiwalian sa lahat ng antas ng pamahalaan.

Itinuloy ang Mapang-aping Neoliberal naKalakaran, Ekonomiya’yPinapakinabangan ng Iilan,
Karapatang Pantao ay Tinatamaan

Patuloy naibinukas ng administrasyong Aquino ang ekonomiya ng bansa sa kontrol ng mga dambuhalang korporasyon na ang pangunahing layunin ay pagkakitaan ng husto ang pagbebenta ng mga produkto at serbisyo sa mamamayan. Limampu’t pito (57) pang proyekto ang nakasalang sa programang Public-Private Partnership at kasama rito ang sektor ng serbisyo sa tubig, kuryente at transportasyon. Kaya, lumalago raw ang ekonomiyapero abot-langitang presyo ng mga pangunahing bilihin at serbisyo sa tubig, kuryente, kalusugan, edukasyon at pampublikong transportasyon. Samantala, sagad-lupa ang sweldo at laganap ang kontraktwalisasyon at kawalan ng trabaho.At dahil nakaasa sa mga malalaking pribadong korporasyon, hanggang ngayon ay hindi naglalaan si PNoy ng sapat na pondo para sa mga pinsala sa buhay at kabuhayan ng mamamayang biktima ng mga kalamidad na tulad ng superbagyong Yolanda.

Sa halip na paunlarin ang sektor ng industriya at agrikultura na pangunahing nagpapa-usbong ng bago o dagdag na yaman at trabaho, tila umaasa na lang ang administrasyong Aquino sa pagdagsa ng mga call centers, sa bilyun-bilyong dolyar na padala ng mga Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) at sa paulit-ulit na pangungutang upangtakpan ang kakapusan nito sa pera para sa taunang pambansang budget.Kaya, mula 2010 hanggang 2013, lumobo ng 20.41 porsyento at umabot sa P7.5 trilyon ang utang ng Pilipinas. Ang perang inutang, kasama ang buwis ng mamamayan, bukod sa ipinambayad sa mga dating utang na hindi napakinabangan ng bayan, ay ginamit pang pangsuhol at ninakaw ng mga tiwaling opisyaltulad ng nangyari sa pamamagitan ng DAP at ni Napoles.Kakarampot at tira-tirang pondo ang napupunta para sa mga serbisyong panlipunan at pang-ekonomiya. Nitong huli, sa halip na manindigan ang administrasyong Aquino na kanselahin ang napakabigat na utang ng Pilipinas para sana ibuhos ang pampublikong pondo para sa rehabilitasyon ng mga sinalanta ni Yolanda, nangutang itong muli ng halos US$ 2 bilyon para sa mga proyektong hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakikita ng mga biktima ng superbagyo.

Sinasalamin ng mga opisyal na datos ang mapait na katotohanang hinaharap ng mga mamamayan:

• Lugmok ang sektor ng agrikultura dahil sa kawalan ng suporta mula sa gobyerno. Ang kalagayang ito ay lalong pinalalala ng ampaw na pagpapatupad ng repormang agraryo at kawalan ng prayoridad sa pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong pang-adaptasyon sa tumitinding epekto ng pagbabago ng klima (climate change). Nitong 2013, tinamo ng sektor ng agrikultura ang tinatayang 74 porsyento ng kabuoang pinsalang idinulot ng mga kalamidad. Mahigit 600,000 ektaryang sakahan ang nasirasapananalasa lang ng bagyong Yolanda. Hindi langkabuhayan ng mga magsasaka ang nawawasak, nanganganib din ang seguridad sa pagkain ng mamamayan.

• Tinatayang dalawa (2) sa bawat sampung mag-anak o 30 milyong katao ang mahirap batay sa sukatan ng gobyerno na kinakailangan ng P16,841 taunang sahod para matustusan ng pamilya ang mga pangangailangan nito (poverty threshold). Napakababa na ng sukatang ito. Iginigiit ng Partido ng Manggagawa na kailangan ngayon ang P1,200 arawang sweldo para mabuhay ng sapat at may dignidad ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Samantala, walang trabaho ang apat (4) sa bawat 10 Pilipinong kabilang sa lakas-paggawa at mahigit pitong (7) milyon ang underemployed. Umabot na sa 2.2 milyon noong 2012 ang nakipagsapalaran sa labas ng bansa, na nadagdagan pa ng 157,681 OFW mula Enero hanggang Marso nitong taon.

• Papatindi ang inekwalidad sa ating lipunan. Napunta ang 60 porsyentong paglago sa ekonomiya noong 2013 sa iilang pamilyang bumubuo ng 15 porsyento ng buong populasyon ng Pilipinas. Kumikita ang mayayamang pamilyang ito ng mahigit sa 10 beses ng halaga ng poverty threshold.

• Nananatiling lubhang mababa sa itinakdangpandaigdigang pamantayan ang pondong inilalaan para sa edukasyon at serbisyong pangkalusugan (6 porsyento ng GNP dapat para sa edukasyon at 5 porsyento ng GDP para sa kalusugan).Kaya,nanatiling 60 porsyento lamang ng kababayan natin ang nakakatapos sa mataas na paaralan at mahigit 50 porsyento ng gastos sa serbisyong pangkalusugan ay nanggagaling sa bulsa ng mamamayan.

• Itinuloy at pinalawak pa ni PNoy ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps o CCT) ni Arroyo upang diumano’y makatapos sa mataas na paaralan ang mga batang kasama sa programang ito. Maliban sainutang ang pondo para rito, nagtipid na naman ang gobyerno sa halip na magtakda ng porsyento mula sa GDP na sasapat para palakasin ang kapasidad ng mamamayan na makaahon sa kahirapan. Wala rin garantiyang makakahanap ng trabaho at matatag nakabuhayan ang mga pamilyang umaasa rito.

Hindi lang karapatan sa buhay na may dignidad ang nilalabag ng administrasyong Aquino, laganap pa rin ang pagyurak sa karapatang sibil at pulitikal.

• Tatlong taong pinaghirapan ng mga organisasyong nagtataguyod ng karapatang pantao ang National Human Rights Action Plan ngunit ibinasura ito ng pamahalaanat hindi sinuportahan ng Commission on Human Rights.
• Naipasa ang batas naAnti-Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance noong 2012 ngunit umaabot na sa 27 ang desaparecidos sa panahon ni PNoy.
• Naipasa angAnti-Torture Law noong 2010 ngunit patuloy ang mga insidente nito. Sa kalahatian pa lamang ng taong 2014 , 40 na ang torure cases sa Region IV pa lamang kasama ang 26 na biktima ng “Wheel of Torture” sa Laguna
• Mayroong batas para sa kumpensasyon ng mga biktima ng Martial Law ni Marcos ngunit ang itinalaga sa pamunuan ng Compensation Board ay isang heneral mula sa kapulisan at wala ring suporta ang gobyerno para sa pag-aasikaso ng mga kaso at dokumentasyon ng mga biktima.
• Hindibababa sa 10 ang mga Human Rights Defenders na nagtataguyod sa yaman ng kalikasan kasama na ang lumalaban sa malawakan at mapanirang pagmimina ang pinatay, kasama dito ang mga katutubo at mga misyonaryo ng simbahan

Mga Proyekto at Planong Itinago sa Publiko

Una, palihim na pumasok sa negosasyon at pinirmahan ang Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) na nagbigay ng legal na permiso para sa itayo sa buong Pilipinasang base militar ng mga Amerikano. Ito ay taliwas sa nakasaad sa Saligang Batas/Konstitusyon na nagbabawal sa pananatili sa bansa ng mga banyagang tropang militar at sa pagdadala at paggamit dito ng kanilang mga armas o sandatang pangdigma at nukleyar.

Ikalawa, walang kamalay-malay ang publiko at maging ang Kongreso sa Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) na naglipat ng budgetng bayan mula sa dapat nitong alokasyon papunta sa ibang proyektong piniling pondohan ni PNoy, kasama na ang sinasabing isinuhol sa mga Kongresista para patalsikin ang dating punong mahistrado ng Korte Suprema.

Sa parehong pagkakataon, walang naganap na konsultasyon sa publiko kahit ang mga isyung ito ay may kinalaman sa pangkalahatang interes ng mamamayan. Maliwanag angpanloloko at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan.Ano pa kaya ang mabahong bombang itinatago ng administrasyong Aquino na bigla na lamang sasambulat sa kaawa-kaawang masang Pilipino?

Tama na, Sobra na ang Apat na Taong Huwad na “Tuwid na Daan”

Gumigising na ang mamamayan mula sa mahabang panahong panloloko ng mga ilusyong ibinenta ng mahusay na propaganda ni PNoy. Bistado na ang mga kasinungalingan at buladas. Sapat na ang apat na taong pagtitimpi, paninimbang at pag-asa sa mapagkunwaring ginintuang itlog ng “pagbabago.” Penoy pala, bugok at huwad.

Tuluyan nang iwaksi ang mga ilusyon. Panahon na ng pagbangon, pagkilos at pakikipagtuos. Walang maasahang manunubos kundi ang sama-samang pagkilos ng mamamayan upang muling angkinin angkatarungan, kalayaan at kaginhawaan para sa lahat.

Isulong ang bagong pulitika, bagong ekonomiya, bagong sistema!
Itakwil ang elitista, tiwali at trapong Gobyernong Aquino!
28 Hulyo 2014

Para sa Ugnayan: Don Pangan, Media Liaison Coordinator, +63932 872 6168

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Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.

[Statement] Secretary Petilla, Do your homework first, otherwise resign!!! -Power to the People Coalition

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POWER TO THE PEOPLE COALITION

Secretary Petilla, Do your homework first, otherwise resign!!!

The recent statement of Secretary Jericho Petilla asking the President to exercise emergency powers to solve the current energy crisis is a dire attempt to excuse his inability and ineffectiveness in solving the problems in the power industry.

power to the people coalition

We would like to remind Sec Petilla that before he use section 71 of the EPIRA law ,he should have gone first to section 37, powers and functions of DOE, which requires him to submit to Congress not later than the 15th day of September of every year the Philippine Energy Plan which (b) “shall provide for integrated and comprehensive exploration, development, utilization, distribution and conservation of energy resources, with preferential bias for environment-friendly, indigenous and low-cost sources of energy.” Section 37 (i) specifically mandates DOE to: “Develop policies and procedures and, as appropriate, promote a system of energy development incentives to enable and encourage electric power industry participants to provide adequate capacity to meet demand including, among others, reserve requirements.”

We shudder at the thought that he has been writing and making our policies to promote a system of energy development incentives to encourage participants to provide adequate supply of power. What exactly are those policies and incentives?

For one, has he looked into the asymmetry in the industry with Meralco being the biggest buyer and a monopsony, especially one that has interests, even if supposedly capped, in the generation and supply sector.With the highest electricity rates, why are we not drawing outside interest and new investments in the power generation.Quite the contrary, Meralco just invested millions of dollars in Singapore. Should this not be a matter of interest to the DOE Secretary?

Given this clear mandate and the emergency we are now in as very publicly declared by Petilla, his failure to fulfill his mandate must be the biggest crisis of the energy sector and the power industry. Petilla like EPIRA is a failure! His inability to submit the required plan is just one of the indicators of his ineptitude.

In other words, before Petilla goes to the president to spin tales of a crisis and make the beleaguered President into a white knight, he should face the public and explain why his Philippine energy plan failed to anticipate and plan for the generation/supply shortfalls and why his power development plan did not have the programs and policies to lure investors into generation. He should do his homework first! Otherwise he should resign from DOE.

After showing that the imminent crisis is beyond control and influence of prudent planning and responsive policies, only then can he bring up section 71 with the president. Otherwise, Petilla will be no different from Abad, who has apparently painted the president into the DAP corner. Petilla will be no different from Abad, who has implemented the DAP. We will not be surprised too, if Pnoy, just like what he did to Abad, will defend Petilla to high heavens and assert that his recommendations for emergency powers for the President will be an “act of good faith” and for the good of the people.

The rising prices of electricity including the crisis was brought about by corporate greed and privatization of the power industry though the passage of EPRA law. The failure of EPIRA to solve the power crisis only strengthens the call to repeal it and push for alternative sources of energy.

We should dismantle EPIRA and pave the way for the rapid development and shift to sustainable, accessible, safe and renewable energy systems that the people-especially the poor and the communities in the off-grid areas can truly enjoy and benefit from. The government should undertake immediate and massive public investments in the immediate and rapid shift and transformation of our energy systems.

PRESS STATEMENT
25 July 2014
Contact Person: Erwin Puhawan
Mobile No. 0932-872-6174

All submissions are republished and redistributed in the same way that it was originally published online and sent to us. We may edit submission in a way that does not alter or change the original material.

Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.

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