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[People] A Commentary on the PH National Government’s Response to COVID-19 -by Yolanda R. Esguerra

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Photo from PMPI FB page

A Commentary on the PH National Government’s Response to COVID-19
Yolanda R. Esguerra
National Coordinator, Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.

Many of us are distraught at the government’s state of response to the continuing challenges of managing the virus spread in our country. We are worried about how slow the measures are being put in place to contain the spread of the virus.

It has been more than two weeks now since the entire Luzon was put in a lockdown or “enhanced community quarantine”. By this time, we had hoped that the entire national structure of government down to the local level have been efficiently mobilized to act together and that a comprehensive, well-thought-out plan is laid down to 1) manage the rising number of infection, 2) protect better its frontliners, and 3) support its citizens who have no means of sustaining their family’s needs as they are forced to stay home for the quarantine period.

But until now, these most important and urgent concerns have not been addressed sufficiently.

Free Mass Testing

Day by day the number of people under investigation (PUI), people under monitoring (PUM), and COVID-19 positive are increasing while the testing of PUI and PUM is slow and can’t keep-up to these growing numbers. Until April 1, we can only manage to test 3,000 plus people compared to our Asian neighbors who have conducted more than 10,000- 30,000 plus covid tests. General Carlito Galvez, Jr. also announced recently that the mass testing will happen on April 14, but this will be too late if and when the lockdown on April 15 will be lifted. Mass testing should be done now.

Protection of Frontliners

The death of health practitioners continues to rise; 17 doctors have died. And even as we honor them for their service, it is depressing to hear the government romanticize their untimely deaths by saying that they’ve died as heroes while performing their sworn duty. Lest we forget that they died because of the government’s failure to protect them. We dare say that an inefficient system killed them.

What adds more to this injury is when you see health frontliners beg and call out to private groups for more personal protective equipment (PPEs) because the government fails to provide. But their ordeal doesn’t end here. Many who have no private transportation must endure long walks to their workplaces despite the free point to point rides provided by the government. Their experience of harassment and ostracism from misinformed citizens.

But the frontliners are not only in the health or medical field. The workers, stevedores, drivers who ensure steady supply of food in Luzon coming from our farmers. The cashiers, baggers and staff in grocery, drug stores and banks, the people manning the checkpoints. They are all frontliners and needing the same attention and protection being equally exposed to the dangers of contracting the virus.

Support for the Most Vulnerable Population

The clamor for food support is escalating. The informal sector like the ambulant vendors, drivers, construction workers who are mostly living in urban poor areas, as well as the middle-income wage earners like the workers in a non-essential industry like shopping malls and restaurant, either, have yet to receive any form of help or have received only once in the span of two weeks from the government, not to mention the numbers of street dwellers and families who thrive on alms and doing menial work for the private and public commuters on the road.

Few Government Leaders as Beacon of Light

True, there are few national and local government leaders serving like a beacon of light and hope to us citizens as they perform far beyond what this government is doing. However, their initiatives have become suspects. They are from time to time haunted by the blind followers of the government who can’t seem to tolerate those who are efficient, innovative, independent-minded, and would not blindly follow orders from the higher-ups. They tend to perceive these efforts as stealing the limelight from them and regarding them as competitors and enemies.

The social amelioration fund that promises P5,000 to P8,000 cash to 18 million low-income families, among the Bayanihan Law’s centerpiece project is in disarray as the authority to disburse was recently removed from the local government. Graft and corruption that abounds in the local governments prompted the transfer of mandate to the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD). Yet, critics believe that the DSWD has no capability to implement it because it has no workforce at the local government level. Thus, up until now, we are still in the stage of drawing up the list of beneficiaries aside from the Pantawid Pamilya list.

To Bear and Tolerate the President

We ask, why the President’s penchant to thank China, forgetting that the spread of the virus was China’s attempt to control the information from going out in the public realm, plus our own government’s dilly-dallying to close our borders from the Chinese which started this menace to spread. Lest we forget that the first case of COVID-19 infection and the first death in the Philippines is a Chinese national.

Suspicious that the special powers asked by the President can make a difference, we are now very disappointed, that in his public report, a week after the so-called Bayanihan Law was passed, the President can only report to the nation that all his powers were given to respective agencies and only two, most specifically on directing business, were left to him, and which he will use only when needed. All accomplishments are in general terms and have no real numbers.

The President’s fondness to use military-police solutions and continuing threats and sermons to the LGUs and the people will not do the trick to manage the situation. The authoritarian style of Tatay Digong will not be enough to manage this crisis. We need leaders with the mettle and skill to unite frightened people into action, not out of fear but coming from an inspired prodding of a firm but a compassionate leader. In this depressing and chaotic situation, we do not need threats but a clear guidance and direction on how every member of this nation can help fight the pandemic.

To address the situation, we request that the following measures be given consideration:
There should be a free mass testing now. As we try to procure testing kits outside the country, we ask that the government invest in funding our own testing kits made by our very own scientists and doctors from the University of the Philippines. The mass testing should prioritize the PUMs, PUIs, Senior Citizens (vulnerable sectors), the medical personnel and all other frontliners – the medical personnel. Workers in the key service sector, military and police manning the checkpoints, and media people. All of them risking their lives every day performing their sworn duty to the people.

The health frontliners including the new 600 health volunteers should be properly protected and cared for. Complete PPE and a halfway house where they can stay near their workplace should be provided, along with a living allowance and hazard pay according to law.

Release of the P200 billion to the most vulnerable groups – the informal sectors and the daily wage earners should be prioritized now. A cooperation of the LGUs and DSWD should provide checks and balances as well as efficiency so that it can reach the beneficiaries the soonest time possible.

Capacitation and mobilization of communities, of health personnel down to the barangay levels should be effected. All barangay health workers should be mobilized, activated and capacitated in monitoring, tracing and care of people with mild symptoms in their barangays. If possible, find a healing place, a center, a house where local or barangay PUI and PUM can be housed. Let barangay leaders conduct house to house education and information campaign to their constituents not only to manage the spread of the infection but also to lessen the social ostracism of those infected, PUIs, and PUMs.

People as the Primary Source of Hope

What stands out and holds us together as a people in the midst of this chaotic situation are the resilient spirit of our people who have endured catastrophes and disasters the past years, the generosity of people and groups who directly help and provide for the poorest communities without asking for recognition, the creativity and small initiatives of individuals to share something to their neighbors in need and the valiant stance of many health frontliners, food production workers and utility service workers to be out of their homes and make lives livable for all of us in this time of crisis. We salute all of you, including those who stayed at home and suspended many of their life’s comfort just so that others may live too.

Thus, we say, that the people in general should not be treated as helpless and weaklings in the face of this pandemic. If people are properly informed and the barangays are properly oriented and capacitated the fight against COVID-19 will not anymore reach our last line of defense, which are the hospitals. Disclose and explain fully to people the dangers we are addressing. Provide them the necessary tools and information to protect themselves. Ensure that they will not go hungry during the quarantine period. Give local community spaces to support each other. We are seeing how people in the spirit of bayanihan have been helping to meet the many gaps and holes that our government cannot provide.

Forward-Looking

Requisites for an Extension of ECQ

The extension of the ECQ should be carefully reviewed and assessed. Another week to ensure that we have accurately traced and monitored possible areas of infection is crucial and important. Ensuring that another wave of infection will not happen again should be a topmost agenda now. However, better planning and execution of support to the most vulnerable groups should likewise be in place when the extension happens or is decided. Likewise, managing and ensuring localization or containment of risks including therefore opening of international flights should be thoroughly reviewed.

Post-Pandemic Shift

Drawing out initial lessons from this experience, we are indeed ill-prepared to fight a pandemic. In 2015 the late Senator Merriam Santiago filed a bill to deal with a Health Pandemic, but this never came to light. Maybe after this episode, we will be able to consider looking into our laws, administrative orders, local ordinances that can address a health pandemic/epidemic like this. We need to strengthen the health care system from the national to local. Currently, the ratio of doctors in the Philippines is 1:33,000 while the world average is 1:1000.

Likewise, we need to re-asses our development paradigm as well. We need to see the connection between the diseases in the way we use the environment for the sake of human development. Scientists noted that most of the diseases are coming from animals and wildlife that we toy with – study or consume as products for the benefit of mankind. When the balance is tilted heavily in our favor, there will be a point of reckoning. And scientists say that it would be fatal to human species in the end. Nature needs to be respected like human beings. The Rights of Nature perspective needs to be examined and integrated in our economic, political and everyday life.

Which brings me to another important point.

The worldwide pandemic also showed us how to live in a new way that can manage the climate crisis we still face today. Scientists noted that with the halt of massive production and air and land transportation, the earth’s temperature significantly lowered. This, however, will not be sustained when we go back to business as usual mode after this pandemic. In the Philippines, the closing of huge malls has definitely reduced the consumption of energy and water and lessen the environmental pollution. It’s as if our environment is also in a quarantine mode, doing some self-organization and self-renewal. One thing that this pandemic made us realize is that we don’t need shopping malls carrying signature clothes, shoes, etc. to open daily, only stores that carry basic needs like food and medicine. A life where basic and barest minimum as the norm is indeed possible.

References:
https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/philippines-lags-behind-southeast-asian-peers-in-covid-19-tests-done/ar-BB11K4U5
https://www.esquiremag.ph/politics/news/miriam-santiago-pandemic-bill-a00293-20200330
https://today.mims.com/doctor-shortage-in-the-philippines–an-analysis
https://www.who.int/gho/health_workforce/physicians_density/en/

https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/shopping-mall/
PMPI is a social development and advocacy network of 250 plus Philippine church/faith-based groups, non-governmental organizations and people’s organizations spread all over the country, in partnership with Misereor, a social development arm of the German Bishops based in Aachen, Germany.

For reference:
Yolanda R. Esguerra, PMPI National Coordinator
Fr. Juderick Paul Calumpiano, PMPI Chairperson

For more information:
E-mail: secretariat@pmpi.org.ph
Contact No.: +639176244327

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Include your full name, e-mail address, and contact number.

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[Announcement] Serbisyong pangkalusugan sa panahon ng COVID-19 -PMPI

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Sa mga mahal po naming mga kababayan,

Ang PMPI (Philippine-Misereor Partnesrship, Inc), isang network ng mga 250 CSO (civil society organization) ay magbibigay po ng serbisyong pangkalusugan sa mga komunidad na sakop ng ating network.

Dahil sa katangian ng kinakaharap nating situwasyon, ang serbisyo po ay sa pamamagitan ng cell phone at ibang paraang online gamit ang social media (katulad ng Messenger, Facebook, Viber, o website).

Katuwang po natin sa serbisyong ito ang dalawa nating CSO – INAM Philippines (Integrative Medicine for Alternative Healthcare Systems [INAM] Philippines, Inc) at MAG (Medical Action Group, Inc).

INAM PHILIPPINES
Ang INAM Philippines po, sa pamamagitan ng ilang boluntaryong doktor at integrative medicine practitioner ay magbibigay ng direktang konsultasyon online o sa cell phone. Nasa ibaba po ang mga pangalan ng mga boluntaryo, at ng serbisyong puede nilang ibigay, iskedyul ng konsultasyon, at paraan ng pagkontak sa kanila.

May ilang datos lang po na hihingin ang mga boluntaryong manggagamot para sa ating rekord. Dito po ay hinihingi na namin ang inyong pahintulot na maisama ang mga datos ninyo sa aming rekord (Ito po ay bilang pagsunod sa ating Data Privacy Law). Wala naman pong problema kung hindi kayo magbigay ng datos (o ilang datos) kung hindi kayo sang-ayong magbigay. Patuloy pa rin po kayong pagsisilbihan ng mga boluntaryong manggagamot. Ang ilan pong mga datos ay gagamitin para sa statistics (o sa pagbibilang ng mga pasyente, edad nila, diagnosis, at iba pa) sa ating dokumentasyon at report.

ITO PO ANG MGA DATOS PARA SA ATING DOKUMENTASYON:

1. Pangalan ng pasyente

2. Edad

3. Kasarian

4. Tirahan [hindi po eksakto, puede na po ang bayan o distrito; halimbawa Taytay o Tondo)

5. Kontak (cell phone o email address; mahalaga po para sa follow-up)

6. Paano nalaman ang ating serbisyo (PMPI, organisasyon ninyo, Facebook, kaibigan, kapitbahay, o iba pa)

7. Diagnosis (manggagamot po ang magtutukoy, ayon sa kanyang pagsusuri)

8. Action (manggagamot din po ang magdedetermina; halimbawa po ay counselling, payo, reseta, referral, o iba pa) Mananatili pong kumpidensiyal ang mga datos; hindi tutukuyin ang inyong pangalan o anumang pagkakakilanlan sa anumang report.

MAG
Ang MAG ay nagbibigay din po ng serbisyo ng kanilang mga volunteer na doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, neurologist, internist, pediatrician, at iba pang espesyalistang doktor.

Kontakin po si DR AMY NG-ABCEDE kung nais ninyong magpakonsulta.
CP: 09982369934; 09658907715
Website: https://www.facebook.com/medicalactiongroup

PMPI
Ang PMPI po ay may mga boluntaryo rin, na karamihan ay mga psychosocial counsellor (nagbibigay ng payo sa inyong mga alalahanin). Katulad po ng sa INAM (sa itaas) ang pagtrato natin sa mga datos. Nasa ibaba rin po ang lista ng mga boluntaryo ng PMPI, at ng serbisyong pwede nilang ibigay, iskedyul ng konsultasyon, at paraan ng pagkontak sa kanila.

Sana po ay mapangibabawan natin ang COVID sa lalong madaling panahon. Patuloy po nating payo sa ating lahat ang physical distancing (1 dipa ang layo sa ibang tao), handwashing, disinfection ng mga doorknob at ibang parating hinahawakan, at pagpapalakas ng resistensiya (8 oras na tulog, libangan, masustansiyang pagkain).

May mga detalyado rin pong impormasyon na inihanda ang INAM Philippines tungkol sa pag-iingat sa COVID-19. Ipagtanong po sa inyong samahan o bumisita sa facebook ng INAM: Integratib Medisin.

Mag-ingat po tayong lahat tuwina.

Padayon!

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[From the web] House Bill No. 78 and Senate Bill No. 1083 – Anti-Poor, Anti-Democracy -PMPI

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Hb No. 78 – A Strike Against the Poor

Amid these trying times in our public health situation because of the sudden rise of cases of COVID-19, our lawmakers in the House of Representatives have the temerity to pass in the third and final reading the proposed House Bill No. 78 or the Public Service Act (PSA) of Albay 2 District Rep. Joey Salceda, like a thief in the night.

We, from the Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI), a network of civil society organizations, rights groups, peace, and faith-based institutions believe that HB 78, which seeks to amend the Commonwealth Act of 146, to allow full foreign ownership in telecommunications and transportation is another anti-poor law.

The mere fact that it attempts to remove restrictions on several economic areas is another hit to the labor force and consumers as foreign companies could easily dictate numbers and prices. HB 78 could also put our national security at risk since foreign-owned telecommunication companies could possibly control our strategic business sector.

In our 1987 Constitution under Article XII, Section 11 prohibits full foreign ownership of various businesses and industries. The proposed amendments of HB 78 to the current PSA, will try to outmaneuver the 1987 Constitution by providing a concrete yet the sneaky definition of what ‘public utility’ is, which in effect allows telecommunications and transportation companies to be fully owned by foreigners. This is clearly a violation of the fundamental law of the land.

Lawmakers who are pro-HB 78 reasons out that there is a need for a drastic change in our telecommunications and transportation services, and the proposed bill is trying to attract more foreign direct investments, better competition, economic growth, and even more jobs. Surely these sounds like a sound solution to a problematic service sector. However, HB 78 clearly surrenders the primacy of public interest and diminishes congressional scrutiny over these critical regulated sectors. Such an act that gives too much immunity to foreign capitalists could lead us into a pit instead of real comfort.

Anti-Terrorism Act – an outright assault to democracy

Another measure seeking to give more teeth to the Human Security Act of 2007 is Senate Bill No. 1083 or Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 passed in the Senate last March 3.

Still not content at the rate where several democratic institutions have shrunk and have been controlled by the ruling political party headed by the President, the anti-terrorism act will further try to constrict people’s freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, association, liberty, and movement as well as the right to privacy.

Read full article @www.pmpi.org.ph

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[Statement] Threats to development work, threat to people’s right to development -PMPI

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Unity Statement

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, are united in our stand against the violation of the people’s right to development thru the continued intimidation, harassment and attacks among human rights and development workers in the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas in general, and in Panay Island in particular.

Power dynamics, uneven distribution of wealth and utter government neglect has placed the vast majority of the Visayan people into poverty and hunger despite the bountiful resources of its lands and seas. Development work, thus, plays a major role in enabling and empowering the people for them to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy social, political, economic and cultural development.

However, human rights and development workers are under attack. Last November 6, 2018, Atty. Ben Ramos, Executive Director of PDG, long-time Board of Trustees Member of MASIPAG and development worker was killed months after being maliciously red-tagged. Romeo “Romy” Capalla of the Panay Fair Trade Center (PFTC) was murdered in March 2014. Both cases remain unsolved. Some offices and staff of development organizations were subjected to threats, vilification, surveillance, and red-tagging. Much of the farmers that they helped organized are once daily-wage farm workers who after their intervention are now engaging into sustainable and organic agriculture. Clearly their participation in bringing change and uplifting the lives of the farmers, and their critical stand on the present agricultural and political system in the Philippines made them victims of human rights violations.

These issues are not much different from what is happening all over the country. Under Duterte’s “whole-of-nation” approach, the Philippines tops globally in the number of environmental and land defenders killed. Recently, eighteen local and international non-government organizations, mainly focusing on humanitarian relief assistance, were red-tagged by the military during a congressional budget hearing on AFP modernization held November 5, 2019. Harassment and intimidation thru red-baiting, surveillance, illegal searches, death threats are the tools to demoralize and discredit development workers and their organizations.

The attack on human rights and development workers are an affront to the people’s right to development. These violations will only weaken the nation’s thrust for genuine development, especially in the rural areas whose services brought by development workers and their organizations are most needed. It is very unfortunate that these acts are being made at a time when the country is facing problems brought about by the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), Rice Liberalization Law, climate change, landlessness and corporate domination of agriculture.

Come December, 10, 2019, on the 71st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we:

1. Enjoin the different sectors on their call for the respect, promotion and protection of human rights and the people’s right to development.
2. Hold accountable the government on the spate of human rights violations in the country and the continued shrinking spaces for development work.
3. Call for an impartial investigation on the human rights violations in the Visayas region. We also call for the support of different nations and in particular the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)resolution to investigate and prepare a comprehensive report on the human rights situation in the Philippines.
4. Support the enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Bill in the House of Representatives;
5. Call for a nationwide campaign to Stop the Killings of all persons by all parties in the armed conflict strongly being echoed by the Negros Bishops; denounce and hold accountable those responsible for all the killings be it state or non-state actors, from the top leadership down;
6. Intensify human rights education and capacity building of vulnerable communities, conduct widespread awareness campaign on the International Humanitarian Law / CARHRIHL in partner communities and empower them with skills on para-legal work and documentation of human rights violations;
7. Network civil society and faith-based organizations to gather relief-aid and provide psycho-social services for families of the victims of killings and arrests;
8. Lobby for the enactment of policy that are favourable to people and poor communities’ efforts for peace and democracy; ask the Supreme Court to declare all anti-people Executive Orders, Memorandum Orders and Memorandum Circulars as illegal, null and void;
9. That Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) engage as a network of human rights advocacies in the international level and engaging UN bodies and governments of first world countries;
10. Encourage PMPI partners to implement socio-economic development work in affected communities through a complementation of members of PMPI, other CSOs and agencies to address the basic roots of the armed conflict at the local level;
11. Call for a resumption of Peace Talks between the GRP and CNN; and
12. Help initiate local peace dialogue and/or set-up peace platforms where local communities, government, church and military can discuss and tackle peace, human rights and drug related concerns.

Signed this December 4, 2019 at Jaro, Iloilo City.

Name / Organization:
MASIPAG Visayas
Melvin Purzuelo, GF-WV
Virgilio Q. Sanchez
Elma Jean Pacete
OFFERS Panay
Fair Trade Foundation Panay (FTFP)
Lee Ruben F. Sabanal
Rona Mae Tristeza
Mary Joy Liza
Micka C. Mirante
Rechelle Cagud
Angelyn M. Faeldon
Iloilo Peoples’ Habitat Foundation (IPHF)
Bubong Ilonggo
Antique Human Development Program Inc. (AHDP)
Lidwina B. Dionela
Rea Guiloreza
George Lopez II
Jaime C. Cabarles, Jr.
Rufino L. Alkonga
Vaneza dela Cruz
Analyn G. Casaria
Rejean Fernandez

https://www.facebook.com/notes/philippine-misereor-partnership-inc/threats-to-development-work-threat-to-peoples-right-to-development/3219713974711790/

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[From the web] PMPI Statement on the ICC complaint against President Xi Jinping

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PMPI Statement on the ICC complaint against President Xi Jinping

Image from PMPI

The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) lauds the move of Filipino fisherfolk and former top government officials for filing a complaint against Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese officials for crimes against humanity.

On March 15, Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea together with former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto del Rosario and former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, filed before the International Criminal Court (ICC) a complaint about environmental damage caused by reclamation and construction of Chinese bases.

The complaint is a brave step against the continuing disregard of the Chinese government of the Philippines’ claim over the West Philippine Sea, which the Duterte government fails to champion.

As we commend the Filipino fishermen who stand to be counted, PMPI also praises Carpio-Morales and Del Rosario for accompanying our Filipino fisherfolk in what may be a long and difficult fight.

This is an important pursuit not only on behalf of the fisherfolk but also on behalf of the future generations and the protection of the marine ecosystem itself.

Read full article @www.pmpi.org.ph

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[Statement] We condemn in the strongest sense all forms of killings being perpetrated under this government, its disregard for the rule law and due process and lack of respect to life -PMPI

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PMPI Statement on the unabated killings under Duterte government

News on the death of another priest Fr Richmond V. Nilo, the Parish Priest of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija enraged us. He was reportedly shot by two unidentified gun men through the church’s window while preparing for the Sunday mass. Fr. Nilo is the third priest who died under this administration in just a span of 6 months. First was Fr. Marcelito Paez in December 2017, Fr. Mark Ventura in April 2018 and this June 2018, Fr. Richmond Nilo.

We, express our indignation over these series of death, of our pastors and church leaders just as we strongly condemn the huge and ever increasing number of killings under the Duterte administration. Its repeated public pronouncements disregarding the rule of law and respect for human rights and the recent attacks to the teachings of Christian faith promote this culture of violence and embolden killings even of the religious or clergy.

This government as personified by the President is seemingly heartless and lacking in conscience. It is intolerant of critique and silences dissent to achieve what it randomly wants and according to the President’s will at the moment. It has targeted persons and all democratic institutions that represents the voice of opposition and one that demands for justice and denounces violence committed to the most helpless sector of society.

It has no ears to listen to the cry of its people, and has chosen to be ruthlessly blind and deaf to the people’s needs blatantly evidenced by the impact of TRAIN law, its unfulfilled ‘No to Endo’ promise, its lack of protection for our fisher folks in Scarborough Shoal and its cowardice to defend our sovereign rights from the Chinese intruders.

We are a network of development workers, environmental advocates and human rights defenders. We lament that our avowed leaders, the one we voted for to represent us, is also party to these crimes against the Filipino people. Their public endorsement or lack of action and silence condone this reprehensible situation. We condemn in the strongest sense all forms of killings being perpetrated under this government, its disregard for the rule law and due process and lack of respect to life.

Likewise, as a faith-based development network, we are being challenged to speak out against these attacks to our pastors and our faith. The universal declaration of human rights and our Philippine constitution have provided for freedom to believe and practice religion. Never in recent history that we have a President that attacks the tenet of our religious beliefs in its bid to silence the church from speaking out the truth in favor of those whose rights are violated by this government.

We demand justice for the death of our pastors and all those killed under this government’s war on drug. Their right to life and to due process are violated. Government and all involved instrumentalities must be held accountable for all these rights violations. No one should be above the law, including the President of the Philippines.

###

Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc., (PMPI) is a social development and advocacy network of 250 plus Philippine church/faith-based groups, non-governmental organizations and people’s organization spread all over the country, in partnership with Misereor, a social development arm of the German Bishops based in Aachen Germany.

For more information contact:
secretariat@pmpi.org.ph
(02) 961-5956

Submit your contribution online through HRonlinePH@gmail.com
Include your full name, e-mail address and contact number.

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.

[Right-up] End Corporate Greed, Stop Harassing Environmental Defenders By Xiou

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End Corporate Greed, Stop Harassing Environmental Defenders
By Xiou

HRonlinePH new logo 2A non-government organization working against the destructive large scale mining is being indicted for Internet or e-libel through a resolution by the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.

The Hinatuan Mining Company (HMC) earlier filed charges against Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI) for issuing a press release about the mining operations in Guiuan town of Manicani Island in the Province of Eastern Samar.

The resolution submitted by Deputy City Prosecutor Patrick Noel De Dios which was approved by City Chief Prosecutor Archimedes Manabat recommends that PMPI National Coordinator Yoly Esguerra and three other staff be held responsible.

PMPI maintains that the complaint of the HMC is a form of strategic legal action against public participation and plain harassment for our organization and human rights defenders that have been helping the resistance of the community who are instrumental for the suspension of mining operations in Manicani Island.

Aside from Article 3, Section 4 of the Philippine Constitution, the right to freedom of expression is protected under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Philippines is a state party. The Philippines also joined 126 other states at the UN General Assembly in adopting General Assembly Resolution 70/161, which recognizes states’ responsibility to protect human rights defenders. The UN Human Rights Council’s 21 March 2016 resolution on human rights defenders similarly recognizes the important and legitimate role of human rights defenders to express their views, concerns, criticisms and dissent regarding government policy or business activities and underlines the need for governments to take necessary measures to safeguard such dialogue.

We now insist that the Philippine government must fulfill its obligations under international law to ensure human rights defenders are protected, not punished. Our country must decriminalize libel or e-libel, which international law considers a disproportionate form of punishment for defamation-related charges. The Philippine Human Rights community is also urging HMC including concerned legal institutions to drop all unwarranted charges brought against human rights defenders.

Apart from these, the government should also effectively investigate numerous cases of violence committed against human rights defenders and hold perpetrators to account.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide that businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights wherever they operate. In line with this, businesses in Philippines must respect the rights of human rights defenders who exercise their fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of expression. Businesses should further engage in meaningful consultation and dialogue with relevant communities and stakeholders in order to identify, prevent, and address any potential adverse human rights and environmental impacts related to their activities.

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PMPI 4In support to PMPI 4 (co-HR Defenders) against the Internet-Libel case filed against them by the mining company, we urge everyone to change and use the attached profile picture today. Please help spread. Thank you.

Related links https://hronlineph.com/…/press-release-taguig-fiscal-recom…/

[Statement] “Violence not an option vs drought-affected protesters”-PMPI

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“Violence not an option vs drought-affected protesters”

PMPIPMPI laments the unfortunate incident in Kidapawan. What is happening in the drought affected parts of Mindanao is deeply troubling:

When communities reeling from intense drought still have to rally for days to demand relief after the whole of North Cotabato, has been declared under the state of calamity since January 2016.

When the government offered the farmers 3 kilograms of rice for every quarter, despite enoughfunds allocated to assist the farmers and the affected populations of the province and for all of Region 12.

When the government deployed armed forces in full battle gear to disperse the hungry farmers who are claiming their life support provisions, not only with brute force butwith bullets.

When, after the protest-turned-bloody-mayhem, the arrest and detention of protesters and, without proper investigation of the event,police officers were awarded medal of valor.

When humanitarian donation and support are being rejected and blocked by the local government amid plea from the people and from the Commission on Human rights to allow neighboring towns to avail of rice aid provided by private individuals and organizations.

As reports from our member organizations and different news agencies came in, it wasenough to make us freeze with helplessness. The images of bloodied farmers in TV and social media shuddered our senses. And even as we try to suspend judgement due to the blaming game, we can’t help but feel for the farmers.

No need for violence

Philippine Misereor Partnership, Inc. national coordinator Yoly Esguerra shared that nothing can justify the action of the police using live bullets to disperse protesting civilians. There were many measures that could have been done to prevent violence to happen. Dialogue and tolerance should always be the modes of action of those in power.
“It was not a secret to us that these areas will be heavily impacted by the drought and that funds were earmarked to help them cope. That we had to wait until it reached this point is unacceptable. Measures to mitigate the impact should have been in place. Relief is due to the affected population of El Nino soonest,” she said.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III in an interview shared that the DSWD has since released P133,426,000 including funds to maintain and complete the required or standard stockpiled 30,000-families food pack and initial assistance for the cash-for-work program. This is to cover the 125,228 families or 626,140 persons affected by El Niño in all of Region 12.

“But where are these funds? Why until now it has yet to reach our farmers?” Fr. Joy Pelino of the Social Action of Marbel said.

He stressed that the matter should have not reached this point if the government only did its job.

Drought gone bloody

Notwithstanding the present turmoil, since 2014 PAGASA has provided ample warning of the start of the El Niño cycle. They sternly informed all that the current cycle was the “strongest in modern history” and will be prolonged well into the middle of 2016.

Interface Development Interventions (IDIS Inc.) Executive Director Ann Fuertes said that if the government prepared well for the people in the affected areas, none of the strings of protests would have happened.

“Given the early warning made by the national weather agency, the government should have foreseen this scenario and placed appropriate measures to address this situation,” Fuertes said. “What the local government did to the protesters was unconscionable. They were only asking for food and yet they were met with such brutish violence.”

Geonathan T. Barro of MASIPAG-Mindanao stressed that responses to drought should not only be limited to giving food packs and relief goods, but also by shifting our country’s agricultural system to become drought-tolerant and be adaptive to climate change.

“In this case, the farmers and IPs were just asking for food. It’s for their survival it’s not for anything else. We are able to eat because of the food they produce, but when it’s their time to need food, the least we can do is to give back to them,” he lamented.

Sr. Susan Bolanio of Oblates of Notre Dame Hesed Foundation, Inc. expressed the need to further conduct investigation on the whole matter.

“Even as I don’t agree that the farmers had to block the national highway, paralyzing the major thoroughfares of the province, the violence that erupted must be thoroughly investigated,” she said.

Rev. Fr. Edu Gariguez, NASSA Caritas Executive Secretary and PMPI co-convenor said that “it is the utmost duty of the state to protect the rights of the most vulnerable especially in situation such as drought and other natural calamity, and not to further inflict pain during an already unbearable situation.”

“We call for an independent investigation on this as much as we condemn the act of violent inflicted on our hungry-stricken farmers.  And if real justice should be served, those found guilty should be penalized,” the priest stressed.

For more info, please contact :
Amor J. Tan Singco
Communications and Information Officer
http://www.pmpi.org.ph | +63925.576.7426 | (02) 961.5956
Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.

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[Press Release] No to Mining Industry zone! Groups want congress to kill riders in the Mining Revenue Bill -PMPI

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No to Mining Industry zone!
Groups want congress to kill riders in the Mining Revenue Bill

Groups from different mining-affected communities in the country exclaimed their opposition in the establishment of Mining Industry Zones (MIZ) in the Philippines as indicated in the proposed mining revenue policy in the congress.

PMPI

In their meeting in Quezon City last May 28, the groups would like to send their appeal to the House of Representatives to omit the riders in the mining revenue bill and focus their discussion only on the fiscal regime on mining.

“We believe that the provision for the declaration of MIZ in the House Bill 5367 is outside the context of the fiscal regime and therefore should be omitted right away in the discussion,” said Fr. Joy Gillarme, executive director of Social Action Center Diocese of Marbel.

Elizabeth Manggol of Marinduque Council for Environmental Concerns (MACEC) added that they could not accept the proposed policy especially the MIZ because it contradicts their call for “no go zone” for mining.

Manggol also noted the discrepancy on the process of declaring areas as “no go zone” compare to the process for MIZ.

“Based on our experience and the other communities in the country, protecting an island from mining would take many steps and time — from the barangay level to congress. But the MIZ is like a breeze to mining companies because for mining to happen, it seems that they would only need proclamation from the president and endorsement from the LGU,” she added.

Edel Garingan, project officer for the anti-mining campaign of Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) commented that the bill on its current form would threaten more communities and key biodiversity areas as the process to begin a mining project seemingly would be cut short.

“The bill is giving the national government an exclusive authority to regulate mining operations in the country, this is a direct assault to local autonomy,” Garingan added.

PMPI is a network of about 300 civil society organizations and church-based groups in the Philippines working on various development issues such as peace, sustainable agriculture, climate change and the anti-mining campaign.

For more information contact:
Yoly Esguerra, PMPI national coordinator. 09258540529 / yre_pmpi@yahoo.com.ph
Edel Garingan, AMC project officer. 09228501875 / egaringan.pmpi@gmail.com
Victor Morilo, AMC advocacy officer. 09228501874 / primo.pmpi@gmail.com

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[Event] #ProjectPagbangon concert series kicks off in Tacloban today -PMPI

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#ProjectPagbangon concert series kicks off in Tacloban today

Project Pagbangon the concert seriesThe three-leg #ProjectPagbangon concert series for the survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda in Visayas officially started today in Tacloban City, Leyte.

The first leg was held at Sto. Niño Parish from 1:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon and quickly followed by a Eucharistic celebration.

Entitled as “SANDUGO: Salu-salo ng mga Kwento at Awitin ng Pagbangon”, the concert focused on cultural rehabilitation of target affected areas.

Read full article @pmpi.org.ph

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[Announcement] JOB POSTING FOR PMPI : Research and Information Management Staff

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JOB POSTING FOR PMPI : Research and Information Management Staff

The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc,

is looking for a

Research and Information Management Staff

Job description and job requirements follow:

Position/Designation: Research and Information Management Staff
Reports to the National Coordinator

General Responsibilities:

The Research and Information Management Staff shall provide assistance and support to the PMPI’s current program (Anti-Mining Campaign) and Thematic Task Forces (Peace, Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management) in the pursuit of the network’s prioritized resolutions and concerns. Primarily, s/he shall ensure that relevant information and materials on the four priority concerns are gathered, systematically archived and packaged and developed for dissemination within the network, to the media, and the general public.

Specific Tasks:
1. Develops an information and data-gathering system on the four thematic concerns of the network.
2. Conducts actual mini or table researches on the focused thematic concerns and/or provides technical support to special researches contracted by the network.
3. Drafts and circulates press/media releases, statements, media advisory, and helps in drafting major documents for the network (i.e. policy papers)
4. Ensures that local situation and experiences of partner communities are given appropriate media and public exposures at the national and international level.
5. Monitors exposures of PMPI press releases or activities in the quadri-media.
6. Develops a media directory and establishes quadri-media linkages.
7. Manages the partnership newsletter, ensures that website is regularly updated, and documents important network meetings.
8. Performs such other tasks which maybe required and delegated by the National Coordinator.
Job Requirements:
1. With at least 2 years of experience in a non-government organizations or social development related work.
2. Proficient in writing both in English and Tagalog
3. With ability to multi-task under minimal supervision.
4. With ability to work under pressure and flexible schedule
5. Computer and social media literate.
6. With technical skill in newsletter lay-outing and multi-media presentations.
7. Preferably college graduate.

If interested, please address your application to:

Ms. Yolly R. Esguerra
National Coordinator
Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc

and email to pmpsecretariat@yahoo.com or mail to:

The Philippine Misereor Partneship Inc.
2nd Floor, No. 8 Cordillera St. Cor. Ramirez St.
Barangay Doña Aurora
1113 Quezon City , Philippines
Tel. No. (02) 353- 4287
Fax. No. (02) 353- 4396
http://www.2003pmp.org

 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.