Pagbitiw ni Pernia sa NEDA: Sentralisasyon ng Ekonomya sa Pagpapasya ng Tubo

PAHAYAG

Abril 17, 2020

PAGBITIW NI PERNIA SA NEDA: SENTRALISASYON NG EKONOMYA SA PAGPAPASYA NG TUBO

Lahat na ng kapasyahan ukol sa ekonomya (mula sa pagpaplano hanggang sa pagkuha ng pondo) ay nasa kamay na ni Sonny Dominguez ng DOF.

Sa mga nakaraang araw, kita na ang kapangyarihan ni Sec. Sonny Dominguez. Kasabay ng kanyang anunsyo na may P50.8 bilyong wage subsidy para sa maliliit na establisyemento ay ang pagtigil naman ng DOLE-CAMP dahil naubos na diumano ang P1.6 bilyon na pondo nito. Siya rin ang sumagot na hindi opsyon ang moratoryum o pagtigil sa pagbabayad ng mga utang ng gobyerno bilang bahagi ng pagtugon sa COVID19.

Ang sabi ni Pernia, magkaiba raw ang kanilang pilosopiya ukol sa kaunlaran sa kanyang mga kasamahan sa Gabinete. Siguradong walang iba ito kundi ang dominanteng posisyon at pagpapasya na hawak ngayon ni DOF Sonny Dominguez.

Hindi kami naniniwalang may substansyal na kaibhan ang kanilang pananaw sa "kaunlaran". Pareho silang sumasamba sa doktrina ng "neoliberalisasyon", sa mga patakaran nito ng liberalisasyon, deregulasyon, pribatisasyon at kontraktwalisasyon. Ano ang depinisyon ng kaunlaran ayon sa kanilang sinasambang doktrina? Ang kaunlaran ay magmumula sa pag-unlad ng negosyo. Kapag umunlad ang negosyo, uunlad ang buhay ng mga tao. Ito ay kasinungalingang kasing tanda ng pagsasamantala ng tao sa tao. Matapos ang tatlong dekada nang mamayagpag ang doktrinang ito sa buong mundo, kitang-kita kung paano sinakal ng imbsibol na kamay ng merkado ang leeg ng sangkatauhan alang-alang sa tubo.

Kapag umunlad ba ang korporasyon ay umuunlad din ang buhay ng manggagawa? Maari. Subalit pulga-pulgada lamang kung umalwan ang kanilang buhay, na kailangang idaan pa sa sama-samang pakikibaka't pakikipagtawaran para sa mumunting pagtaas ng sweldo, habang milya-milya kung umunlad ang kapitalista - mula sa maliit na negosyo ay nanganganak ng panibagong negosyo, nakikipagsosyo at pumapasok sa ibang industriya, nakakapagtayo ng bangko - hanggang ang kanilang may-ari ay mailalagay na sa listahan ng iilang bilyonaryong naghahari sa bansa.

Saan naman nagkakaiba ang dalawa? Mas agresibo sa pagsusulong ng neoliberal na doktrina si DOF Sec. Dominguez kumpara sa dating NEDA chief na si Pernia. Sapagkat si Pernia ay ekonomistang hinulma ng akademya. Si Dominguez ay nagmula sa negosyo (BPI, Alcantara group, Philippine Airlines, RCBC, atbp.). Sa madaling salita, sa pananaw ng mga negosyante, hindi pang-gyera si Pernia. Mababakas ang kanyang tindig sa papel ng NEDA noong Marso 19.

Nag-aalala ang NEDA (sa ilalim ni Pernia) sa posibilidad na ang sitwasyon - bunga ng mga interbensyon sa COVID - ay lumala sa isang krisis pampulitika at panlipunan. Dahil dito kailangan daw na ang mga pagtugon ng gobyerno ay kailangang bumabalanse sa mga layuning pangkalusugan at pang-ekonomiko, partikular sa magkakaibang epekto nito sa mga iba't ibang sektor at uri sa lipunan.

Ani NEDA, "The response measures going forward should be re-configured to delicately balance the health and economic objectives, particularly as the impact varies by economic class. Otherwise, the situation could deteriorate to a social and political crisis".

Narito ang peligro. Walang ganitong pagbabalanse si Dominguez. Maging sa utang panlabas nga ay hindi niya maikunsiderang huwag munang magbayad dahil lubos na nangangailangan ng pondo para sa pantustos ng mamamayang nagugutom habang nakakwarantina. Sino ang umuudyok kay Sec. Dominguez? Ang mga negosyanteng takam na takam na paluwagin ang mga retriksyon ng lockdown para umagos muli ang kanilang tubo. Tinutulak nila ang pagluluwag sa lockdown kahit hindi pa handa ang ating naghihingalong health care system sa malawakang kontaminasyon ng COVID19.

Hindi magtataka ang manggagawa kung itulak ni Dominguez ang agarang pagluluwag nang walang konsiderasyon sa kalusugan ng mamamayan. Ang ugat nito ay hindi pa ang personal na pag-uugali ni Dominguez. Maari pa ngang relihiyoso siyang tao dahil sa pag-aaral niya sa mga Hesuita mula elementarya hanggang kolehiyo (Ateneo de Davao, AdMU).

Subalit ang estado ay nagsisilbi sa interes ng naghaharing uri - ang uring kapitalista. Pinapagana ng utak na ang tanging naiintindihan ay ang lohika ng tubo, tubo, at tubo. Si Duterte bilang "Chairman of the Board" ng mga kapitalista ang mapagpasya. Ang kapangyarihang ito, sa usaping pang-ekonomya, ang iginagawad niya kay Dominguez, na kanyang pinagkakatiwalaan sapagkat mas ma-utak daw sa kanya kahit noong sila'y magkaklase sa pagkabata.#

Pagpupugay kay ka Domeng

Pakikiramay sa naulilang kamag-anak, kaibigan, at kasama ni Ka Dominador Zapanta Espinoza. Dating pangulo ng Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Diamond Hotel noong dekada nobenta, nang nagretiro siya naglingkod naman siya bilang lider ng Welfareville People's Assembly sa Mandaluyong na kasapi ng Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lunsod (KPML). Naging sekretaryo rin siya ng Association of Senior Citizens sa Mandaluyong City, Brgy. Addition Hills Chapter.

Si Ka Domeng ay nagkaroon ng sintomas ng COVID-19 at naging PUI. Isa siya sa dumadaming Pilipino na pumanaw bago lumabas ang resulta ng test na magsasabi kung positibo ba sila sa COVID-19 o hindi.

Hinuhubaran ng kasulukuyang krisis ang mga kakulangan at kontradiksyon ng lipunan, kasama na ang healthcare system ng Pilipinas. Ilan pa ang kailangan mamatay bago natin matanto na bulok ang sistemang ito at kailangang baguhin?

Sa kanyang pagkilos, naintindihan ni Ka Domeng ang pangangailangan para sa tunay na pagbabago. Bilang lider manggagawa at maralitang lungsod, ipinaglaban niya ang karapatan ng manggagawa't maralita para sa mabuting panirahan, kabuhayan, at serbisyong panlipunan. Kamakailan lamang, kasama siyang manawagan at maningil sa gobyerno para sa libreng mass testing, pagkain, at ayudang sapat para sa lahat.

Makauring pagpupugay kay Kasamang Domeng!

Bigyang hustisya ang laban at buhay niya! Sama-sama tayong manawagan: Mass Testing Now! Sapat na Pagkain at Economic Relief, Ngayon Na!

(Si Ka Domeng ang nasa kanan ng litrato)

Statement: Live the spirit of Bayanihan ang Unleash the Power of the Organized Masses

A CHALLENGE TO THE DUTERTE REGIME:

LIVE THE SPIRIT OF BAYANIHAN AND UNLEASH THE POWER OF THE ORGANIZED MASSES

The President appeals for Bayanihan to combat the menace of COVID 19. But asking the people to timidly stay at home and practice physical distancing belies the true spirit of Bayanihan.

Bayanihan is not just about cooperation nor simply conforming to rules. It is more about solidarity and action of the people to overcome enormous challenges in life such as the COVID 19 pandemic.

Much has been said about the weaknesses of current government efforts to effectively fight the growing COVID 19 epidemic. More than oneness and adequacy in our government efforts, the colossal task of defeating an invincible adversary like the COVID 19 can only be accomplished by both government and the people willing to survive and return to their normal daily lives.

The urgency to end and be victorious against the current health challenge will need more than funds but physical power. Our front liners have been extended to its limits. Doctors and other health workers have succumbed to infections and died. Even our state forces have been likewise susceptible to the dreaded disease. The protracted war against COVID 19 is taking its toll on the health and lives of all of those in the frontline. No one is safe and imperishable at this time unless we truly flatten the curve.

Hence, we call on the Duterte government to live up to the true spirit of Bayanihan. Unleash the enormous power of the organized masses in the community. The workforce of the organized masses is society’s reserve army against such social menace. Unleash it and utilize it to supplement our current frontline. A community based-approach that taps the reserved force of the organized working people can help government effort to effectively combat COVID 19 at the community level. Much can be done at the community level to augment our front liners. All is needed is to unleash it and make it part of our social warriors against the epidemic.

⚫️ Utilize our organized communities to make masks, gloves and makeshift protective gear. Supply them with materials and procure it for our mass consumption;

⚫️ Organize community laundry washers to provide service to our front liners;

⚫️ Utilize organized workers in the community to augment our barangay forces, in maintaining not only peace and order but ensuring that we maintain effective social distancing and quarantine;

⚫️ Create community kitchens in every community not only to feed our frontlines but also our poor people;

⚫️ Tap our displaced workers to act as logistics volunteers to ensure more efficient deliveries of goods and services;

⚫️ Encourage farmers and fishers’ groups to engage in community gardens for local food production; and,

⚫️ Task our LGUs to utilize our stranded construction workers to build quarantine facilities.

More can be said and done if you unleash this potent force sitting in our communities The spirit of BAYANIHAN is the spirit of united collective action. The true spirit of Bayanihan is believing in the capacity and power of the people.

Meanwhile, as to funding requirements, we suggest that the employers sector - especially the top ten billionaires that is collectively worth P1.6 trillion - to finance the anti-COVID drive. You were the first to benefit during times of economic prosperity. Is it too much to ask for you to be first to sacrifice in times of crisis? Do consider the proposal of purchasing billions worth of zero interest government securities. The odds are not even a loss nor a breakeven (tabla-talo). You own most firms that produce the people's needs and facilitate the circulation of money and commodities. All of this will eventually end up to line your pockets but before it does, it will trickle down to feed and cater to the needs of a hungry and quarantined population. #

21 veggie vendors arrested for trying to make a living amidst lockdown

Media Advisory

April 5, 2020

21 veggie vendors arrested for trying to make a living amidst lockdown

Twenty-one ambulant vegetable vendors were arrested by the Quezon City police yesterday afternoon in along the Elliptical Road and are presently detained at the QCPD Station 9 in Anonas. Old Capital Site Barangay Captain Rodelio Cabigas ordered the arrests for violating of quarantine protocols. 

The vendors claim that they were only forced to sell their wares for fear of going hungry as the government contemplates on extending the lockdown for another fifteen to twenty days, as revealed by National Action Plan chief implementer, Carlito Galvez.

Many of them claim that they were promised food and financial assistance by the local government but none has arrived.

“Unless this government finds a speedy way of delivering its promise of support to the people, the struggling poor will continue to find ways to survive on their own,” said Flora Santos-Assidao, leader of progressive group Sanlakas.

She adds that these people believe that they are more likely to die of hunger than to be infected by the COVID virus. 

The Metro Manila Vendors Alliance appealed to the QC police and the local government for the immediate release of the vendors.

“If the law enforcement agencies can extend compassion for the likes of Senator Koko Pimentel, why not provide the same treatment for those in the fringes of society,” they reasoned.###

BMP condemns arrest of QC protestors

Press Statement

01 April 2020

BMP condemns arrest of QC protestors

The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) condemns the arrest and dispersal of urban poor residents of Sitio San Roque, who were holding a noise barrage near their community along EDSA this morning. The residents were seeking for food and assistance from the government.

In this time of crisis, food and state assistance are just and legitimate demands. Hunger and desperation are natural consequences of the state-imposed, ill-conceived enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). This is further exacerbated by the inept and disorganized response of agencies and local government units all over the country.

Fact is, these households already belonged to the poor and near-poor economic brackets even before the COVID 19 outbreak, the administration of President Duterte should have placed these communities on the top of their priorities and should heavily considered their plight when they decided to implement the ECQ.

To arrest hungry and desperate people is a new low for this administration. Not only did they dilly-dally in addressing the crisis in late February, the government treated the health crisis as a peace and order issue and deployed security forces instead of medical practitioners.

Protests similar to what was held in San Roque today will not be an isolated case. More and more people are questioning and rising up against the violent yet impossible implementation of ECQ in urban poor communities similar to the cases of Quiapo, Taguig and elsewhere. More community actions and marches shall burst open in the days to come as Duterte and minions continue to dismiss the calls for free mass testing and fail to guarantee food rations for all families.###

Emergency powers for COVID19: The same politics of plunder and patronage but dressed in surgical masks and protective equipment

PRESS STATEMENT

March 23, 2020

BMP - SANLAKAS - PLM

Emergency powers for COVID19: 

The same politics of plunder and patronage but dressed in surgical masks and protective equipment

Today, March 23, we are expecting Congress to hold a special session and grant emergency powers to Duterte as requested by Malacañang. 

The supermajority in both Houses will ensure that the president will have his way, not out of deep concern for a people who face uncertainty due to the COVID19 pandemic but from a deeply-ingrained SOP (standard operating procedure) of opportunism and political patronage.

The crux of the request is for the Executive to juggle funds and cancel appropriations made by Congress in the FY 2020 budget, in an attempt to immediately channel finance into decisive steps to address COVID19, which includes the take-over of health services and facilities. 

We would leave the determination of this usurpation of the legislative power of the purse to the lawmakers, or to the Supreme Court, if the request, once accorded, is taken to the judiciary for interpretation for violations to the Constitution.

For the toilers and the propertyless, the question is “ Would the granting of emergency powers, as requested, lead to expedient and effective measures to address the health crisis”? Not really.

The president does not need more power to address this issue. Much power and privilege is already concentrated in his hands as chief executive. 

Even without changing the budgetary appropriations, Duterte could easily initiate the massive mobilization of logistics, finances and personnel to diligently follow the procedures by global health experts on how to combat the COVID19 scourge. He had the power to impose a travel ban from Wuhan/Hubei from as early as January. He had the discretion to declare a health emergency as suggested by the Health Department in latter February. 

He could have done all this but he did not; downplaying the virus as a little fire to be put out by his urinary excretions.

Then, in early March, he hurriedly imposed a quarantine/lockdown for NCR then and Luzon, without preparing the prerequisites for the successful implementation of his drastic presidential order (transportation and protective equipment for frontliners, income replacement and subsidies for temporarily displaced workers from the formal and informal sectors, steady flow of basic needs, etc).

Too much power yet too lacking not just in political will and decisiveness but more so in genuine concern to the safety and welfare of the Filipino people.

The regime may counter that this request for “emergency powers” represents a sudden turnaround from its past blunders (though they are too egotistical and arrogant to admit to mistakes).

However, the Marawi case is a starker revelation to the devastating effects of granting “emergency powers” to Duterte. The so-called restoration of the war-torn city did not materialize. The billions of rechanneled funds and foreign aid now untraceable. Emergency powers ultimately lead to brazen and unashamed plunder since the normal procedures of transparency, audit, and accountability are deemed inapplicable in ‘emergency situations’.

The legislators, mostly in the House supermajority, would not oppose the reallocation of the budget for the COVID crisis, through the emergency powers of the chief executive. They know too well that it would be coursed to local government units “through the intercession of their good offices to their almighty Tatay”. 

This is the same politics of plunder and patronage. Though this time with Duterte in front, handing out relief goods, wearing a surgical mask to hide his blush of shame for past misdeeds and blunders.

Yet, for the sake of the people, we propose the following adjustments to two major measures in the fight against COVID19: (a) social distancing and proper hygiene: not by draconian measures that regard the masses as the problem but by encouraging mass participation and initiative to dispel the view that Filipinos are inherently undisciplined, (b) mass testing in critical areas and eventual isolation, recovery and treatment of patients (which necessitates a rejection of VIP testing for its wasteful use of scarce and much-needed test kits, testing should prioritize frontline workers due to their proximity to the deadly virus) and (c) requisition of private facilities such as hotels and hospitals to serve as quarantine or isolation centers for those who have tested positive for the COVID-19 where proper medication and care can be afforded to them.

However, we call on our kauri and kamanggagawa to stretch ourselves, go beyond narrow struggles for economic gain, and tackle the questions of politics and governance to the millions of Filipino workers, as they face the ineptitude of the ruling clique (which will literally kill us all), the weak rival elitist faction, the looming economic slowdown locally and globally, and a pandemic that highlights all the contradictions of the prevailing capitalist global order. #

Ang Hasik ng Katipunan, ang Buklod ng BMP, at ang KASAMA ng KPML

ANG HASIK NG KATIPUNAN, ANG BUKLOD NG BMP, AT ANG KASAMA KPML

Maikling sanaysay ni Gregorio V. Bituin Jr.

May ninuno pala ang BUKLOD ng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) at ang dating KASAMA ng grupong Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML). Ito ang HASIK ng KKK o Katipunan nina Gat Andres Bonifacio.

Sa aklat na "Kartilyang Makabayan: Mga Tanong at Sagot Ukol Kay Andres Bonifacio at sa KKK" na sinulat ni Hermenegildo Cruz, ay nabanggit ang pagbubuo ng Hasik na maihahalintulad sa pagbubuo ng Buklod ng BMP, at dating KASAMA (Kapatiran ng mga Sosyalistang Aktibistang Maralita), ng KPML na binago na't ginawa na ring Buklod na ibinatay sa BMP. Sa pahina 21 ng nasabing aklat ay nasusulat: 

25. - Sa papaanong paraan ginagawa ang pagkuha ng kasapi? - Sa bawa't pook ay nagtatayo ng isang wari'y lupon na kung tawagin ay "Hasik" na binubuo ng tatlo katao na paranhg tatlong tungko. Ang "Hasik" na ito ang siyang sa inot-inot ay nanghihikayat upang may sumapi sa "Katipunan". Pagdamidami na ng mga kasangayon ay saka pa lamang itinatayo ang "Balangay" na pinamumunuan ng isang lupon na ang mga tungkulin ay tulad din ng sa Kataastaasang Lupon. Ang mga "Hasik" na yaon ay di na ipinagpatuloy ng malapit na ang tangkang panahon sa paghihimagsik, pagka't ang mga taong baya'y halos naguunahan nang sila'y mapabilang sa "Katipunan".

Ang pagbubuo ng Buklod ng BMP ay naisulat ng namayapang Ka Popoy Lagman sa akda niyang PAGKAKAISA na nalathala sa magasing Tambuli ng BMP noong Disyembre 1998. Halina't sipiin natin ang ilang bahagi nito:

"Dapat ay mas madali ang magbuo ng grupo o sirkulong pampulitika ng lima hanggang sampu katao sa bawat kompanya (tawagin natin na mga buklod) kaysa magbuo ng unyon na kinakailangang dumaan sa mga ligal at teknikal na proseso. Upang mapatampok ang pampulitikang tungkulin at katangian ng BMP, mas wasto at mas mahusay na ang magiging ispesyalisasyon nito ay ang pagbubuo ng network ng mga grupo o sirkulong pampulitika sa pinakamaraming kompanyang maaabot nito na mas nakatuon sa pampulitikang pagkamulat, pagkakaisa, pagkakaorganisa at pakikibaka ng masang manggagawa bilang uri."

"Oryentasyon ng mga buklod na ito ang aktibong paglahok sa pang-unyong pakikibaka nang hindi binabago ang prinsipal na diin sa pampulitikang pag-oorganisa. Bawat lider, organisador at aktibista ng BMP ay dapat magkaroon ng mga target na kompanyang tatayuan nila ng mga buklod. Dapat ay walang tigil ang araw-araw na pagbubuo ng mga buklod na ito hanggang sa malatagan natin ang mayorya ng mga kompanya sa buong bansa ng ganitong network ng sosyalistang pagkakaisang makauri bilang preparasyon sa paglubha ng krisis ng globalisasyon at pag-igpaw ng kilusan ng uring manggagawa sa antas ng pampulitikang pakikibaka."

Sa bahagi naman ng KPML, binuo noon ang KASAMA upang maipalaganap ang makauring pagkakaisa ng mga maralita bilang proletaryado at ng uring manggagawa sa kabuuan. Katatampukan ang KASAMA ng pag-oorganisa at pampulitikang pagmumulat. Ayon sa Oryentasyon ng KASAMA: "Ang KASAMA ay isang pampulitikang grupo o sirkulo (mga 5-10 katao) ng mga mulat na maralita sa loob ng isang lokal na organisasyon at komunidad na kinikilusan ng KPML, o kaya'y mga indibidwal na maralitang wala pang organisasyon sa isang komunidad."

"Binuo ang KASAMA bilang katuwang ng KPML sa pagkokonsolidad sa ating mga kinikilusang komunidad. Pagkat sila ang mga mulat (may mataas na pampulitikang kamalayan) na maralita sa loob ng kanilang mga lokal na organisasyon, pangungunahan nila ang kanilang samahan sa mga pagkilos sa loob at labas ng kanilang mga komunidad, at magsasagawa ng pagmumulat sa hanay ng kasapian at maging sa iba pang organisasyon at mga kalapit pang komunidad. Ang mga KASAMA ang siyang magiging gulugod sa pag-oorganisa at pagkokonsolida ng ating organisasyon at mga komunidad na kinikilusan."

Sa ngayon, napagpasyahan na ng KPML na mas mainam na gamitin ang Buklod, at nawala na ang pag-oorganisa ng Kasama bilang pagtalima sa atas ng BMP, kung saan kasaping organisasyon ang KPML, na magtayo ng Buklod sa mga komunidad ng maralita upang palakasin ang sosyalistang kilusan.

Maraming salamat sa Katipunan, at may pinagmanahan pala ang BMP at KPML bilang mga mapagpalayang organisasyon tungo sa pagtatayo ng lipunang walang pang-aapi at pagsasamantala ng tao sa tao.

Mga pinaghalawan:

aklat na "Kartilyang Makabayan: Mga Tanong at Sagot Uklo Kay Andres Bonifacio at sa KKK" na sinulat ni Hermenegildo Cruz, (inilimbag, 1922), pahina 22

http://popoylagman.blogspot.com/2009/07/pagkakaisa-akda-ni-ka-popoy-lagman.html

http://kpml-org.blogspot.com/2010/10/ang-pagbubuo-ng-kasama.html

* Unang nalathala sa pahayagang Taliba ng Maralita, ang opisyal na publikasyon ng Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML), isyu ng Marso 16-31, 2020, pahina 18-19.