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Month: March 2019

Invitation for Media Coverage

When: 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2019, assembly time
Where:  Saint Joseph Parish Church, National Highway, Sagay City, Negros Occidental; to march at 8:30 a.m. to Balay Kauswagan beside the Sagay City Hall where President Duterte will distribute CLOAs
What: President Du30: DO 30K hectares for Negros farmers; start fulfilling your CARP promise of getting rid of oligarchic hacienderos

Three thousand Task Force Mapalad (TFM) landless farmers carrying bundles of sugarcane — ala “karga-tapas” — will gather in Sagay City, Negros Occidental in time for President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to the area, and urge him to fulfill his 2016 promise of getting rid of oligarchic landlords who “get the fat of the land” and pursue his 2018 plan of declaring “the entire (Negros) island as a land reform area.”

As TFM farmers welcome the chief executive’s arrival in Negros for a CLOA-awarding ceremony on Friday, March 8, they will also appeal to President Duterte to sustain the distribution of lands and not make his CARP promise a mere lip service.

They will likewise urge the President to fast-track and complete land distribution nationwide and start the ball rolling in Negros Occidental, where the bulk of the CARP balance can be found.

TFM says the President can immediately distribute 30,000 hectares of Negros farms that have long been placed under agrarian reform.

Many of these landholdings are already in the last stages of CARP processing before they are finally awarded to landless farmers. However, these farms, although already acquired by the government for landless tillers, ironically remain under the control of Negros hacienderos still profiting from the landholdings even though these are no longer theirs.

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Rise to the Occasion: How Safe Are Rice Imports?

04 March 2019

Dear friends and colleagues,

Greetings of solidarity!

Resistance and Solidarity Against Transnational Corporation (RESIST), in collaboration with AGHAM Youth, and Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes (PNFSP) invite you in the event, Rise to the Occasion: How Safe Are Rice Imports? A forum on the effects of RA 11203 on food safety, on the 6th of March, 8:30 to 11:30 AM, at the UP Diliman College of Science Administration Auditorium.

The Rice Tariffication Law that was recently signed into a law by President Duterte, has stirred various responses from stakeholders of the local rice industry that includes producers, millers, traders and even consumers. The said law fully liberalized the rice industry opening the local market for the unbridled entry of imports that will be tariffied as a commitment to an agreement under the World Trade Organization.

On the issue of food safety under the Rice Tariffication Law, a clear and rigorous protocol as previously mandated to the NFA must be ensured so that the rice for the consumers are safe. This is aligned with the law, the Food Safety Act of 2013, that implements the food safety regulatory system in the country. In the Rice Tariffication Law, the food safety regulation will be undertaken by the Bureau of Plant Industry through the issuance of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC).

For the consuming public, food safety is a foremost consideration taking into account that the rice imports may contain contaminants that are hazardous to human health. The government should prepare the policy protocol, the manpower and the facilities prior to the full implementation of the Rice Tariffication.

In this context, a public forum will be held to bring into public discussion the current status of the food safety regulatory function of the government, the sufficiency and efficiency of the protocols and standards on food safety of the country and how the public can participate in the assurance of food safety. The public forum will be participated by farmers, people’s organizations and consumers groups.

We hope for your positive response to this important event.

Sincerely,

Rafael Mariano
Co-Convenor
RESIST Network

“Blessed are the Peacemakers”

n this file photo, members of the Philippine Independent Church hold a demonstration in Manila to protest attacks against its leaders in October 2018. (Photo by Mark Saludes |UCAN)

The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP)*, is alarmed over the harassment of two of our Core Group members, Bishop Felixberto Calang and Fr. Christopher Ablon of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI). Their names were listed, along with other members of the clergy, peace advocates and human rights defenders, as “terrorist members of the New People’s Army and Communist Party of the Philippines” in two sets of flyers that were anonymously distributed last February 22 in Cagayan de Oro City. We have reason to be alarmed for such accusation is baseless, malicious and dangerous.

As modern-day prophets, Bp. Calang and Fr. Ablon have dedicated their lives and ministry to continuously preach and pursue just and lasting peace so the love of God – richly deserved by our people, especially the least of our brothers and sisters – may reign. Bp. Calang is also the spokesperson of Sowing the Seeds of Peace in Mindanao, a network of civil society groups in the said island, that was recently awarded with the 1st Gawad AKAP Award by the Rotary Club of Fort Bonifacio Global City in behalf of the Rotary International District 3830. Others who were recognized and honored for their active pursuit of peace include such distinguished peacemakers like Bp. Fernando Capalla, former OPAPP Sec. Jesus Dureza, DOLE Sec. Silvestre Bello, head of the Peace Panel of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), Mr. Mohagher Igbal of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and peace panel consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), Mr. Rey Claro Casambre of the Philippine Peace Center and Mr. Randy Malayao. Mr. Casambre sadly remains incarcerated based on trumped up charges while Mr. Malayao was recently killed by an assassin.

Since the cancellation of the peace talks last year, violent encounters between the parties have increased, the arrests and even killing of peace advocates are rising; the language of punishing student scholars for their activism is disturbing; new raids and the burning of equipment have surfaced; vandalizing of church property and the circulating of lists that falsely accuse church leaders/workers of supporting terrorists are a new and  dangerous development.

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Archbishop Scicluna and Cardinal Gracias Reflect to ZENIT on Steps to Take Following Summit for Protection of Minors

Clarifications to ‘Come Una Madre Amorevole’ and Office to Handle Abuse Being Examined

February 28, 2019 09:46 Deborah Castellano Lubov

We need to develop certain aspects of the Pope’s 2016 Motu Proprio Come una Madre Amorevole ….

An office to manage protection of minors, not the same as the current Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, is being considered…

Both these points were confirmed to ZENIT by Archbishop Charles Scicluna, president of the Maltese Bishops’ Conference, the Pope’s entrusted reformer in combatting and investigating sex abuse, and one of the four organizers of the recent Summit on the Protection of Minor’s in the Church in the Vatican, Feb. 21-24, and Archbishop of Mumbai, India, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, who is also one of the four prelates who have organized the encounter, a papal advisor and President of the Bishops’ Conference of India.

The comments were made at the Augustinianum, Feb. 24, during the final press conference of the meeting to combat sex abuse, convened by the Pope, which brought together the presidents of the world’s bishops conferences and other representatives in the Church and in religious life.

The speakers, along with Cardinal Gracias and Archbishop Scicluna, who also is an adjunct secretary in the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, included Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., president of the Joseph Ratzinger – Benedetto XVI Vatican Foundation, moderator of the meeting; Fr. Hans Zollner, S.J., president of the Centre for the Protection of Minors of the Pontifical Gregorian University, member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, part of the Organizing Committee; Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki who had given an intervention at the summit; Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of Vatican’s Dicastery for Communications; and Alessandro Gisotti, Director ‘ad interim’ of the Holy See Press Office.

Each day began with prayer, then two interventions in the morning, another in the afternoon, each followed with a question and answer session, and then working groups based on language. Some highlights of these days were the Penitential Liturgy on Saturday afternoon and the Mass on Sunday morning. The Pope, following Sunday’s Mass and before the Angelus at noon, gave a concluding speech, where he called for an “all out battle” against abuse, stressing it must be eradicated. He said that where even one case of abuse should emerge, “it would be treated with the utmost seriousness.” He also decried cover up. Three immediate actions, among others still being considered, include a new motu proprio on abuse for the Vatican City State, a rule book provided by the CDF to provide bishops with an easy Q & A on how to handle various situations, and task forces for places without resources or adequate understanding.

Some victims, male and female, were present during moments of evening prayer and they gave testimonies. The organizers met some victims ahead of the conference.

The speakers have reminded during and before the Summit that there are already strong guidelines and protocols in place, for zero tolerance of sexual abuse toward minors and toward negligence of Bishops in Pope Francis’ 2016 Motu Proprio ‘Like a Loving Mother.’

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No to Rice Trade Liberalization Law, An Anti-farmer Measure!

Photo credit: Manila Bulletin

A press conference on the Rice Trade Liberalization Law will be held on March 5, 2019, 9:30am-12pm at Max’s Restaurant, Quezon City Circle.

Below is the press statement of the Alliance of Rice Farmers Against Rice Tariffication  and participating organizations.

We, from various national farmer organizations, civil society groups, and food sovereignty advocates oppose the anti-farmer law. This law titled “RA 11203: An Act Liberalizing the Importation, Exportation and Trading of Rice, Lifting for the Purpose the Quantitative Import Restriction on Rice,” is not the solution to the ongoing rice crisis. This law favors the business interests of rice importers and suspected rice smugglers over poor rice farmers. This piece of legislation abandons the State’s capability to regulate rice importation. NFA is limited to maintaining buffer stock for an emergency situation and disaster relief. NFA functions such as registration, licensing and supervision of importers and all other grains businesses are removed. RA 11203 hands over regulation of rice importation to traders and importers. This is another form of legalizing rice cartel! Where does government figure in this setup? Think about this: Whatever rice production gains achieved in 2017 and in previous production years will be put to waste with tarrification without state support. Rice tarrification runs opposite to what rice farmers and other food security advocates campaigned for to level the playing field against rice importation. Its principal author, Sen. Cynthia Villar, must have thought that this law would make rice affordable to Filipinos along with improving local rice production. But the truth is that it will neither make rice cheap nor succeed in making local rice farming viable and productive. Here’s why: The bill liberalizes rice importation by the private sector without any restrictions. This means big corporations (San Miguel Corporation for example) can import rice freely at unlimited volumes and without applying for any license except a routine permit from the Bureau of Plant Industry. Corporations can now import as much as two million tons. So far, at least 180 corporations all over the Philippines have expressed interest to enlist as importers! Aside from that glaring oversight, the budget allocated for rice farmers is sorely insignificant? Take for example the lack of crop insurance for their produce, vital safety net measure for rice farmers. The law ensures the full mechanization of the rice production industry which will result in massive displacement of rice farmers and farm workers. Yet, half of the proposed Php 10 billion rice fund will be allocated for rice mechanization!

Mechanization aside, the government ignores a bleak reality: The staggeringly high prevalence of bankruptcy among rice farmers (baon sa utang ang karamihan ng magsasaka sa palay!). By penning this law, Sen. Villar ensures the death of the rice industry! Pres. Duterte should review and junk this law and in its place, draft another measure that represents the interest of rice farmers and producers, consumers not only the interest of importers.

A plea to the government and the NFA for transparency: Release the list of 180 corporations who plan to import rice.

Alliance of Rice Farmers Against Rice Tariffication
Participating Organizations:
Pambansang Kilusan Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK)
Centro Saka, Rights Watch, PKSK
Save Agrarian Reform Alliance
Integrated Rural Development Foundation
Pambansang Kilusan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas
DKmp (Ka Jimmy Tadeo)
National Movement for Food Sovereignty (NMFS)
Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Kataturungan Panlipunan (KATARUNGAN)
Rice Watch Action Network
Federation of Free Farmers

Professors for Peace Statement on Prospect for Constitutional Reforms

No To Con-Ass

We, the undersigned academics and professionals, are expressing our deep concern as regards the process of reviewing and possibly amending our Constitution.

We acknowledge the importance of discussing ways to improve governance in the country, particularly when it comes to a possible shift to a new, federal form of government. Some of us actually support federalism, while others oppose it. We have nevertheless united in this common statement to acknowledge the importance of evidence-based debate and discussion to root out the main benefits and costs of such a reform.

Given the far-reaching implications of this reform, we believe the process must be much more participatory—including not just those who are for this reform, but also those who oppose it. International policy experience and evidence suggests that constitutional reforms are more effective if deliberations are front-loaded at the crafting stage, rather than belatedly appended once these reforms are already ratified.

The present environment is not conducive to reforming the constitution. The most recent nationwide surveys of SWS and Pulse Asia last March 2018 show that only 25% of our citizens sufficiently understand our existing constitution, while only 37% support the shift to federalism. 64% are against charter change. ‘Changing the Constitution’ also ranked last in the ‘most urgent national concerns’ with only 3% of the Filipinos saying that it should be acted upon immediately.

We do not support calls to channel this reform through a Constituent Assembly.

Almost 80% of Congress is comprised of political dynasties, and the empirical evidence suggests that a majority of them may face deep conflict of interest if a new constitution aims for reforms that level the political playing field. The risk of capture by vested interests affecting our present politics is too great.

We do not support calls to postpone or cancel elections in 2019.

Finally, we believe that there are more pressing and immediate policy challenges that our leaders must address. The rising death toll linked to the anti-drugs campaign, which now includes many children and young people. The killings of political leaders and priests also further raise the spectre of injustice. Rising prices of basic commodities, transportation and other needs are also hitting the poor, our workers, and millions of low income households. If these are unresolved, then how can we credibly unite around “rule of law” and “human rights” under an amended constitution?

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RMP decries red-tagging anew, call on Church people to be vigilant

Members of the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines join a demonstration in Manila in July to call for an end to the conflict in Mindanao. (Photo by Mark Saludes | UCANews)

by ruralmissionaries

We, the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), a national organization of women and men religious, priests and lay, condemn the tagging of our organization as a “communist front”, this time through the complaints filed by the National Security Council Deputy Director General Vicente Agdamag to the United Nations (UN). The report, which was submitted to the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva on Feb. 21, alleged that we are trafficking tribal children.

This is such a desperate move to vilify us for we have been effective in raising people’s awareness on the plight and demands of our farmers, fisher folk, and indigenous peoples and in exposing the grave abuses of human rights in the country. It only reflects the cowardice of those behind this malicious act.

We condemn in the highest terms this slander of our organization. We reiterate that our commitment to serve the rural poor drives us to provide programs for them including literacy and numeracy for Lumad children, livelihood programs, relief and rehabilitation, training and education for rural communities.

This is definitely alarming as it can be used as justification to go after rural missionaries, priests, sisters and lay workers, and so we urge our fellow Christians to condemn these preposterous accusations and echo the call to end the attack against rural poor and peace advocates

Human rights defenders in our country are in such perilous situation. We must be ever vigilant and stand together with the Filipino people in exposing and resisting the state’s attacks against those who oppose them.

-Rural Missionaries of the Philippines
February 26, 2019