This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 49, January 22-28, 2006
LABOR WATCH
DA Employees Reject Privatization,
Rationalization of Gov’t Agencies
Government employees under the
National Federation of Employees’ Associations of the Department of Agriculture
joined calls against the privatization policy of the Arroyo administration. It
vowed to fight against the rationalization of government agencies and to push
for a P3,000 ($56.65) across-the-board monthly salary increase.
BY FLORENCE BATAWANG AND
KATHERING DEL ROSARIO
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Members of the National
Federation of Employees’ Association of the Department of Agriculture (Nafeda)
expressed strong opposition to the plan of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s
administration to privatize and rationalize government agencies.
They also reiterated their demand for a P3,000
($56.65, based on an exchange rate of P52.96 per US dollar) across-the-board
monthly salary increase during Nafeda's 3rd Congress held at the
National Irrigation Authority Training Center in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet,
246 kms north of Manila.
One hundred eight delegates from 21 unions and
associations nationwide attended Nafeda'a three-day congress with the theme
“Sahod. Trabaho, at Karapatan Ipaglaban! Isulong tunay na patakarang agrikultura
at pangisdaan para sa mamamayan at bayan!” (Fight for Just Wages, Jobs, and
Rights! Develop an agricultural and fisheries policy beneficial to the people
and the country!)
The congress discussed the imminent
privatization of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) and Bureau of Plant
Industry (BPI). The association explained that both serve as the core general
service provider of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to its stakeholders. Both
bureaus also perform vital services needed for the general development of DA’s
functions and services.
According to Nafeda’s statement, the
privatization policy as a whole will give the private sector the power to
operate and maintain the said agencies for profit. “The state will abandon its
basic responsibility of giving services to the farmers sector in particular and
the people in general,” the statement read.
In addition, the statement also mentioned that
the shift in policy direction from public service to privatization would lead to
the retrenchment of thousands of DA employees nationwide, and a cut back in
services, functions and assets of the two bureaus. “Through this system, the
state hopes to pour cold water to the brewing protests of state workers and the
people,” Nafeda said.
Roman Sanchez, executive vice president of
Nafeda said that their federation, together with the Confederation for Unity,
Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage), and other
independent unions have been fighting for a P3,000 ($56.65) wage increase for
government employees for four years now. But instead of heeding the call, the
Arroyo administration is pushing for Executive Order (EO) No. 366, which
provides for the rationalization of government agencies.
The EO 366 is the administration’s plan to
streamline the bureaucracy as part of its privatization policy. The program
includes a massive layoff of government employees, abolition of the so-called
“redundant” agencies (or those whose functions are similar to the major
agencies), and privatization of food, electric, and water services.
Antonio Reyes, newly-elected president of Nafeda,
said that the administration is firm on pursuing the implementation of EO 366 in
the first half of 2006.
Sanchez said that Nafeda is also participating
in the struggle against the policies of the World Trade Organization (WTO),
particularly the Agreement on Agriculture. He said that WTO would destroy the
livelihood of Filipino farmers and make the country dependent on imports.” This
will kill local agricultural production and millions will lose their jobs,” he
added.
Meanwhile, Sanchez said that Nafeda is critical
of the retirement incentives offered by EO 366, which will only benefit
government employees with 31 years of service.
“Only 20% of the overall number of government
employees will be covered by the retirement incentives, so majority who will
lose their jobs because of the rationalization program will not benefit from it.
We will not allow this to happen,” Sanchez expressed.
He also said that the government should heed the
people’s demand for wage increases. Nafeda criticized the 2006 budget, almost
80% of which is allotted to servicing the country’s foreign debts. It said that
an increase in the salaries of government employees can be given if the budget
will be properly allocated.
The federation also joins the call for President
Arroyo to step down.
“Instead of retrenching government employees, it
should be Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who should be terminated for she does not
represent the best interests of government employees and the people in general,”
Sanchez further expressed.
The government employees will conduct a
nationwide rally on February 14 to demand for the junking of EO 366 and to push
for a P3,000 ($56.65) across-the-board monthly salary increase. Nordis/Posted
by Bulatlat © 2006 Bulatlat
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Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat