Different view

But critics here have a different view of the development plan, with most saying it will only worsen the “already acute exploitation and oppression of the people” and the “plunder” of the region’s rich resources.

The Social Science Educators Circle (SEEDCORE), a forum of social scientists, economists and grassroots educators here, in its statement said Arroyo’s development plan for Central Philippines look attractive because it tries to “induce” people to imagine a phenomenon previously “unimaginable” to ordinary citizens.

“The Visayans would naturally be mesmerized dreaming of having around more ‘RORO’ boats, fast crafts, modern ports and airports, linking bridges and mega malls, blondes, tourists in topless suits; but after a while, if at all these projects would be realized, they will certainly wake up soon to the reality that they have nothing at stake and instead the end-losers in these infrastructures grandeur,” SEEDCORE said in its statement.

“GMA’s development plan would only give license to big business compradors and foreign companies to grab more lands from the farmers; eject fisherfolk from coastal villages to give way to resorts and beach investors; clean up cities of ‘squatters’ to make it palatable to tourists and investors; remove farmers and settlers from hinterlands to facilitate access to natural parks that possess rich forest, water, energy and mineral deposits; attract middle class and the youth to the consumerism and escapism offered by big malls and commercial centers,” SEEDCORE stated.

SEEDCORE also stated that Arroyo’s development plan would only stir the “ravenous spirit of the big business compradors and multinational corporations to heighten the exploitation and oppression of the marginalized sectors, and speed up the plunder of the rich Visayan resources.”

SEEDCORE noted that nothing in Arroyo’s development plan had mentioned land distribution and provision of subsidies for farmers, employment generation, multi-crop based agricultural development, and rural industrialization. “This only shows that the Arroyo government has no concern for the alleviation of the quality of life of the majority poor in the Visayas, nor instituting a lasting social justice,” it added.

The National Federation of Sugar Workers (NFSW), for its part, stated that “the government’s stress on infrastructures and privatization of our energies, water, among others, than on social reforms and basic social services clearly indicates the corrupt and syndicate mentality among government bureaucrats and technocrats; with more infra projects, the more will flow into their pockets to satisfy their whims and caprices.”

“The further control of our resources by big business compradors and multinational corporations would also mean the intensification of militarization of our lands and attacks on our people and mass leaders,” the NFSW added.

The GMA plan seems to fit well with the implementation of its anti-terror law or Human Security Act; this practically form part of what we call destructive development, NFSW added.

Protest. While speaking July 13 at the University of St. La Salle (USLS), Arroyo was picketed by two dozens of placards-bearing protesters from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan or New Patriotic Alliance)-Negros, League of Filipino Students (LFS), and Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights), backed by a cheering crowd of La Salle students.

Shortly before Arroyo arrived, a hundred members of the police crowd dispersal unit pushed the students outside the USLS perimeter. During the dispersal, one LFS member was allegedly harassed by police troopers and plainclothesmen while another suffered a scratch on his face after reportedly being hit with a shield by one of the attacking policemen.

Bayan-Negros secretary-general Felipe Gelle condemned the “violent” dispersal, saying, “We were just airing our grievances and demands peacefully; this is plain police brutality.”

Karapatan-Negros secretary-general Fred Caña for his part said, “Wala pa gani maimplement ang Human Security Act, nagpakitang gilas na ang mga tuta ni GMA, ano na gid kon magsugod na ini?” (The Human Security Act has not even been implemented yet and GMA’s henchmen are already displaying their violence, what more when it starts to be implemented?)
Among the demands aired by the groups were the scrapping of the Human Security Act or the Anti-Terror Law, justice to victims of state terrorism, wage hikes, and genuine land reform.

Bacolod police chief S/Supt. Ronilo Quebrar said that they respect the right of the protesters to air their grievances, but added that they are just doing their duty “to clear the road of any obstruction.”

Gelle and Caña said that they will file formal charges against the offending police troopers and the Bacolod police chief.(Bulatlat.com)

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