Counter-initiative vs
Cha-Cha Launched
“We cannot match their
money. We will match their efforts in order to defeat this sinister plot.
( referring to the planned Charter change of the Arroyo administration)”
“We will fight. Tuloy ang laban,” (The struggle continues.) said
former Vice President Teofisto Guingona.
BY EMILY VITAL
Bulatlat
“We cannot match
their money. We will match their efforts in order to defeat this sinister
plot. (referring to the planned Charter change of the Arroyo
administration)” “We will fight. Tuloy ang laban. (The struggle
continues.)”
These were the words
of Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. at the launching of the
People’s Movement Against Arroyo’s Charter Change (People’s March)
Thursday at the Cathedral Hall of the Episcopal Church in Quezon City.
Guingona was
referring to Arroyo government’s effort to push for Charter change. On the
same day the People’s March was launched, Secretary Ronaldo Puno assumed
office at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Puno
said that his priority was to push for Charter change.
The day before,
Manila Mayor Lito Atienza launched the Charter change movement at the
Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The former vice
president said Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants to divert the people’s
attention away from the crisis of legitimacy of her presidency.
He also said that the
Arroyo administration is evading questions regarding the fertilizer funds,
Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) funds and PhilHealth funds.
“(Those are) illegal, unlawful expenditures in a campaign,” he said.
Guingona said
Arroyo’s allies in Congress are railroading Charter change. “Walang
debate sa committee. May quorum pa raw pero wala na.” (There was no
debate during the committee hearings. They said there was a quorum but in
reality there was none.)
Return to martial
law
Meanwhile, Atty. Neri
Colminares, spokesperson of Counsel for the Defense of Civil Liberties (CODAL)
said Charter change signals the return to martial law and repression.
Colminares criticized
the deletion of safety mechanisms regarding the declaration of martial
law. He cited the proposed deletion of provisions setting a 60-day limit
to a state of martial law and writ suspension. Colminares said that the
proposed changes also remove the power of the Supreme Court to look into
the factual basis of a martial law proclamation.
Colminares explained
that the inclusion of ‘imminent danger’ to the grounds for the declaration
of martial law is very dangerous. “This is dangerous…especially for a
president who considers any form of criticism as an attack on her
personality and on the state; a president who considers any form of
protest as a threat to national security. “
He said twenty to
thirty thousand people massing up could be seen as an imminent danger for
this government.
Promoting land
monopoly
At the launching,
Danilo Ramos, chairperson of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (Movement of
Peasants in the Philippines) or KMP said, “Ang Cha-Cha ay malaking
delubyo para sa mga magsasaka.” (Charter change will mean the end of
the world for Filipino farmers.)
Ramos explained that
the Charter change will worsen land monopoly and will not bring about
genuine land reform.
Under the Investor
Land Lease Act, foreign entities could lease land for 75 years. The lease
is renewable for 25 years. Ramos said the average life span of a Filipino
is 56 years. “Patay na
si Tano, nandiyan pa rin ang mga dayuhan.”
(Even when Tano the farmer is
already dead, foreigners will still be occupying the land.)
Enemy of the
environment
Ester de Tagle of
Environmental Advocates for Gloria’s Expulsion (ENRAGE), underscored the
ill effects of Charter change to the environment.
Tagle said the
Philippines is a biodiversity superstar. “People in rural areas depend on
natural resources and the environment for their livelihood and survival.
Paano na sila kapag
naipasa ang Cha-Cha,” (What
will happen to them if Charter change will be approved?) Tagle said.
Tagle added that the
greatest enemy of the environment is this government. “Si Gloria ay
nakikipaggiyera sa kalikasan.” (Gloria is waging war against nature.)
She cited the upholding of the constitutionality of the Mining Act of 1995
and the logging permits issued to corporations.
Increase rates of
public utilities
Furthermore, Dr.
Giovanni Tapang, chairperson of Samahan ng Nagtataguyod ng Agham at
Teknolohiya para sa Sambayanan (Agham or the Association of
Scientists and Technologists for the People) discussed how Charter change
will result to further increases in the rates of services such as
electricity, water and transportation.
Tapang said
provisions in the proposed Charter allow complete control and ownership of
foreigners of vital services and utilities our people use daily. Charter
Change will delete the foreign ownership cap on public utilities. Tapang
said, “The deletion together with other provisions promoting
liberalization provides for greater economic power and access to aliens
and foreign corporations and will result in greater damage to the economic
interest of the Filipino people.”
He added, “Today, the
extent of foreign control in public utilities is already wide-ranging.“
Tapang identified several foreign corporations involved in the oil
industry, water, electricity and transportation sectors.
Tapang said, “Our
experience on the privatization of utilities such as water and power has
only brought the people ever increasing rates on services.”
Below is a table
showing increases in oil prices, transportation fares, and electricity and
water rates.
Utility |
2001 |
2005 |
|
% increase |
Diesel |
14.30 |
31.76 |
17.46 |
122% |
Unleaded |
16.84 |
34.43 |
17.60 |
105% |
LPG |
262.50 |
422.75 |
160.25 |
61% |
Diesel/vat |
|
34.94 |
20.64 |
135% |
Unleaded/vat |
|
37.87 |
21.04 |
117% |
LPG/vat |
|
465.03 |
202.53 |
71% |
|
|
|
|
|
Electricity |
5.13 |
7.50 |
2.37 |
46% |
Water |
9.70 |
11.25 |
1.55 |
16% |
Fares |
4.00 |
7.50 |
3.50 |
88% |
Undermining
national sovereignty and territorial integrity
Another People’s
March convenor, Prof. Roland Simbulan, said the Charter change will
undermine national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Simbulan said, “Ayaw
tayong tantanan ng mga dayuhang interes.” (Foreign interests refuse to
leave us alone.)
Simbulan said Charter
change will allow direct deployment of foreign troops, entry of nuclear
weapons and even the return of foreign military bases.
He cited provisions
in the 1987 Constitution that will be deleted. These provisions, he said,
protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Simbulan provided the
reasons behind the sell-out of national sovereignty, “Mahalaga sa
ilehitimong gobyerno ni Arroyo ang suporta ng
US.”
(The support of the U.S. is important for
the illegitimate Arroyo government.)
Signature drive
The People’s March
initiated a signature drive against Charter change. (Please link Five
Reasons Why We Oppose Arroyo’s Charter Change)
Dr. Carol Araullo,
People’s March convenor and chairperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
said, “The fight is on. We will go house to house, parish to parish, town
to town, to inform the public on the real agenda behind charter change.
This is a genuine people’s counter-initiative to charter change “
Other convenors of
the People’s March include Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and Bishop Alberto
Ramento and Bsp. Godofredo David, Msgr. Ernesto Cruz, Fr. Joe Dizon
and Sr. Ma. Gemma C. Dinglasan RGS.
Dr. Ruben Caragay (UP
Institute of Public Health), Prof. Edberto Villegas (UP Manila), Dr.
Giovanni Tapang (AGHAM), Jonathan Pimentel (UP Academic Union), Prof. Lito
Manalili (UP College of Social Work and Community Development), Dr. Ramon
Guillermo (UP College of Arts and Letters).
Atty. Neri Colmenares
(Counsel for the Defense of Civil Liberties), Atty. Remigio Saladero (PRO
LABOR), Dr. Carol Araullo (Bayan), Former Labor USEC Amado “Gat” Inciong,
Former Human Rights Commissioner Nasser Marohomsalic (United Muslims for
Truth and Morality).
Bulatlat
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