The People’s Agenda
After GMA, we reiterate that the People’s Agenda must be the basis for a program of government including:
1. Social Justice and Economic Reforms
a) Ensure immediate economic relief by implementing a rollback in the prices of basic commodities such as rice, power (suspend PPA), water and oil. Immediately review pertinent laws and regulations affecting the prices of basic commodities such as EPIRA, water privatization, EVAT, etc. Enact laws that ensure just wages and job security for workers as opposed to low wages and labor contractualization. Prioritize genuine land reform for farmers and give the highest priority in government programs, policies and budget for the benefit of our long neglected farmers and workers. Stop privatization and ensure that vital industries are placed in the capable hands of Filipino entrepreneurs instead of multi-national corporations.
b) Reallocate current and succeeding budgets to significantly increase health, education, housing, and other social services, based on internationally accepted benchmarks such as 5% of GNP for health (WHO), 6% of GNP for education (UNESCO). Freeze tuition fee hikes, review the overall policy to support the whole education system, and ensure access to quality education for all.
c) Immediately initiate rational debt management program, starting with a debt and fiscal policy review that includes the cancellation of the onerous debts, repeal of Presidential Decree 1177 on automatic debt payment allocation and renegotiation of outstanding debts.
2. Righteousness, Transparency and Accountability
Establish an independent anti-corruption task force as a watchdog/oversight body composed mainly of civil society representatives. Enact genuine anti-corruption laws to ensure swift prosecution of all corruption cases such as the PIATCO deal involving GMA, coco levy involving Danding Cojuangco, AMARI ITAL THAI AMARI case involving former President Ramos, the Jose Velarde and Jose Pidal issues etc.
3. Justice and Peace
a) Uphold justice, peace and human rights as the government’s foremost policy of governance. Respect the right to self-determination of the Bangsa-Moro People and all indigenous peoples. Withdraw government troops in heavily militarized areas, dismantle CAFGUs, release all political prisoners, resolve pending human rights issues and indemnify victims of grave human rights abuses by the Marcos government up to the present. Guarantee the people’s rights regardless of creed, belief, and gender to effectively redress their grievances.
b) Institutionalize a policy of social reforms, justice and peace based on genuine national reconciliation and unity. Work for the de-listing of CPP-NPA in the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list to further ensure the peace negotiations, seriously implement the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and successfully conclude peace agreements with the National Democratic Front and with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
4. National Sovereignty
Uphold constitutional provisions for national sovereignty and patrimony through foreign policies based on neutrality and non-intervention. Immediately stop the US-RP Balikatan military exercises. Implement relief measures to tariff and non-tariff prescriptions of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and initiate review of Philippine commitments to WTO especially those related to agriculture that aggravate the landlessness and poverty of the peasant majority.
PATRIOTS affirms that the ouster of GMA is not enough especially if such a change will only install a regime that is just as corrupt, undemocratic, and subservient to foreign and elite interests. We reiterate our rejection of proposals for federalism, Charter Change, military junta and all schemes that will benefit the old and new elite. We challenge GMA’s immediate replacement to seriously uphold the people’s aspirations by making the agenda of the poor majority, the cornerstone of good governance, national unity and lasting peace in our country.
July 9, 2005
(Patriots: A Movement for Peace, Justice and Good Governance
email: patriots_christians@yahoo.com; telephone numbers: 4123174/9242511)
