People’s organizations present list of demands to gov’t, NDFP panels

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines refers to the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement of Social and Economic Reforms as “the meat” of the peace talks as it aims to address the root causes of the armed conflict.

By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com

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MANILA – Why should peasants, workers, indigenous peoples, migrants, women, and other marginalized sectors care about the ongoing peace talks?

The second national assembly of Pilgrims for Peace on May 14 provided the answers as leaders of various people’s organizations presented their situation and their proposals for socio-economic reforms to representatives of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

More than 200 delegates from all over the country issued challenges to Ednar Dayanghirang, GPH chairman of the Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms (RWC SER) and Rafael Baylosis, NDFP member of the RWC SER.

Renato Reyes Jr., secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) stressed the urgency of finding solutions to the economic crisis. Reyes stressed that the current crisis has further exposed the basic and fundamental defects of the Philippine economy. “Both panels should draw lessons from this, primarily on the need to create foundations for the development of the domestic economy.”

Next on the agenda of the peace talks is the forging of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (Caser). It is the second item in the four substantive agenda laid down in The Hague Joint Declaration of 1992. The Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL), signed by both parties in 1998, was the first item in the agenda and became the first agreement forged during the peace negotiations.

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines refers to the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement of Social and Economic Reforms as “the meat” of the peace talks as it aims to address the root causes of the armed conflict.

Hacienda Luisita

Danilo Ramos, secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), said the Caser should bring forth genuine land reform, insisting that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of then president Corazon Cojuangco-Aquino failed to break land monopoly.

“Take the case of Hacienda Luisita. I hope this gets to the President,” Ramos said in Filipino, “Farm workers have long been calling for the junking of the SDO [stock distribution option] and distribution of land to the tillers.”

Hacienda Luisita is owned by the family of President Benigno S. Aquino III. During the administration of Corazon Aquino, instead of distributing the land to the farm workers, the SDO was implemented in the sugar estate.

“The government should solve the problem of the majority of our people,” Ramos said. The peasant leader called for a moratorium on land- and crop-use conversion.

Immediate reforms

Meanwhile, Fernando Hicap, chairman of fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Mamamalakaya sa Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), called on the GPH to set aside at least P 32 billion for production and oil subsidy for 313,000 small boat fisherfolk operators and 660,000 paddle using fishermen. Hicap said that fuel cost eats up 80 percent of production. Pamalakaya also urged the GPH to stop projects “displacing fishers” such as the Manila Bay master development plan, rehabilitation of Laguna Lake, offshore mining in the Visayas Sea, among others.

Sammy Malunes, vice president for federation affairs of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) called for the implementation of decent living wage and job security for workers. Government employees under the banner of Courage demand for P6,000 salary increase for rank-and-file employees and for control of prices of oil and other basic commodities.

Ferdinand Gaite, Courage chairman, called on the GPH to stop the retrenchments of government employees in the light of privatization and/or merging of government agencies. Gaite also said that government employees are entitled to the right to form unions.

For its part, Migrante International presented a five-point proposal for both panels. First is to stop forced migration by generating jobs at home. Second is to investigate, prosecute and punish corrupt and negligent government officials. Garry Martinez, Migrante International chairman, specifically pointed to Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo “for corruption of funds of overseas Filipino workers.”

Migrante also called for the protection of OFWs from unfair labor practices, discrimination, stringent immigration policies and other occupational hazards and the provision of assistance to OFWs in distress especially those in death row. The group also urged the scrapping of “anti-migrant laws.”

Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) called for a moratorium on large-scale mining and cancellation of all commercial logging permits. Clemente Bautista, Kalikasan PNE national coordinator lamented that Aquino dismissed the call of League of Municipalities in the Philippines to implement a moratorium on large-scale mining.

The group also proposed a moratorium on new coal power plants and a ban on the use of plastic packaging in fast food chains. Kalikasan PNE also urged the GPH to provide compensation for victims of tragedies such as the Marcopper mine spill, toxic waste contamination, etc.

For its part, Giovanni Tapang, chairman of scientist group Agham (not the party list group), said programs should be in place to mobilize local scientists, engineers and inventors. “Incentives should be provided to reverse the brain drain,” Tapang said. Tapang also proposed the protection of Filipino research and development outputs.

Bai Ali Indayla, spokeswoman of Kawagib, said the Bangsamoro people want their right to self-determination and their right to their ancestral domain.

Indayla added that most of the Moros are taliawid (farmers) and that thus, they also want genuine agrarian reform. “Review the history of land grabbing [of Moro land] and confiscate lands from transnational corporations,” Indayla said. Indayla also mentioned that there should be laws against discrimination of Moro in employment and for the protection of Moro migrants.

Piya Malayao, secretary general of Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (KAMP), called for the junking of all “deceptive, oppressive and discriminatory” legislation being used against indigenous peoples.

Social services

Sean Vilchez, deputy secretary-general of Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), presented the four-point health agenda. “Our public health system is in a state of comatose,” Vilchez said, saying that there should be free, comprehensive and progressive health services for all.

Vilchez also said there is a need to promote and uphold the interests of health professionals and health workers, implement progressive health policies and programs and ensure the people’s overall well-being and address the social determinants of health.

Meanwhile, France Castro, secretary general of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), called for the highest budgetary allocation for education and for the advancement of the interest and welfare of teachers and education personnel.