PR - Release SSS Calamity Fund Now!

PRESS RELEASE

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino -Partido Lakas ng Masa

October 9, 2009

RELEASE SSS CALAMITY FUND NOW!

Members of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) under Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) picketed in front of the office of the SSS (Social Security Syetem) to demand the release of funds of its members.

The Social Security Agency is a government office intended to secure the benefits of the workers in the private sector through loans. One such loan is the Calamity Loan, which is aimed at providing immediate relief to SSS members in times of calamity.

However, since 2004, SSS stopped the disbursement of the Calamity Loan. Recently, Tropical Storm Ondoy damaged the lives and livelihood of thousands of SSS members. The Calamity Loan, if made available, could have provided much needed relief to members desperately seeking for help.

Leody De Guzman, Chairperson of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), lamented that, “We are very disappointed with SSS’s insensitivity to its members in these times of crisis. Even if SSS declared for the earlier renewal of the members’ Salary Loan, this is a mere token help for the members and not all members’ are qualified enough to enjoy it. Furthermore, the Salary Loan is regularly received by a qualified loaner and is not intended for calamity relief. Therefore, SSS must not make fools out of us by putting the Salary Loan as the alternative for the Calamity Loan.”

Such insensitivity has led to a snail-paced relief effort from the government. It is a shame in the part of SSS that most private foundations and peoples’ organizations have quicker response during times of calamity. Such is a big slap in the face of SSS, which collects billions of pesos from all its members.

“We demand for the release of the SSS Calamity Loan NOW! The hard-earned contributions of its members must be given without any delay for it is the mandate of SSS to secure the benefits of its members.” De Guzman further added.

The group held a short program and vowed to escalate their demands to pressure the SSS and will elevate the issue to Malacañang.

Dagdag na Datos sa Relief Operation

RIZAL Area
	AREA LOCATION	No. of Affected Families	Status	Things Needed	Contact Person	Contact Number
	Montalban BUTODA BRG KV-1 MANGGATODA WOWTODA Brgy.Geronimo Brgy.Balete Cainta Taytay Binangonan	120 100 100 140 120 350 300 1,500 Families 500 Families 350 Families		Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing	Jojo PMT Elna Rizal Baby Onilongo	09228457071 09084816376 09289596893
Laguna AREA Over All: Ronie Luna 09175223194 09185663923 Ding Tuiza 09289755089	San Pedro: Brgy. Landayan, South Fairway, Cuyad, San Roque, Tamuro Binan : Brgy. San Antonio, Dela Paz, Wawa, Malaban Santa Rosa: Boung South Ville -2 Brgy. Aplaya, Sinalhan, Caingin Cabuyao: South Ville in Cabuyao compost 4 Brgy. Marinig, San Isidro, Lake View, Baclaran Calamba City: Brgy. Samperuhan, Looc, Aplaya, Parian Pansol, Bagong Kalsada Los Banos: Brgy. Maahas, Laylayan at Aplaya Tadlak and Poblacion Bay : Brgy. San Isidro, Sto. Dominggo, Aplaya, Laylayan Fami: Sa pangkalahatan ay lubog pa ang mga bahayan sa palibot ng Laguna De Bay: gaya ng: Pila, Santa Cruz, Lumban, Siniloan, Mabitak, Pangil, Sta. Maria, Pakil, Victoria, Kalayaan, Paete, Los Banos, Calamba, Cabuyao, Santa Rosa, Binan, San Pedro. Total sa Laguna: May 147 Evacuation Center at 77,000 Families	7,000 Families mostly Workers and Urban Poor 4,000 Families 6,500 Families 7,000 Families 18,000 Families 4,000 Families 3,000 Families 700 Families	Until Now Flooded Until Now Flooded Still flooded Still flooded Still flooded in Brgy.Looc, Aplaya and Bagong Kalsada Still Flooded Still Flooded (Landslide)	Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing Food, Water, Medicine, Clothing	Monic Albao Melvina Evangelista Blk.6, Lot11 South Fairway, Sn. Pedro Robert and Lala Ka. Menong Humarang Boboy Villar Ely De Guzman Jojo Reverra Ding Tuiza Daboy Jardin Nick Brgy. Trea. In Brgy. San Isidro Ding Tuiza Laguna Urban Poor & Housing Development Office, Laguna Province	09084882672 09297039105 09215161618 09197827866 09204264548 09204293187 09282494003 09289755089 09083084661 09192315260 09289755089

Relief Operation Matrix

RELIEF OPERATION MATRIX 1000 families

PROVINCE/CITY/MUNICIPALITY

City	AREA LOCATION	No. of Affected Families	Status	Things Needed	Contact Person	Contact Number
Quezon City	Tatalon, Tagupo St.	88 families	Submerged	Food and Clothing	Samahan ng mga Magkakapitbahay ng Delgado Comp. c/o Cenon Sabanan (Pres.) or Dennis	09228761095
	Brgy. Sto. Domingo, P. Florentino St.	1,000 families	2 dead (electrocuted)	Food and Clothing Foods	Ka Albo and Linda Perez Dennis/Dante	09228761095
	Agno St., Brgy. Tatalon	500 families	13 dead	Submerged, sunog	Dennis	09228761095
	Bagong Silangan (opposite Batasan main gate, nr DSWD building). Site of relief distrib: covered court nr barangay hall; school)	2,800 families	36 dead	Food, clothing, water, portalets (3), medicines	William Cerdeña Sanlakas	09182252016
	Damayan Lagi (riverside)	2,500 families	Submerged	Food, water, medicine	Dennis/Dante	09228898134
Marikina	Paradise, Malanday	351 families	1 dead	Food, clothing, blankets	Larry Pascua	09055086518
	Olandes, Brgy. IBC	1,500 families		H2O, Food	Joel Lachica	09295614362
	Brgy. Tomana	6,000 families	Sumerged 30ft baha 13 dead (partial)	H2O, food, damit, medicines	Cris Carorocan	09089655895
Pasig	Willarey Subd., Pinagbuhatan	(199) 4,000 families	still flooded	Rubber Boat, water, food, clothing	Nelia Vibar	6438456
	Sitio Nagpayong	1,000 families	Still flooded	Rubber Boat, water, food, clothing	Danny	09225438555
	Santolan	2,000 families	Submerged	H2O, food
Cainta	Brgy. San Andres	1,620 families	Still flooded	Water, food, damit, medicines
Manila	De Paco, Paz St.	501 families	Submerged	Food, water, clothing	Marlyn	09194572791
	Punta	550 families			Dong Hernandez	09154467319
	San Andres Bukid at Pasig Line	200 families			Amy Perez
	Baseco, R10	120 Families	Tinangay ang mga bahay 3 bata ang namatay	Food, water, clothing	Virgie/Leo	09291729423 09106668529
Paranaque	San Antonio C-5 and NAIA runway	200 Families	Maraming nasirang bahay, 1 dead	Food, H2O	Edgar	09195928934
Las pinas	Pulang Lupa Z-10	145 families	Submerged	foods	Rose Amador	09084153613
Caloocan	Palmera spring’s	80 families	Submerged	Food, blankets	Leny Olimpio Jubille South	925-30-36
	Dagat-dagatan, Dawata	320 families	Submerged	Food, water, clothing	Kokoy	09185841384
Malabon	Letre	856 families	Submerged		Gie	09235896804
	Potrero Puno	940 families	Still flooded	Food, water, clothing	Gie	09235896804
	Longos, Pinagsabugan	225 families	Submerged	Food, water, clothing	Sami	09292555772
Navotas	C-3 creek(Manalo)	172 families	Submerged	Food, water, clothing	Sami	09292555772
Bulacan	San Jose, Del Monte Bangkal Mambog Look 2nd Longos Sto. Nino Dapdap Malis	60 Families 10 families 3 families 4 families 5 families 20 families 30 families 10 families	Submerged	Food, medicine, clothing	Leny Olimpio Jubille South Dennis Asne of AMA	925-30-36 0923-379-1385
Rizal	Lupang Arenda, Brgy. Sta. Ana, Taytay	2,000 families	Still flooded	H2O, Food, medicines	Teng Barlos	09215666586
	Naagting, Sitio Siwang, San Juan	50 Families	Still flooded	H20,food,medicines	c/o Cion
	Montalban BUTODA BRG KV-1 MANGGATODA WOWTODA Brgy.Geronimo Brgy.Balete	120 100 100 140 120 350 300		Foods	Jojo PMT	09228457071
Laguna	Brgy. Landayan, Fairway, Cuyad, in San Pedro Brgy. Sto Nino, Dela Pax at Laylayan Aplaya in Binan Laguna Boung South Ville -2 in Santa Rosa, Brgy. Aplaya, Sta. Rosa Laguna Cabuyao: South Ville in Cabuyao compost 4 Brgy. Marinig, San Isidro, Lake View, Baclaran Brgy. Samperuhan, Looc, Aplaya, Parian Pansol, Bagong Kalsada in Calamba City Brgy. Maahas, Laylayan at Aplaya and Poblacion in Los Banos Brgy. San Isidro, Sto. Dominggo, Aplaya, Laylayan in Bay Laguna	5,000 Families mostly Workers and Urban Poor 4,000 Families 3,500 Families 10,000 Families 7,000 Families	Still flooded Still flooded in Brgy.Looc, Aplaya and Bagong Kalsada		Ronie Luna	09175223194

Total: 60,590 families

68 dead

Partial Report 10/1/09

Paninindigan ng BMP laban sa JPEPA

Paninindigan ng BMP laban sa JPEPA

isinalin mula sa orihinal na Ingles ni Greg Bituin Jr., manunulat ng pahayagang Obrero, nalathala sa pahayagang Obrero, Oktubre 2007 isyu

Panawagan ng Manggagawa: Ibasura ang JPEPA!

Kinokondena namin, kaming mga manggagawa mula sa Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino at kasapi ng mga alyadong samahan mula sa sektor ng mga maralita ng lunsod at magsasaka, ang pamahalaang Pilipinas dahil sa paglagda nito sa Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement noong Setyembre 8, 2006 sa Helsinki, Finland nang walang konsultasyon sa mamamayan lalo na sa mga sektor na apektado ng kasunduang ito.

Ngayon, napwersa ng gobyernong pakinggan ang panawagan ng publiko upang sang-ayunan at ratipikahan ang JPEPA, nananawagan kami sa ating mga senador na maging isa sa publiko at sa mamamayan sa pagbasura sa kasunduang ito dahil sa mga sumusunod na kadahilanan:

Una, ang kasaysayan ng kasunduan sa ekonomya sa pagitan ng Japan at ng Pilipinas ay karaniwang inilalarawan sa pagsasabing ang Japan ang pinakamalaking pinagmumulan ng direktang dayuhang pamumuhunan sa Pilipinas at gayundin naman, ang pinakamalaking pagkukunan ng bansa ng opisyal na tulong pangkaunlaran. Noong 2003, ang lumalaking bugso ng Pilipinas ay nagkakahalaga ng $22.1B, habang ang kabuuang ODA mula sa Japan nong 2002 ay nagkakahalaga ng kabuuang 41.4 bilyong yen. Gayunpaman, pagkalipas ng 20 taon ng pamumuhunan, pakikipagkalakalan at pangungutang, ang lumang kasunduang pang-ekonomya sa pamamagitan ng 1979 RP-Japan Treaty of Amity, Commerce and Navigation ay nakakapaglikha lamang ng maliit na ganansya para sa Pilipinas. Sa katunayan, nasa 55.5% ang bahagi ng mga pautang ng bilateral ODA ng Japan, at noong 1996, 60% ng mga pautang na ito ay natali sa mga kondisyon tulad ng pagkuha ng mga makinarya ng Japan, atbp.

Ikalawa, kahit na nananatili pa ring ang Japan ang ikalawang destinasyon ng pagluluwas ng mga produkto ng Pilipinas tulad ng prutas, gulay, produktong mula sa dagat at iba pang produktong elektronik at semiconductor, ang paglaga ng halaga ng kalakal sa pagluluwas at pagpasok kasabay ng Japan, o ang balance ng kalakalan ng bansa sa nakaraang anim na taon, ay nananatiling kapos. Nananatili ang bansa bilang tagaluwas ng mga produktong Hapon kung saan mas mataas ang halaga ng import sa eksport ng may taunang pinatakang halaga na $ 949,149,501 M US para sa taon 2000-2006.

Sa mga huling pag-aaral (Vibal, 2007) ng Task Force Food Sovereignty na nagsasabing ang mga eksport ng Pilipinas sa japan ay binubuo pangunahin ng mga produktong industryal na may pinatakang halaga na 77% ng kabuuang eksport sa Japan. Ang bahagi ng tubo ay nasa pinatakang halaga ng $ 6.9B US. Sa pagitan ng mga produktong industryal, ang mga elektroniko ang pinakamalaking bulto ng eksport, kasunod ay makina at kagamitang pambiyahe at bahagi nito.

Ikatlo, bagamat binigyang pansin ng pinondohan-ng- gobyernong pag-aaral ng Philippine Institute for Development Studies or PIDS na ang pagbabawas at pagtatanggal ng taripa sa JPEPA ay mahalaga sa pagpapatatag ng pagsasamang pang-ekonomya ng Japan at Pilipinas at mahalaga rin itong bahagi ng kasunduan, kasama ang bahagi ng isang posibleng kasunduan sa malayang kalakalan (upang hustong umaayons sa Artikulo XXIV ng General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade).

Gayunpaman, habang inaasahang babaan at sa kalaunan ay mawala na ang taripa sa mga produktong agrikultural at industryal ng Pilipinas, ang tinutukoy naman ng mga Hapon ang kahirapan ng pagtatanggal ng taripa sa sektor ng agrikultura at pangingisda dahil sa maraming gampanin ng mga sektor na ito. Sa katunayan, hinihiling ng mga kinatawan ng sektor ng agrikultura at pangingisda sa Japan na malibre na ang ilang produktong agrikultura at pangingisda mula sa pagtatanggal ng taripa tulad ng prutas, gulay at sardines. Dagdag pa rito, nailibre ng Japan ang 32 sa mga industryal na produkto nito sa pagtanggal ng taripa.

Ikaapat, ang pagpasok ng mumurahing imported na produktong agrikultura at pangingisda, pati na iba pang panindang industryal tulad ng mga sobrang kagamitang elektrikal ng Japan at kahit na ang mga nagamit nang mga damit ay magtutulak upang bumaba ang presyo ng pangunahing mga bilihin sa maikling panahon lamang, ngunit sa pangmatagalan, napakasama ng epekto ng pagpasok ng mga murang produkto mula sa Japan sa ating seguridad sa pagkain at sa ating lokal na industriya (tulad ng agrikultura at pangingisda, kasuotan at tela, elektroniko, atbp.)

Para sa sektor ng paggawa, bagamat may pangungusap sa paggawa sa ilalim ng Investment and Labor section ng JPEPA, tulad ng Artikulo103 sa Kabanata 8 na nagsasabing “na dapat sa walang pagbaba sa mga batas paggawa sa bansa kapag nanghimok ng pagpasok ng pamumuhunan sa bansa at ang mga pamantayan sa paggawa na isinasaad ng International Labor Organization (ILO) ay ipatutupad tulad ng minimu wage, oras ng trabaho, kalusugan at kaligtasan.”

Gayunpaman, ang pangungusap na ito sa paggawa ay salungat sa probisyon ng Review of Laws and Regulations (Artikulo 4, Kabanata 1) ng JPEPA na ipinagkakasundo na tungkulin ng bawat partido na: “Timbangin ang posibilidad ng pag-amyenda at pagpapawalangbisa ng mga batas at alituntuning may kaugnayan sa JPEPA kung wala na ang mga kalagayan at layunin para ito pagtibayin o kung ang mga kalagayan at layunin ay maaaring malutas sa paraang kaunti ang limitasyon sa kalakalan.”

Para sa sektor ng paggawa, ang ibig sabihin ng “kaunti ang limitasyon sa kalakalan” na ang proteksyon ng pamumuhunan ay mas mahalaga kaysa iba pang usapin kahit na sa proteksyon ng karapatan at pamantayan sa paggawa. Sa katunayan, bagamat walang batas na sumasang-ayon halimbawa sa polisiyang “walang unyon, walang welga” sa mga espesyal na pang-ekonomikong sona, ang di-tamang gawaing ito ay ginagawa at maaari ring lumaganap pa kapag nalagdaan na bilang tratado ang JPEPA at nagkabisa na.

Panghuli, isa sa pangunahing katwiran ng administrasyong Arroyo sa pagtulak ng JPEPA ay ang umano’y pag-eksport ng wala pang isanlibong caregiver at mga nars bawat taon. Gayunpaman, maraming mga tanong hinggil sa mga mahigpit na rekisito at mapamiling alituntuning nakasaad sa parehong probisyon sa ilalim ng JPEPA, na nagsisilbing kaduda-duda ang sinseridad ng gobyernong Japan sa pagpasok ng ating mga health professional sa kanilang sistemang healthcare. Dagdag pa, may tumitinding pag-aalala sa kabuuang konstribusyon na ang kasunduan ay merong tinatawag na social cost ng migrasyon, pati na rin pagkaubos ng mga kinakailangang health worker, na kinatatakutang resulta ng pagbaba ng kalidad ng sistema ng kalusugan sa bansa.

Sinasalamin ng JPEPA ang patuloy nitong paiba-ibang pagtangan sa negosasyong pangkalakalan – dahil lamang wala tayong malinaw na pambansang balangkas ng pagsulong (national development framework) sa pagpasok sa mga katulad nitong kasunduan sa malayang kalakalan. Ang ilan pa sa mga pangunahing usapin ng “pambansang balangkas ng pagsulong” na ito ay dapat manindigang dapat isama ang proteksyon at paglikha ng trabaho, independensya sa pagkain, proteksyon sa kapaligiran at kalikasan, at marami pang iba. Sa huli, tiyak na tatama sa mga pangunahing sektor at sa taumbayan ang masamang epekto ng JPEPA.

04 Setyembre 2007

Maynila, Pilipinas

Press Release - Anti-Smuggling Campaign

Press Release
August 12, 2009

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)
Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT)

Militants trooped to the office of the Bureau of Customs
calling for the resignation of its officials.

Thousands of marchers belonging to the labor group, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT) and the urban poor’s Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML) marched on its way in front of the office of Bureau of Customs to denounce the unabated smuggling activities in the country.

Rally participants started converging as early as 7am at the corner of Capulong St. and R10 and were later joined by thousands of tricycles at around 8am. The rally participants already swelled to an estimated 3,000 strength before it proceeded to a huge march going to Del Pan Bridge along South Harbor in front of the office of the Bureau of Customs, where they held a rally.

During the rally, Mr. Teody Navea, Secretary General of the BMP articulated that, “The country is into deep economic crises and losing around 125 Billion pesos annually because of rampant smuggling is a no joke. The losses further aggravated the economic situation of our people where manufacturing industries were forced to close down and thereby contributing to job losses and in effect bolster the continuous rise in the unemployment rate. In the garment industry alone, a significant number of factories closed down last year and resulted to thousands of workers displaced. Unfortunately, this problem is unstoppable and to this date is hurting the industry and the Philippine economy in general.”

The group took turns in lambasting the concerned agency that is supposed to protect the economy and its people. For one, the Bureau of Customs was cited for its inability to put an end to the operations of these illegal activities particularly those involving the smuggling activities.

“Corruption is the root cause why the unabated problem of smuggling prevails in the Bureau of Customs. Officials of this agency have become coddlers and not real protectors of our economy. These people should have no place in the bureau and they richly deserve a virtual ouster or at the very least should be made to resign or vacate their posts.” Navea concluded. ###

Militants showcased real “People’s Meal “at Plaza Miranda

Press Release
August 11, 2009
Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

Militants showcased real “People’s Meal “at Plaza Miranda

In an apparent bid to show their disgust to the GMA administration, members of the militant Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) and Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML) under the umbrella Political Party Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) held a simple dramatization of a real people’s meal at the Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila.

The group’s action is an attempt to show off to the government the irony of having a sumptuous and lavish dinner while its own people is wallowing on deep economic crises and in a quagmire of unprecedented poverty and helplessness.

Serving noodles and dried fish with rice touted as the ordinary meal of every Filipino, Sonny Melencio, Chairperson of the Partido Lakas ng Masa argued that “The 1M worth dinner of GMA and her entourage would mean over 11,000 Filipinos being benefitted for a day’s 3 square meals.”

“If 1M worth of noodles would be served, over 153,000 Filipinos would be benefitted, a far cry from the few elite Filipinos who lavishly spent dinner at Le Cirque in New York.” Melencio further elaborated.

The group lambasted the government’s insensitivity of the plight of the poor Filipinos. They cited the real situation confronting the nation like unemployment, unabated rising costs of oil prices and basic commodities and the effects of the global financial crisis resulting to job losses and company closures.

Meanwhile, Mr. Leody De Guzman, BMP Chairperson who spoke before the crowd articulated that “It is immaterial for the government to reason out that the money they spent was not taken from the people’s money but from its Congressman benefactor, what is lamentable is their nerve to do the act while its own people is suffering from hunger.”

“What GMA and her entourage have done is immoral and in effect overwhelming outrageous.” De Guzman concluded. ###

Giant Medusa, Vulture Effigy greet last GMA SONA

News Release
July 27, 2009
BUKLURAN NG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO (BMP)

Giant Medusa, Vulture Effigy and the like greeted the last SONA of the GMA Administration

Thousands of participants coming from various points belonging to the BMP-Sanlakas group converged at Tandang Sora, Commonwealth for a big march going to Batasan.

After serving an eviction and closure order at the office of NHA along Elliptical road, marchers identified with the urban poor group, KPML (Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod) and ZOTO (Zone One Tondo Organization) joined the delegations at Tandang Sora

For their turn, 500 tricycles massed up along North Avenue near Elliptical Road and simultaneously joined by the urban poor as they marched towards Tandang Sora while members of Kalayaan and KPP (Koalisyong Pabahay sa Pilipino) waited patiently across Iglesia ni Cristo along Commonwealth to join the march.

By 1:30pm, a huge build up of rally participants numbering around 10,000 at Tandang Sora were converging and a program was held anticipating their march by past 2pm. The march was a colorful display of effigy depicting Gloria as the vulture and “medusa” marking the 9 years of the GMA administration.

In a related development, Mr. Leody De Guzman, BMP President said “Only fools will believe that the GMA administration is telling the truth because the past SONA’s are full of make believes and half truths and this time the last SONA is perfectly 99% lie and 1% truth. What is more lamentable is that the one percent is her earnest desire to stay in power whether it be through Con-Ass or any form that would be possible for the administration.”

Upon reaching the nearest point of their march along Commonwealth near St. Peter’s at around past 3pm, the group launched a formal program in time with GMA’s SONA. The program highlighted the burning of the vulture and “medusa” to which the group attributed these as a fitting symbol of ending the elite and trapo rule in the country.