Gerry Albert Corpuz presents

This is Gerry Albert Corpuz and this is my life and political journey to the world of class struggle and class emancipation

DoE-DoJ task force on oil price hike: Toothless tiger, says fishers group

The government task force formed to look into the round of oil price hikes is nothing but a toothless tiger, according to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the formation of task force headed by Department of Energy (DoE) Secretary Angelo Reyes and Department of Justice (DoJ) Secretary Raul Gonzalez was not even a welcome news.

The Malacañang established task force will meet executives of the oil companies on Monday, and will ask officials of oil companies to justify the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products. Over the weekend, oil companies led by Chevron Philippines and Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. hiked prices of diesel by P 3 per liter, kerosene by P 1.50 per liter and gasoline by P 1 per liter.

“Do secretaries Reyes and Gonzalez have the balls to tell the oil cartel to stop squeezing super profits from the people and stop exploiting the current economic crisis for their extreme fetish and insatiable greed for monopoly profits?” said Hicap. “We were not born yesterday. This task force will just turn up into another favorite past time of the Macapagal-Arroyo government and the oil cartel. It is President Arroyo’s way of deceiving the people,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

Hicap said the energy secretary and the justice secretary like President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are either closet or self-confessed puppets of the oil cartel and the Filipino people should not expect this task force to carry the task in the name of people’s economic rights and collective interest.

Meanwhile, the group reiterated its’ call to all commercial fishing operators to join the planned one day fish strike next month against the weekly oil price increases. Pamalakaya said commercial fishing operators in France, Spain and last week in Japan have already staged an across-the-nation fish strike to protest the high cost of fuels.

“The commercial fishing operators and fish workers in France, Spain and Japan made their successful fish strikes to pressure their respective governments to lower the price of oil and remove the Value Added Tax on oil. We can do it here, but in order to make it a success, they must join the fish strike,” said Pamalakaya.

The militant group reminded operators of commercial fishing vessels that about 60 to 65 percent of their total operating costs go to fuel consumption. Pamalakaya said if a medium-scale commercial fishing operator spends P 20,000 per fishing trip, P 12,000 to P 13,000 of the operating costs goes to fuel.

In its own study, Pamalakaya said smalls-scale commercial fishing operators usually employ at least 30 liters of regular gasoline per fishing trip that merely last for two days, and that will cost them at least P 6,000, which is 60 percent of average P 10,000 operating cost per fishing trip.

Pamalakaya said in General Santos City, the fishing port authority reported that the volume of catch landed went down from 256 metric tons of fish from January to June last year to 96 metric tons of fish during the same period this year. It said one of the major causes of the decrease is the weekly increases in the prices of oil that shortened the fishing hours of small and medium scale commercial fishing operations.

The militant group also agreed with the study made by the militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Kontra-KulimVAT that in July 2001, small fishermen only spend a little over
P 170 per fishing trip, but now they spend between P 580 to P 600 per fishing trip because of oil price hikes and the VAT imposed on regular gasoline. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:03 | link | comments |
mindboggling people

For comparing RP diesel price with US: GMA is reincarnation of Alice in Wonderland, says militant fishers group

Leftwing militants belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday slammed President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for comparing the price of diesel in the country with the United States to convince the people that local diesel price is still cheaper compared to the petroleum product sold in the US.

“She is acting like a modern day reincarnation of Alice in Wonderland who was last seen in the company of illusion makers, false promise givers and escape artists. We declare the Philippine President is in complete state of mental dysfunction,” Pamalakaya information officer Gerry Albert Corpuz said in a press statement.

Corpuz added: “No one in his or her sane state of mind will declare such super stupid statement. The President is highly delusional. Somebody must advise her to leave and undergo a thorough psychiatric treatment.”

At the signing of declaration of merger between her political parties, the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democracts (Lakas-CMD) and the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), President Arroyo said the local prices of petroleum products are still cheaper compare to US and other Asian neighbors. She said the current price of diesel at P 55.90 per liter is still cheaper than the US which is currently sold at P 60 per liter, Thailand ( P 60 per liter), New Zealand (P 67 per liter) and Hong Kong (P 71 per liter).

President Arroyo also said that P 8 billion from VAT on oil is used to subsidized rice sold by the National Food Authority (NFA) all over the country at P 18.25 per kilo, which is lower compared to India (P 95 per kilo), Thailand (P 56 per kilo), Vietnam (P 67 per kilo) and Singapore ( P 45 per kilo).

The Pamalakaya information chief reminded that it is super illogical and super absurd to compare Filipino consumers and workers with their American counterparts, although it also a fact, that like ordinary Filipinos, the American workers and consumers are also hurt by the collapse of the US economy.

“In the US, low paid workers receive an annual income between $ USD 16,000 to $ USD 30,000 or between P 720,000 to P 1.35 million per year. On the other hand, minimum wage earners in the Philippines receive an annual income of P 105,000 a year. Yet Mrs. Arroyo has the nerve to put them on equal footing by measuring their financial capacity to withstand the devastating impact of high diesel price. No economist will make such kind of lop-sided and brutally obscured interpretation,” Corpuz added.

Malacañang continued to reject calls to scrap or suspend the 12-percent expanded value added tax (EVAT) on petroleum products, asserting that the controversial tax measure helps the government in maintaining oil products and rice in the country among the cheapest in the region.

But Pamalakaya said President Arroyo is rejecting the proposal to immediately remove the VAT on oil because it is her bread and butter, and a major source of bureaucratic corruption in the government. The militant group said at least P 40-billion in tax payers’ money is lost to corruption every year, and big chunk of the budget for corruption comes from the VAT collected from petroleum products.

‘Mrs. Arroyo will be reduced to nothing, and her evil empire will collapse if she fails to satisfy the greed of her close political associates in and out of Malacañang. The VAT on oil is the one that keeps her to cling to power, because she uses it to perpetually buy political patronage and political loyalty in the name of her survival,” the group added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:50 | link | comments |
bitch n pieces

Leftists advised GMA: Step down before negative ratings reach 50 percent

Leftwing militants belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday advised President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down before her public support ratings plunges further to negative 50 percent in the next one to the two months.

“She has to take a permanent leave of absence or quit the presidency. The people have spoken and they don’t want her to finish her term. That’s the political sentiment of the 90 million Filipino people against Mrs. Arroyo and the ruling mafia in Malacañang,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader predicted that by the time President Arroyo delivers

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:50 | link | comments |
gma sona

Leftists advised GMA: Step down before negative ratings reach 50 percent

Leftwing militants belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday advised President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to step down before her public support ratings plunges further to negative 50 percent in the next one to the two months.

“She has to take a permanent leave of absence or quit the presidency. The people have spoken and they don’t want her to finish her term. That’s the political sentiment of the 90 million Filipino people against Mrs. Arroyo and the ruling mafia in Malacañang,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader predicted that by the time President Arroyo delivers her 8th State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, her approval ratings could further take a nose dive to negative 50 percent or more than that, adding that the current extreme economic crisis is igniting the people to stage another popular uprising against the bankrupt and corrupt regime.

“President Arroyo is biologically alive but politically dead. Her regime of greed is already in the Intensive Care Unit and it could die anytime from now. The P 80-billion she collects from the expanded value added tax oil is only her support system which she uses to buy political support of corrupt military and police officials, as well as bureaucrat capitalists in the government,” Hicap added.

The Social Weather Station (SWS) said the net satisfaction rating—the difference between those satisfied and dissatisfied went down further to negative 38 points in the second quarter from negative 26 points in the first quarter.

The SWS found that only 22 percent of the Filipinos were satisfied with the President’s performance while 60 percent were dissatisfied in a poll conducted in the last week of June. The survey group said the dissatisfaction was at majority levels in all areas—62 percent in Metro Manila, 60 percent in Luzon outside Metro Manila, 62 percent in Mindanao and 56 percent in the Visayas.

“The survey said Mrs. Arroyo is both unpopular and hated by the people across the country because of her anti-people economic policies, extreme oppression and wholesale violations of people’s rights. It is very outrageous to reduce the SWS poll into a mere popularity contest as if Mrs. Arroyo is running for Ms. Universe, and this kind of thinking is as cheap and as corrupt like Arroyo,” Pamalakaya said.

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 05:48 | link | comments |
gma sona

SC verdict on Jpepa gave Palace go signal to rush pacts with US, 4 other economic pacts

The decision of the Supreme Court upholding the secrecy of the negotiations for the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) has given President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo the go signal to rush pending economic treaties with the United States, European Union, Australia, New Zealand and China.

According to the leftwing fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas at least five more bilateral economic treaties are ready for Malacañang’s official signature, and these are the installed RP-China Agreement, the RP-US Free Trade Agreement, the RP-Australia Free Trade Agreement, the RP-European Union Free Trade Agreement and the RP-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the high tribunal ruling will prevent the people from knowing the contents of the RP-US Free Trade Agreement and four other economic treaties the government are currently negotiating with the governments of the US, China, European Union, Australia and New Zealand.

“The Supreme Court does not care even if President Arroyo sells our soul, dignity, sovereignty and patrimony to foreign exploiters and oppressors. The majority of the SC justices who are allied with the present ruling syndicate in Malacañang merely expressed their loyalty to their benefactors in Malacañang and renege their political, moral and constitutional responsibilities and obligations to the people and doctrine of national and collective interest of not less than 90 million Filipinos,” the Pamalakaya leader said in a press statement.

Hicap said President Arroyo is expected to invoke executive privilege and the favorable Supreme Court ruling on this once the Filipino public, including truth advocates invoke their constitutional right to information on the RP-US free trade pact, the RP-China Agreement, the RP-EU Free Trade Agreement, the RP-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the RP-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement currently in the drawing board of the Macapagal-Arroyo government.

“The RP-US Free Trade Agreement, and four other bilateral trade pacts are done deals. But Malacañang is keeping it a sacred and secret , denying the public their right to know what this trade pact is all about and its’ super destructive impact and effect to 90 million Filipinos. This is a national crime against people done by Malacañang in collusion with the high tribunal,” Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader said the RP-US Free Trade Agreement is done the way the controversial
Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (Jpepa) is authored and clinched by the parties to the agreement.

“To set the record straight, the Philippine government already has come up with the proposals for a
three-stage RP-US FTA. Under Phase 1 of the package, the two parties must agree on common products like garments and textile and possibly, electronics. Phase 2 would cover the granting of additional concessions on more sensitive products, while Phase 3 would delve on a comprehensive coverage of products and services,” Hicap said.

Hicap recalled that sometime in December last year, Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap also announced the need for a new RP-US Free Trade Agreement. The Pamalakaya leader said: “If my memory serves me right, Mr. Yap issued a statement stating that the Philippines would like to move forward in all aspects of its trade relations with the United States, either bilaterally, such as pursuing an FTA or working within the confines of the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), or multilaterally, like working towards a successful conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda.”

“Secretary Yap was acting that time as the local town crier of the White House regarding the proposed RP-US free trade pact. It was a follow up and a reminder to Malacañang that President Arroyo should push through with the agreement. The US is dictating upon the Arroyo government the need to come up with a free trade agreement that is bigger, earth shaking and extremely evil than Jpepa,” Hicap said.

Earlier, Pamalakaya said the approval of the ambitious $ 110-million oil and gas exploration in the Sulu Sea to be conducted by the US oil and gas firm ExxonMobil was a preview of the forthcoming RP-US Free Trade Agreement. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:59 | link | comments |
economic slavery

Secretary Yap pressed to stop government from selling NFA rice at P 35 per kilo in Mindanao

Four of the biggest rural organizations in the country—the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), the agricultural labor union Unyon ng Mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA) and the peasant women federation Amihan today asked Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Arthur Yap to stop the state-owned National Food Authority (NFA) from selling government subsidized rice at P 35 per kilo in Mindanao.

In a joint press statement, KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, UMA President Rene Galang and Amihan national chairperson Carmen Buena said the P 35 per kilo price of NFA is almost doubled to the current P 18.25 per kilo of NFA rice sold in various NFA outlets nationwide.

The leaders of the various rural groups issued the call a day after chapters of KMP and Pamalakaya in South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City reported that the NFA is flooding the local market with its stocks of rice sold at P 35 per kilo. They said the price of NFA rice is even higher to the price of commercial rice sold between P 28 to P 36 per kilo.

“We would to remind Secretary Yap that the move of the NFA region 11 is not to provide the people with enough and affordable cheap rice, but to force people to buy commercial rice supplied by commercial rice traders and rice cartel in the region, that is why it raised the price of NFA at par with commercial rice” KMP’s Ramos stressed.

“This is terrible because the government is taking advantage of the situation. If the NFA wants to reduce the prices of rice in the market, it should increase its procurement capacity of locally produced palay and flood and sell rice at affordable price to influence the price of rice in the market favorable to the majority but poor consuming public,” Ramos added.

Hicap of Pamalakaya fisherfolk group shared Ramos view why the government through NFA decided to trade rice equivalent to the market price of commercially sold rice. “That’s the game plan. To push, coerce or compel the people to buy commercial rice, and in order to do that, the NFA has to level its selling price with the prevailing market price of commercial rice, and at the same time rake profits for the rice authority. Something must be done to stop this collusion between the rice cartel and the NFA,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

Hicap added: “Secretary Yap must stop the government from further taking advantage of the rice crisis by making NFA rice accessible and affordable to the people. The agriculture department must end this day-to-day robbery in broad daylight.”

But NFA officials in Region 11 which is compose of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City said they supplied rice retailers with premium grade rice imported from Vietnam at P 35 per kilo, and their intention, they said, is to pull down prices of commercial rice across the region.

The NFA said aside from selling P 35 per kilo of rice, it will continue to supply the local market with P 25 per kilo of NFA rice, while its P 18.25 per kilo of rice will be sold in depressed areas.

Rice retailers, however, complained they have difficulty in selling premium grade rice supplied by NFA because of its high cost. The retailers said the price of commercial rice in the region went down because farmers have started to harvest and sell their palay at P 12 to P 13 per kilo.

Meanwhile, the groups reiterated their demand to Secretary Yap to distribute NFA rice for free to areas ravaged by super typhoon Frank last month. They said the Yap should prioritize the free distribution of NFA rice to fishing and farming villages affected by the typhoon in Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Romblon, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental and Quezon provinces. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:11 | link | comments |
rice crisis

Fishers group accused Philippine Army of targeting militants in Negros

THE MILITANT FISHERFOLK ALLIANCE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Thursday accused the Philippine Army in Negros of planning to liquidate leaders and members of their group and other cause oriented organizations branded as fronts or supporters of the New People’s Army in the island.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said their provincial chapter in Negros dispatched a report that members of the Philippine Army in Negros are telling the people that our leaders and members are supporters of NPAs and therefore legitimate targets of military counter-insurgency because they work with the Communist Party of the Philippines, the communist rebels and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.

“The strong anti-Arroyo currents in Negros compelled the de facto Martial Law regime of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to re-unleash the sword of war and campaign of terror in the province in the name of political doctrine known as Arroyo’s political survival,” Hicap added.

The Pamalakaya-Negros chapter’s report prompted Hicap to ask Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Leila de Lima to dispatch an investigating team to look into an alleged plan of Philippine Army to neutralize leaders and members of activist organizations in Negros, that include the fisherfolk group and other member organizations of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and militant party lists Bayan Muna, Gabriela and Anakpawis.

Last month Manila-based pastors from the Roman Catholic and protestant churches went to Guihulngan City in Negros Occidental to check reported human rights abuses there allegedly perpetrated by the military.

The religious-led fact finding mission was conducted after reports reached Manila that a village resolution was allegedly passed last May 28 preventing leaders and members of human rights watchdog Karapatan from entering Barangay Linantuyan in Guihulngan City.

The fisherfolk leader said military officials of the 11th Infantry Batallion of the Philippine Army, including Major Nathaniel Villasor, chief of the 303rd Infantry Brigade Civil Military Operations and Philippine National Police (PNP) Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco are the front runners in the alleged campaign against leaders and members of progressive groups, which according to Philippine Army are closely being watched for their connection with the communist guerillas in the island.

“President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and league of extrajudicial killers in Negros are setting the stage for another round of extrajudicial killings and campaign of state terror in the province. We strongly ask the CHR chair, including the Senate and House Committees on Human Rights to look into this gameplan of the military to eliminate political activists in the province,” Hicap said.

Pamalakaya said they will write Senate Majority Leader Senator Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Human Rights, and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III to conduct either a joint or separate congressional inquiry on the alleged plot to liquidate Negros based activists.

“This looming orgy of political killings and enforced disappearances must be stopped not only in Negros, but in the entire Philippines. The government is banking on its election as Vice President of the United Nations Human Rights Council to pursue its national policy and pattern of political killings and enforced disappearances, and go full blast again in its campaign of state terror,” the militant group added.

Citing the data of the human rights group Karapatan, Pamalakaya said last year, that there were 52 incidents of extrajudicial killings and arbitrary execution victimizing 69 people, 73 cases of illegal arrest and detention victimizing 280 political activists, 85 cases of threat, harassment and intimidation victimizing 2,194 leftwing activists, Pamalakaya argued that the Philippine government does not deserve to be included in the UN human rights body.

From January 21, 2001 to March 31, 2008, Karapatan said 903 persons were summarily executed by the military, while there were 193 persons were abducted by state agents since the Arroyo government’s implementation of Oplan Bantay Laya 1 and Oplan Bantay Laya II. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:55 | link | comments |
human rights

Fishers say Atienza’s move to clip LLDA powers to issue ECCs, reflects turf war between DENR chief and Manda

“It is nothing but a turf war.”

This was how the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) perceived the move of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Joselito Atienza to clip the powers of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to regulate property development projects around the lake.

“Secretary Atienza wants to remind LLDA General Manager Edgar Manda that he is still the boss on matters concerning the development of the lake, and his decision to eliminate the powers of the lake authority in issuing environmental compliance certificates is part of the ongoing power struggle between two of Malacañang’s fair-haired boys,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap said both Atienza and Manda are trying to impress Malacañang that they are both capable of removing the “eyesores” in Laguna Lake on or before 2010 so that government development projects funded by foreign financial groups and big business associations could proceed and finish their undertakings on or before 2010.

“Whoever wins this Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup in Laguna Lake, the fact remains that the biggest single casualty of Malacañang’s development projects in the lake are the small fishermen and other poor people in Laguna Lake,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

Pamalakaya maintained that the sinister agenda of Malacañang in Laguna Lake is to evict more than 80,000 coastal and urban poor families to pave way for foreign funded development projects in Laguna Lake. And the right point man for these anti-people projects remains a toss up between Atienza and Manda.

“Secretary Atienza wants to fast track the issuance of ECCs to Palace clients who want to construct and set up projects around the lake that encompasses 9 municipalities of Rizal, 18 towns of Laguna and parts of the National Capital Region like Cainta, Pasig, Taguig, Pateros and Muntinlupa to please Malacañang, and he shares the same sentiment with Manda,” the group added.

Barely less than two weeks before President Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA), some 200 fisherfolk activists belonging to Pamalakaya and the coalition group Save Laguna Lake Movement dumped over 50 kilos of janitor fish at the main entrance of LLDA office in Pasig City to protest the lakewide demolition of fishing communities around the lake.

Pamalakaya and SLMM said in preparation for the entries of foreign investments, the government will first execute the North Laguna Lakeshore Flood and Drainage System that will involve construction of road and dikes from Taguig to Taytay (9.8 kilometers), Bicutan to Taguig (9.5 kilometers), Sta. Rosa to Calamba City section (28 kilometers) Bay to Sta.Cruz in Laguna (32 kilometers), Siniloan to Kalayaan section (28 kilometers) and Tanay section (10 kilometers). ]

The groups said aside from road and dike construction, the LLDA will proceed with the reclamation of lake waters in Taguig (3,000 hectares), Muntinlupa (5,000 hectares) and Los Baños in Laguna (500 hectares). The multisectoral alliance also said the government plans to reclaim thousands of hectares of lake waters from Taytay to Binangonan in Laguna Lake will save Asia’s second largest lake from becoming biologically dead.

The LLDA general manager said the increase in population in Laguna Lake contributed mainly to pollution and degradation of lake waters, stressing that residents are the main contributors of pollutants and wastes directly thrown to the lake. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:54 | link | comments |
mindboggling people

Laguna Lake fishers staged fishy pre-SONA protest by dumping janitor fish

Barely less than two weeks before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA), some 200 fisherfolk activists from Rizal and Laguna provinces and in cities of Pasig, Cainta, Taytay and Muntinlupa staged their own version of the address dubbed as “State of the Laguna Lake Address” by throwing some 50 kilos of janitor fish in the main entrance of Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) office in Pasig City.

Rally organizers led by Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and Save Laguna Lake Movement (SLMM) said the dumping of janitor fish represent the Macapagal-Arroyo government—fishy, stinking and a curse. ”This pre-SONA protest is a stern warning to President Arroyo. It is a preview of portent things to come. She should expect a gigantic lakewide uprising in the very near future, unless she recalls all her anti-people and destructive projects in the lake,” the groups said in a joint press statement.

The protesters scattered the janitor fishes all over the main door entrance of LLDA office and let its’ foul smell spread, adding that like pest fish, the LLDA which is under the Office of the President is a pest across Southeast Asia, second largest lake. “The real state of Laguna Lake is this---Malacañang and President Arroyo, through their main point person in the LLDA are selling the country’s largest lake to the highest bidders and preferred investor clients,” Pamalakaya national chair and SLMM convener Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Pamalakaya and SLMM said the first phase of the ambitious Laguna Lake 2000 which envisions the lake to be the model of industrial and commercial development in 2025, involves reclamation and construction of road dikes that will initially displace 32,000 fisherfolk and urban poor families in Pasig, Cainta, Taytay and Muntinlupa, all in National Capital Region.

In their Laguna Lake SONA, Pamalakaya and SLMM said in preparation for the entries of foreign investments, the government will first execute the North Laguna Lakeshore Flood and Drainage System that will involve construction of road and dikes from Taguig to Taytay (9.8 kilometers), Bicutan to Taguig (9.5 kilometers), Sta. Rosa to Calamba City section (28 kilometers) Bay to Sta.Cruz in Laguna (32 kilometers), Siniloan to Kalayaan section (28 kilometers) and Tanay section (10 kilometers).

The groups said aside from road and dike construction, the LLDA will proceed with the reclamation of lake waters in Taguig (3,000 hectares), Muntinlupa (5,000 hectares) and Los Baños in Laguna (500 hectares). The multisectoral alliance also said the government plans to reclaim thousands of hectares of lake waters from Taytay to Binangonan. “The LLDA said it wants to save the lake from biological destruction. But the government projects facilitated by the lake authority has further exposed the falsity of President Arroyo’s long running claims that it is really after protection of Laguna Lake and the welfare of the people,” Pamalakaya and SLLM added.

Earlier, General Manager Edgar Manda said the demolition of 32,000 fisherfolk and urban poor homes in Laguna Lake will save Asia’s second largest lake from becoming biologically dead. The LLDA head said the increase in population in Laguna Lake contributed mainly to pollution and degradation of lake waters, stressing that residents are the main contributors of pollutants and wastes directly thrown to the lake.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said Manda resorted to cheap publicity stuns like the LLDA’s pedal power caravan on the 200-kilometer stretch around the lake that was participated by 1,000 riders and cycling advocates last April 26-27. “Laguna Lake is dying and on the brink of biological death because of the government and the LLDA’s policy of offering the lake resources at bargain prices to foreign and domestic business clients at the expense of the people and the environment,” the fisherfolk leader added. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:47 | link | comments |
gma sona

Arroyo unveils another P 4-B more for one-time subsidies
GMA turning RP into a republic of dole outs, says fishers group

THE MILITANT FISHERFOLK ALLIANCE Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Tuesday said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is turning the country into a republic of dole outs and a state of once-in- blue moon subsidies, few hours after it learned of Malacañang’s announcement that another round of assistance will be extended to the poor.

“In vain attempt to preserve her government’s main source of bureaucratic corruption and central fund for political patronage and political survival, which is the regressive and anti-people expanded value added tax or E-VAT on oil, Mrs. Arroyo is resorting to multi-billion charity work to appease the outraged, the hungry and the justice seeking Filipinos,” Pamalakaya information Gerry Albert Corpuz said in a press statement.

“The highly questionable P 4-B subsidy program of Mrs. Arroyo is multi-billion corruption escapade, and at the same time a psychological campaign to pacify the exploited but outraged people of this country. The real score is this—Mrs. Arroyo wants to fast track the release of government funds and safe keep taxpayers’ money in the collection vault of the ruling gangland in Malacañang in preparation for the 2010 elections and for patronage politics,” Corpuz added.

The Pamalakaya information chief added that Malacañang and the president’s political allies are preparing the stage for another round of blood sucking operations on public funds by exploiting the current economic crisis.

“For the third, fourth or fifth time around, Mrs. Arroyo is spreading the good news to her close associates and allies that there’s a lot of money in her disposal and these politicians should keep patronizing her to get a lion’s share of the loot in the form of bogus assistance,” Corpuz added.

President Arroyo made the announcement in her opening statement today at the start of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Cabinet level meeting in Masbate province.

The Chief Executive outlined the distribution of the P 4-B fund: P 1 billion for power subsidy, P 1 billion for microfinancing for the wives for public transport drivers and conductors, P 500 million additional benefits to senior citizens, P 500 million for upgrading of hospitals and P 1-B for infrastructure and rehabilitation for calamity-infested provinces, including Panay group of islands. President Arroyo said the money for another round of assistance will come from the proceeds of VAT on oil from April to June this year.

Earlier, Pamalakaya questioned Malacañang’s release of P 126 billion, which the National Anti Poverty Commission (NAPC) reported were allocated to small and medium scale enterprises. The NAPC said P 120-billion were loaned to 58,694 small and medium scale companies, while P 26 billion were given to 22,085 Filipino entrepreneurs from 2004 to March 2008.

But Pamalakaya belied the NAPC report that the economic pump priming done starting 2004 made a tremendous impact on the lives of every ordinary Filipino and created jobs for unemployed Filipino workers.

"The NAPC is talking on something that is only good in paper, powered by the power point presentation of technocrats. But in reality, it is empty and a mere collection of false hopes based on false promises and bankrupt economic model," the militant group added. #

Citing a previous study made by militant think tank Ibon Foundation, Pamalakaya said from January 2001 to June 2006, for instance, 3,540 firms closed shop or reduced their workforce because of competition.

It said Filipino companies whether small or medium scale were forced to close shops because of
globalization and anti-people and anti-labor policies of the government displacing 105,010 workers in the process. During the same period, 3,902 affected firms either closed shops or laid workers affecting 91,345 displaced workers; and due to reorganization: 7,826 Filipino firms were forced to reorganize inflicting job losses to 113,109 workers. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 03:46 | link | comments |
corruption

Pre-SONA offensive
Critics wondered why economy is bad despite gov’t P 126-B pump prime

Leftwing fisherfolk activists belonging to Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas
(Pamalakaya) are wondering despite the infusion of P 126-B by the Macapagal-Arroyo government to the domestic economy, many farmers are still landless, workers are either jobless or working triple time to eat once to twice a day.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should account how
her administration spent over 126 billion pesos in taxpayers’ money from 2004 to March 2008. Hicap said Malacañang through the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) reported that the government extended loans to 80,779 shopkeepers, grocers, food processors, and other small and medium scale businessmen over the last four years.

"If that is the case, how come the country has further plunged to an economic chaos that could be compared to the era of Dark Ages? Why millions and millions of Filipino labor force are joining the massive reserve army of labor, and why worsening poverty and hunger among our people remains the everyday top story?" said Hicap.

NAPC Secretary Domingo Panganiban revealed that the government extended loans to small and medium entrepreneurs under the SULONG (Small and Medium Enterprises Lending Opportunities for National Growth) program. Secretary Panganiban said by extending loans, the Macapagal-Arroyo government managed to create 2 million jobs for the poor, and would create additional jobs of 4 million by the end of Arroyo's term in 2010.

Panganiban disclosed the report at the meeting of the House Committee Oversight assessing the job creation program of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Of the P 126 billion allocated to small and medium scale enterprises, the NAPC said P 120-billion were loaned to 58,694 small and medium scale companies, while P 26 billion were given to 22,085 Filipino entrepreneurs.

But Pamalakaya belied the NAPC report that the economic pump priming done starting 2004 made a
tremendous impact on the lives of every ordinary Filipino and created jobs for unemployed Filipino
workers.

"The NAPC is talking on something that is only good in paper, powered by the power point presentation of technocrats. But in reality, it is empty and a mere collection of false hopes based on false promises and bankrupt economic model," the militant group added.

Citing a previous study made by militant think tank Ibon Foundation, Pamalakaya said from January 2001 to June 2006, for instance, 3,540 firms closed shop or reduced their workforce because of competition.

It said Filipino companies whether small or medium scale were forced to close shops because of
globalization and anti-people and anti-labor policies of the government displacing 105,010 workers in the process. During the same period, 3,902 affected firms either closed shops or laid workers affecting 91,345 displaced workers; and due to reorganization: 7,826 Filipino firms were forced to reorganize inflicting job losses to 113,109 workers. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:30 | link | comments |
economic slavery

Militants urge 27 million SSS members to form ‘Neri watch’

The militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) whose members also include SSS (Social Security System) paying members appealed to the 27 million members of the pension fund group to band themselves and form Neri Watch to thwart any attempts of Malacañang to use the SSS funds to whatever political agenda the sitting presidency has in mind starting August 1 up to 2010.

“The formation of Neri Watch is necessary to prevent the Macapagal-Arroyo administration from usurping private workers fund now amounting to some P 248 billion. The deployment of big time Arroyo puppet in the person of Secretary Romulo Neri to SSS poses extreme danger to SSS contributors and their hard-earned contributions nationwide,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“Secretary Neri is serving at the pleasure of the criminal presidency in Malacañang. It is therefore politically necessary for the 27 million members of the SSS to stand up and voice out their opposition against the coming of an unwanted SSS president,” he added.

Hicap thanked SSS union President Dr. Carol Basilio for assuring the contributors that they would be on guard since the pension fund is not the government’s money or SSS money, but the private workers and self-employed contributors’ money.

“The Filipino public, the anti-corruption watchdogs and the entire 27 million members of the SSS must exercise a high level of vigilance, given the track record of Secretary Neri and President Arroyo. We must always remember the $ 329 million ZTE scam as major point of reference in dealing with Neri’s appointment as head of the pension fund group,” the Pamalakaya leader added.

The fisherfolk alliance is the latest organized groups that joined the bandwagon in warning the Filipino people about possible repercussions of Secretary Neri’s appointment by Malacañang as SSS Chief. Over the weekend, the influential Makati Business Club (MBC) warned that funds of SSS are private and should not be touched by anyone from the government.

For its part, the militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno said it would closely watch Neri to make sure he would not be serving the interest of President Arroyo. It said, if left alone, Neri could use the SSS funds for the benefit of the sitting presidency preparing the financial requirements for the 2010 national elections.

Neri who previously worked as chief of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) and Commission on Higher Education challenged his critics to check his performance in said government agencies, which he said were satisfactory.

The controversial Neri reminded his critics about his impeccable credentials as a financial manager including his background as an MBA (master of business administration) graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, prior to his stints in different government agencies.

“Yes he is an MBA graduate in UCLA. But look what he did to the Filipino public—he did not say the truth on the ZTE scandal. Who needs an MBA title from UCLA anyway? All we need is the truth and nothing but the truth on the involvement of the Arroyo presidency in the three-hundred million dollar broadband scandal,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:38 | link | comments |
corruption

Small fishers urge commercial fishing operators to
join fish strike against oil price hikes

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Saturday appealed to operators of commercial fishing vessels to join the plan fish strike in the first week of August against the unstoppable increases in the prices of petroleum products.

The group composed of 80,000 members in 43 provinces nationwide said small fishermen and commercial fishing operators have a common cause, and this is to fight and stop the endless hikes in the prices of petroleum products.

“The country’s backward fishing industry is suffering further from weekly hikes in the prices of gasoline and other petroleum products. We have to come up with a very strong position against this across-the-country exploitation of the oil cartel and the national government in the name of national interest and people’s clamor for self-fish sufficiency and fish security,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap said he understood why up to now, associations of commercial fishing operators have yet to issue a statement against the intermittent increases in the prices of petroleum products because they are afraid Malacañang would cancel their permits and bar their fishing vessels if they join the protest.

“Our commercial fishing operators are afraid of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, because the sitting president in Malacañang is a certified champion of blackmail and vendetta politics. Like the small fishermen, they are also groaning in pain because of high prices of oil,” the Pamalakaya leader said.

Hicap this week dispatched the Pamalakaya national campaign memorandum to all its provincial and regional chapters asking all member organizations to prepare for a nationwide fish strike in early August against the weekly oil price increases.

The memorandum had been sent to Pamalakaya chapters in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Central Visayas, Panay Island and Negros Island. He said next week, the same memorandum will be sent to the group chapters all over Mindanao,. Central Luzon and allied fisherfolk groups in the National Capital Region.

“This is just the beginning. We will have this political acid test until it snowballs and goes widespread,” Hicap said.

“The idea of the nationwide fish strike is to conduct a one-day fish strike all over the country, wherein instead of going off to the sea for fishing, fishers will conduct community-based protests like fluvial parades or flotilla activities to show the sector’s rabid and all-out opposition to oil price hikes,” he added.

Pamalakaya said it needs to convince the fish eating public to seal their approval and cooperation in the name of people's fight against the exploitation and abuses of the Shell, Cheveron and Petron and their no.1 patron in Malacanang,




The Pamalakaya leader said the Macapagal-Arroyo government has been snubbing the concrete proposals of various consumer groups and cause-oriented organizations that would cushion the impact of weekly increases in the prices of petroleum products.

It said concrete and doable solutions like the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, the imposition of price control, the removal of 12 percent expanded-value added tax and other regressive taxes
levied on petroleum products, the buy back of Petron and the nationalization of oil industry have been suggested to Malacañang and to the legislative branch of government for urgent action.

“But Mrs. Arroyo is the biggest problem here. She is not only reluctant and hesitant. She herself is the biggest apologist of the blood sucking operations and system of the oil cartel in the country under the banner of privatization, deregulation and liberalization,” Pamalakaya said.

Citing data provided by IBON Data Bank, the militant group said diesel prices increased by 607 percent since the start of deregulation in 1996, while pump prices of unleaded gas increased by 492 percent. Pamalakaya said as much as 47 percent to 54 percent of the pump price of petroleum products represents windfall profits of the oil firms.

Based on Pamalakaya study said fisherfolk owners of 177, 627 motorized small fishing boats across who employ 2-3 small fishermen could no longer bear the brunt of rising prices of petroleum products.

It said the unstoppable hikes in the prices of petroleum products may soon compel small boat owners either to reduce hours of fishing from an average of 8 to 12 hours to 4 to 8 hours or abandon their 4 to 16 horsepower motors and look for other jobs such as tricycle drivers, carpentry work in and out of the fishing villages and do construction work.

Small Filipino fisherfolk use at least 5 liters to 10 liters of regular gasoline, costing between P 300 to P 600 in fuel prices per fishing operation based on current prices of petroleum products in the country. As per fishing operation, the normal average fish catch is 5 kilos to 10 kilos at P 50 per kilo of fish or roughly P 250 to P 500 a day. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 09:36 | link | comments |
economic slavery

POLITICAL AND SECURITY DEVELOPMENTS TRIGGERED BY WEEKLY OIL PRICE HIKES
Bishops possibly included in Isafp monitoring list on unrest

Leaders of the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said archbishops and bishops of the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) critical of the weekly oil price increases and the Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT) are possible targets of the military surveillance under the new executive order designating the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

“The prelates of the CBCP could be the latest addition to the growing list of Isafp’s spying activities anchored on the political survival of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It is an open book and a public knowledge that the bishops caught the ire of Malacañang when they called for the removal of EVAT and the review of the Oil Deregulation Law,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

Hicap added: “As for members of the militant people’s organizations and the political opposition they are used to military surveillance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 30- days a month and 12 months a year. The order is not new to the broad anti-Arroyo movement.”

However, the Pamalakaya leader said Executive Order No. 731 which places all anti-Arroyo groups and personalities, including CBCP, lawmakers and members of the business community supporting the suspension if not the removal of 12 percent EVAT and the review and possible repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law should contest the latest executive order in the parliament of the streets, in the court of public opinion and in any appropriate court to prevent Malacañang from curtailing the people’s right to expression and freedom of assembly.

“President Arroyo and her military must be stopped from churning out executive orders that would stop the people from exercising their basic constitutional rights. Military solution is not a solution to the worsening economic crisis and growing social unrest. It will further fuel the people’s outrage against this regime of greed and first-rate puppetry,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya asked top leaders of the CBCP to issue a strongly worded statement denouncing the order of President Arroyo for the military to monitor statements and movements calling for the removal of EVAT and repeal of Oil Deregulation Law, adding that Mrs. Arroyo has further intensified her de facto Martial Rule against the people.

“The CBCP must take a bold and brave stand on this because it will place the entire Roman Catholic faith under the spy glass and military psychological game plan of Malacañang and the armed forces,” the militant group said.

The EO entitled “Activating and Reorganizing the Energy Operations Board into Energy Contingency Task Force Under the National Food and Energy Council assigns Isafp to issue timely intelligence assessments of political and security developments related to oil price issue and alert government offices on the same. The Isafp shall provide advice on matters affecting national security.

President Arroyo said the EO shall extend as applicable down to the regional, sub-regional levels including provincial and city levels. She said the task force may organize task groups at various levels and local government officials may be invited if necessary. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:26 | link | comments |
state terrorism

RP fishers group write Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to stop Aussie offshore mining in Visayan Sea

A top official of the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) personally wrote Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd requesting the Australian premier to persuade its’ offshore mining company—NorAsia Energy Limited to back out from oil and gas exploration in the Visayan Sea.

In his three-page open letter to Prime Minister Rudd of the Australian Labor Party, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said the offshore mining to be conducted by NorAsia and their Filipino partner companies poses extreme danger to the Philippine marine environment, and in particular, the East Visayan Sea, which is the center of marine biodiversity in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

“Honorable Prime Minister, we strongly oppose NorAsia’s offshore mining in Cebu-Bohol Strait and in the entire East Visayan basin because it will pave way for the systematic gross destruction of the marine environment and the across-the-country massacre of fisher people’s livelihood. The issues raised against offshore mining go beyond the context of profits and cost benefit analysis,” Hicap said.

The Pamalakaya leader added: “The far-reaching effects of oil and gas exploration even during its exploratory or prospecting stage prior to production and extraction are very certain based on the country’s previous experience with other offshore mining activities staged by foreign oil and gas groups.”

The letter was sent to the House of Representatives of the Parliament House of Australia based in Canberra. Pamalakaya’s Hicap immediately sent the letter a day after he learned that NorAsia Energy Limited was able to secure Area 8 Service Contract 69 that would allow the Australian oil and gas group to explore 7,400 square kilometers of marine waters encompassing the Cebu-Bohol Strait, a narrow sea strait separating the island provinces of Cebu and Bohol, and parts of Leyte in the East Visayan basin.

The group said the entire offshore mining activity will cover 445,000 hectares of marine waters over a 7-year period based on the agreement signed by NorAsia and its Filipino partner-the TransAsia Oil and Energy Development Corporation. The agreement was sanctioned by the Department of Energy, Pamalakaya said.

In 2007, NorAsia acquired 146 square kilometers of 3D seismic data over two prospects in Service Contract 51. It said Area 8 of Service Contract 69 offers significant follow-up potential in additional structures if initial drilling in Service Contract 512 is successful.

NorAsia said Service Contract 69 has approximately 3,000 kilometers of existing 2D seismic and an active petroleum system as shown by the abundant onshore oil seeps and seismic supported direct hydrocarbon indicators on prospects in the area.

In their letter to Rudd, Pamalakaya asserted that many studies revealed that offshore mining causes a significant amount of air pollution. Each offshore oil platform generates approximately 214,000 pounds of air pollutants each year. An average exploration well for natural gas could generate 50 tons of nitrogen oxides, 13 tons of carbon monoxide, 6 tons of sulfur dioxide and 5 tons of volatile organic hydrocarbons.

In addition to that, oil and gas drilling operations produce huge amounts of water waste ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 metric tons of highly toxic water waste materials per drilling. The seismic tests, which are part of the exploration stage, damage the hearing organs of marine species, cause hemorrhage in body tissues, and damage their reproductive organs.

Pamalakaya said seismic blasting can cause behavioral modifications and reduce or eliminate available habitat for breeding, spawning, foraging and migration. Seismic noises can alter fish distribution by tens of kilometers and can elicit physiological stress on neural-immune responses in marine organisms.

The group also said seismic tests damage plankton eggs and larvae found in the immediate vicinity of airgun, and reduce catches in commercial fishers. It also damages swim bladders of fishes and lungs of marine mammals.

“Recent findings also revealed that oil and gas exploration activities could lead to massive production of other toxic waste materials such as cadmium which causes lung cancer; lead which causes gastrointestinal diseases, blood and kidney disorders, mental retardation and affects the nervous system; chromium which causes lung and liver cancers, kidney and other respiratory illness,” the militant group added.

Pamalakaya said If Nor Asia will push its offshore mining, a severe fish crisis will happen. It could lead to a dramatic decrease of 600,000 metric tons in the yearly production of fish in the country or approximately 20 percent annually.
The offshore mining in Cebu-Bohol Strait and other parts of the Visayan basin will affect the livelihood of not less than 100,000 small fishermen and 500,000 dependents, and will further exacerbate the problem of food security of 87 million Filipinos.

The offshore mining all over the Visayan Sea will have a devastating impact of fish production in Region VI composed of provinces Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo and Negros Occidental which account for an average for 350,000 metric tons of fish harvest per year, while Region VII composed of Negros Oriental, Bohol, Cebu and Siquijor account for 205,000 metric tons of fish produced.

Region VIII is made up of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Western Samar and Southern Leyte yield and average of 100,000 metric tons of fish per year.

“We believe stopping NorAsia from destroying our marine resources in the name of the corporate super profits this is a tough act to follow, but this is the politically, morally and legally correct way to address the concern of our fisher people and the Filipino public in general,” Pamalakaya said. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 10:32 | link | comments (4) |
mining

As economic managers eye meet with prelates on VAT pro-poor projects
Gov’t economists told: Confess “tax sins” to CBCP bishops

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s economic managers to confess sins and high crimes of corruption emanating from total wastage of taxes collected from the 12-percent expanded value added tax (E-VAT), rather than convince the bishops on the bogus pro-poor projects allegedly funded by the controversial tax measure.

“The scheduled meeting between the archbishops and bishops of the Catholic Bishops of the Conference of the Philippines is a moral opportunity for the government economic managers to confess the unpardonable tax sins of the Macapagal-Arroyo government. This is an opportunity for a grand coming out,” Pamalakaya national chairperson Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader issued the statement in reaction to President Arroyo’s economic managers’ plan to meet leaders of the influential Catholic bishops’ group and convince prelates that removing the 12 percent EVAT on petroleum products is anti-poor because it would deny the poor from getting support and necessary social services from the government.

“The bishops must exercise prudence and high level of alertness in dealing with the President’s economic managers. They are there to serve as town criers and apologists of anti-people and regressive government tax policies,” Hicap added.

Malacañang and its economic managers indicated the Macapagal-Arroyo government was not about to give up the EVAT on oil. The national government expects to collect P 87 billion this year from VAT and additional P 18 B as a result of the soaring oil prices.

“P 87 billion plus P 18 billion equals P 105 billion. That’s the mother of all fortune. Given the seven year old track record of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration on bureaucratic corruption, it is no longer debatable why this government is extremely opposed to the proposal to eliminate VAT on oil,” Pamalakaya said.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves said he would like to sit the bishops to discuss ways to counter the effects of rising commodity prices and to explain why the lifting of the VAT was not a prudent thing to do so.

In reaction to Teves, Pamalakaya demanded the finance chief’s resignation for defending the tax measure. Pamalakaya dismissed Teves’ warning that the suspension or removal of the controversial tax measure would affect the pro-poor programs of President Arroyo as stupid and totally insulting to the collective intelligence of the people. “What’s his basis in saying the removal of EVAT is anti-poor? The poor are groaning in pain because of weekly increases in the prices of petroleum products and other basic goods and services which are further compounded by that regressive and exploitative tax measure known as EVAT,” Pamalakaya said.

Pamalakaya said last year the Macapagal-Arroyo administration collected P 45 billion in EVAT collections from petroleum products, and another P 11 billion from power. It said oil companies led by Shell, Chevron and Petron gamely acted as EVAT collecting agencies for the Arroyo administration, in exchange for their profiteering rackets to realize day-to-day super profits from oil consumers nationwide. Citing data provided by IBON Data Bank, the militant group said diesel prices increased by 607 percent since the start of deregulation in 1996, while pump prices of unleaded gas increased by 492 percent. Pamalakaya said as much as 47 percent to 54 percent of the pump price of petroleum products represents windfall profits of the oil firms. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:51 | link | comments |
corruption

Militants slam Finance secretary for defending EVAT
Pamalakaya asks Secretary Teves to step down

Fisherfolk activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Wednesday assailed Finance Secretary Margarito Teves for defending the 12 percent expanded value added tax or EVAT, and asked Teves to resign as chief of the finance portfolio.

Dismissing Secretary Teves warning that the suspension or removal of the controversial tax measure would affect the pro-poor programs of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as stupid and totally insulting to the collective intelligence of the people, Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap called the urgent resignation of Secretary Teves.

“Secretary Teves should step down. He is serving at the pleasure of the corrupt presidency and not in accordance with the collective interest and national sentiment of the people. That old man is sick as his principal in Malacañang,” Hicap added.

The Pamalakaya leader reacted strongly to the statement of Teves rejecting the suspension of 12 percent EVAT on petroleum products. The finance secretary said the removal of EVAT on oil products is anti-poor because it would reduce funding for the pro-poor programs of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration.

“What’s his basis in saying the removal of EVAT is anti-poor? The poor are groaning in pain because of weekly increases in the prices of petroleum products and other basic goods and services which are further compounded by that regressive and exploitative tax measure known as EVAT,” Hicap said.

Secretary Teves also said the suspension of EVAT would mean a P 73.1 billion in foregone revenues, which the government has programmed to finance poverty alleviation projects. The finance secretary said aside from counter productive, the removal of 12% EVAT will only benefit the rich because they are biggest consumers of oil.

“Like President Arroyo, Secretary Teves needs a full-blown and thoroughgoing reality check. Perhaps a psychological examination too. He is talking of something that does not really exist and merely a product of his mind-boggling imagination,” Pamalakaya’s Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said Malacañang is hell bent to thwart any proposal to eliminate the 12% percent EVAT levied on oil and power because it is expecting to collect P 74. 4 B from petroleum products and P 14.03 B from power this year.

“Malacañang is expecting to collect at least P 90 billion from EVAT imposed on petroleum products and power. It is a never ending source of fortune for the bureaucrat capitalists in the Arroyo administration,” the militant group said.

Pamalakaya said last year the Macapagal-Arroyo administration collected P 45 billion in EVAT collections from petroleum products, and another P 11 billion from power.

Pamalakaya said oil companies led by Shell, Chevron and Petron gamely acted as EVAT collecting agencies for the Arroyo administration, in exchange for their profiteering rackets to realize day-to-day super profits from oil consumers nationwide.

Citing data provided by IBON Data Bank, the militant group said diesel prices increased by 607 percent since the start of deregulation in 1996, while pump prices of unleaded gas increased by 492 percent. Pamalakaya said as much as 47 percent to 54 percent of the pump price of petroleum products represents windfall profits of the oil firms. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:11 | link | comments |
mindboggling people

Leftwing fishers cook fish balls in front of DA office to score Yap’s “fish ball, fish cake economics”

Fisherfolk activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) cooked a kilo of fish ball at the entrance gate of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to protest agriculture secretary Arthur Yap’s proposal to buy fish in Romblon and process these either into fish cakes or fish balls.

“The cooking demo” highlighted the protest action staged by some 20 members of Pamalakaya and allied groups denouncing Yap’s “fish ball, fish cake economics” in addressing the problems caused by the recent super typhoon Frank.

“Secretary Yap is performing his role to the hilt as the ultimate king of all escape artists in the Macapagal-Arroyo government. His proposal to buy all fish in Romblon and convert and sell these either into fish cakes or fish balls speaks of his political mediocrity and penchant for all-out travesty in addressing the issues and concerns of the people,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

In a two-page letter addressed to Secretary Yap, the Pamalakaya leader enumerated the group’s five urgent demands for DA and Malacañang to immediately address and favorably act upon. These demands are as follows:

1). Free distribution of rice to all areas ravaged by super typhoon Frank. The priority areas include the provinces of Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Samar, Leyte, Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Romblon, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental and Quezon provinces.

2). A monthly oil subsidy of P 7,500 for all fishermen operating small fishing boats, and monthly
P 3,000 economic relief for paddle using fishermen, and boatless and gearless fishermen.

3). Free assistance or subsidy to small fishermen whose motorized bancas, net and other fishing gears were destroyed at the height of typhoon Frank.

4). The immediate and careful retrieval of endosulfan chemicals which are still inside the capsized MV Princess of the Stars.

Pamalakaya’s Hicap said the money for their subsidy proposals can be sourced from the non-payment of foreign and national debt this year. The militant leader said the national government should immediately suspend the payment of P 295.7 B maturing debts and interests of foreign and domestic loans, and re-channel the allocated budget for debt servicing to the present economic woes of the people.

Aside from non-payment, the group said the Office of the President should let go the P 2.5 B Kilos Asenso fund, the audit free fund under the disposal of President Arroyo, which the Chef Executive refuses to release.

“That Kilos Asenso fund belongs to the people, not to Mrs. Arroyo. Her office should free it from the clutches of Arroyo’s day-to-day corruption,” Pamalakaya stressed. The militant group likewise demanded the immediate scrapping of the 12 percent expanded value added tax levied on petroleum products, water and power to provide quick economic relief to the people.

Pamalakaya likewise reiterated the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, and call for the full-blown nationalization of the oil industry, so that fishermen could buy and utilize affordable and cheap gasoline. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 02:27 | link | comments |
bitch n pieces

Lawmakers asked to pass law suspending 2008 debt payment to address economic woes, calamity

Fisherfolk activists belonging to the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on Monday urged senators and congressmen to cross party lines and pass a law that would suspend this year’s debt payment to foreign and local creditors, and instead re-channel the budget to address the present economic woes and the catastrophic impact of typhoon Frank confronting the country.

“National interest dictates Malacañang and Congress to at least suspend debt payment for this year and instead prioritize the funding for pressing concerns and needs of the people compounded by the present economic crisis and the all over the country devastation of super typhoon Frank,” Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

The Pamalakaya leader put to task Senate President Manuel Villar and House Speaker Prospero Nograles to lead the filing of separate bills compelling President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to suspend debt payment for 2008, and re-channel the allocated budget for job creation, relief and rehabilitation programs and thoroughgoing subsidies to the most affected, vulnerable and marginalized sectors.

Hicap said of the P 1.2 trillion 2008 budget passed by both chambers and signed by President Arroyo last March, P 295.7 billion were allocated to debt servicing this year.

“The solution is doable, the only principal obstacle here is the lack of political will of President Arroyo, who always wants to keep her position as the no.1 puppet girl of the US controlled IMF-World Bank and no.1 money market pleaser of financial oligarchs in the world,” the fisherfolk leader added.

Aside from suspending debt payment, Pamalakaya is also demanding the national government to scrap the 12 percent expanded value added tax imposed on petroleum products, water and electricity.

Pamalakaya said the government should scrap the P 54-billion EVAT collected from oil products, and as well as EVAT on power and water to substantially provide economic relief to millions of people.

Earlier, Pamalakaya sought the distribution of free NFA rice to coastal and farming communities ravaged by super typhoon Frank. The group also proposed for a monthly P 7,500 subsidy for fisherfolk owners and operators of small fishing boats across the country to jumpstart municipal fishing operations hampered by the intermittent increases in the prices of gasoline, the fish ban and fish scare imposed by the Department of Agriculture.

The group said there are about 170,000 small fishing boats across the country, which employs an average of 2-3 fishermen including the small fishing boat owner. It said a monthly subsidy would cost the national government at least P 1.3 B a month, or more or less P 4 billion for three months in total oil subsidy.

Malacañang rejected the proposal of Pamalakaya for the Office of the President to release the audit free P 2.5 B Kilos Asenso fund saying only a portion of Mrs. Arroyo’s fund could be released for victims of typhoon Frank.

It also corrected previous reports that President Arroyo has P 15 billion in total funds to address the disastrous impact of typhoons and other natural calamities, stressing that Malacañang has only P 2 billion under its disposal for said purpose. Based on the latest report of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the damage caused by typhoon Frank has reached the P 12-billion mark. #

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 07:53 | link | comments |
debt trap

Pamalakaya demands free NFA rice, oil subsidies for
fisherfolk storm victims

The left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas
ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) on
Sunday pressed the national government to distribute
National Food Authority (NFA) rice for free to all
fisherfolk and farmer victims of super typhoon Frank.


On top of the demand for free NFA rice, the militant
group also urged the government to provide oil subsidy
of at least P 7,500 per month for each small fishing
boat so marginal fishermen immediately go back to
fishing and re-start their livelihood affected by
typhoon Frank over the last two weeks.

According to Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando
Hicap, there are about 170,000 small fishing boats
across the country, which employs an average of 2-3
fishermen including the small fishing boat owner.

He said a monthly subsidy would cost the national
government at least P 1.3 B a month, or more or less
P 4 billion for three months in total oil subsidy.

Hicap said the government should immediately
prioritize the distribution of free NFA rice and oil
subsidies to areas devastated by typhoon Frank. The
Pamalakaya leader said these areas include the coastal
communities in Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and
Negros Oriental, Romblon, Masbate and Quezon
provinces.

"We strongly suggest to the corrupt regime of
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to refrain from
pursuing its campaign of state terror, political
persecution and grandslam corruption, and address
seriously the concern of our people, especially the
victims of typhoon Frank," Pamalakaya's Hicap added.

Pamalakaya said the taxpayers money currently under
the disposal of Malacanang should be used for the
pressing need of the affected fishermen and other
sectors and not in the political interest of Mrs.
Arroyo and her ruling syndicate in the Palace.

"There are billions of pesos out there for public
disposal.But the trouble is President Arroyo does not
want the public to use it for their cause," the group
said referring to the P 2.5 billion audit free Kilos
Asenso fund which is under the Office of the
President.

Pamalakaya said Malacanang is keen in rejecting the
proposal to release the P 2.5 B for reasons that are
syndicated to President Arroyo and her close political
associates.

The group said aside from the audit free P 2.5 B Kilos
Asenso Fund, the funds for NFA rice and oil subsidies
can come from the suspension of debt servicing this
year.

Pamalakaya is eying the immediate suspension of
payment for debt interest amounting to P 12.1 B and
re-channel the funds to relief and rehabilitation
efforts.

Malacañang rejected the proposal for the government to
observe a moratorium on its paying of the interest on
the country’s foreign debts and use the amount
intended for such to fund the rehabilitation of areas
devastated by Typhoon “Frank,” saying such may only
cause a negative backlash to the nation.

Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said while it is a very
enticing idea to forgo debt servicing, such a step
might result in more painful implications rather than
good for the country.

“We cannot simply forgo our commitments including our
international commitment to service our foreign debts.
It could be very damaging to our fundamentals as a
reliable debtor. We should live up to our commitments
as a good-paying debtor,” Dureza said.

“If we won’t comply, it would hurt us more rather than
help us. It is just like you are amortizing a car and
then you suddenly decide to forgo servicing because
you believe you have to spend on some other things
aside from amortization. You car could be taken away
from you and you’ll be on the losing end,” Dureza
further said.#

posted by: GerryCorpuz at 04:38 | link | comments |
economic slavery

P 60 per liter gasoline will trigger nationwide fish
strike, warns fishers group

The unstoppable increases in the prices of petroleum products will trigger a nationwide fish strike.

The warning came from the left-leaning fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) shortly after oil companies hiked prices of diesel and kerosene by an average of  P 2 liter, and gasoline by P 1 per liter.

"If a nationwide fish strike will contribute to all efforts to press down prices of petroleum products,
then we will campaign for an across-the-country fish strike," Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap said in a press statement.

“Remember oil is a very sensitive political commodity. It can spark an across-the-country uprising that may
even lead to the eventual collapse of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,” Hicap added.

But Hicap said his group will need ample time to convince small fishermen to go on a nationwide strike.
He said there's no problem as far as Pamalakaya members are concerned.

"We will reach out other groups to make this mass action a general success. We need this collective and
communal action to stop the Arroyo-oil cartel conspiracy from bloodsucking our fishers and the public in general," the Pamalakaya leader said.

Hicap said a Pamalakaya memorandum calling all chapters of the group in 43 provinces nationwide to
prepare for a nationwide fish strike either last week of July in time for President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (SONA) or early August will be released next week.

"We will convince the fish eating public to seal their approval and cooperation in the name of people's fight
against the exploitation and abuses of the Shell, Cheveron and Petron and their no.1 patron in Malacanang," the Pamalakaya leader added.

Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap made the fearless forecast a day after Edgar Chua, country
chair of Shell Philippines announced that oil companies will jack up price of diesel by an average
of P 7.01 per liter representing under-recoveries for June due to steady increase in the price of petroleum
products in the world market.

“Malacañang has two options left. One is to arrest and end the corporate greed of the three oil companies and the second one is to offer their President at the altar of national outrage for failing to curb the
monopoly practices and cartelized operations of the Big Three. But the Filipino people want the two
options to take place,” Hicap added.

The Pamalakaya leader said the Macapagal-Arroyo government has been snubbing the concrete proposals of various consumer groups and cause-oriented organizations that would cushion the impact of weekly increases in the prices of petroleum products.

Hicap said concrete and doable solutions like the repeal of the Oil Deregulation Law, the imposition of
price control, the removal of 12 percent expanded-value added tax and other regressive taxes levied on petroleum products, the buy back of Petron and the nationalization of oil industry have been suggested to Malacañang and to the legislative branch of government for urgent action.

“But Mrs. Arroyo is the biggest problem here. She is not only re