The inviolability of the person which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. …the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights-for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.    (St. John Paul II, On the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful [Christifideles Laici. . .], no. 38)

On February 16, 2019 the Christian faithful will hold another Walk for Life- in an act of solidarity- to uphold the dignity of life. We stand by the universal truth that human life is the apex of God’s creation thus the need to uphold, protect and defend it at all cost. We must discern and expose deceptive ideologies and actions that seek to destroy life. The right to life and human rights are universal. It is for all and should be defended especially for the most vulnerable in our society such as the poor, the children and the sick.

Recent local and global developments have prompted this urgent call to action. We strongly condemn any and all policies, programs and actions that destroy and minimize the value of human life:

•          The unabated loss of human lives in the anti-drug war

•          The senseless acts of bombing and terrorism done in Jolo and Zamboanga

•          The proposed lowering of the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility

•          The loss of work opportunities for Filipinos due to the influx of millions of Chinese laborers

•          The persecution of people all over the world in the name of religion and religious rights;

•          The proliferation of substance abuse that lead to addiction;

•          The proposed re-imposition of the Death Penalty that should not have a place in a democratic society;

•          Abortion in all its forms, including the use of artificial contraceptives that have abortifacient effects;

•          The systematic pillage of our natural resources through mining and development projects that destroy our oceans, rivers, land, forests and other sources of life;

•          The imposition of taxes in the name of development but at the expense of the poorest of the poor;

•          The use of our people for experimentation of treatments (like dengvaxia) that have not passed thorough studies of their adverse effects;

•          The poor implementation of genuine land reform;

•          The abuse of labor through contractualization, and inhuman working conditions and wages;

•          The weak policies against trafficking of persons; and

•          The meager provision for shelter for the homeless and the urban poor.

We cannot accept being governed by laws and policies that deceive and were crafted based on manipulated facts.  We cannot agree with the premise that solutions to our social problems require that some of us should die.

This walk is for the life of every person who has been a victim of this culture of death. As Christians we stand together because we have the responsibility to care for our fellow human beings and to ensure that common good and justice must prevail.

We walk not only to condemn the wrong that is being done; but also to pray that the hearts of those who pursue such wrongs may be touched and softened by our collective action.

We walk to uphold truth and righteousness and to proclaim that upholding the primacy of human life is a choice we must all make.

With these, the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity through its lay arm, the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas wants to have a yearly “grand procession” a “Walk for Life” to institutionalize the expression of our choice.

We encourage everyone to join the simultaneous nationwide Walk for Life at 4:00 in the morning to 8:00 A.M. on February 16, at the following Venues:

MANILA     – Venue: Liwasang Aurora, Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City
CEBU           – Venue: From Fuente Osmeña Circle to Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, Cebu City
PALO           – Venue:  Three (3) Sites: 
Eastern side: Palo Metropolitan Cathedral
Western side:  Ormoc City and Palompon Leyte
MINDANAO  – Venue: Provincial Capitol Grounds, Cagayan de Oro City
NORTH LUZON – Venue:
Tarlac City Plazuela
St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, Dagupan City

Bring your own placards with slogans, white and yellow flaglets & ribbons, tarpaulin banners, if you must. Bring the whole family and walk for the protection of life and the next generation.

+ MOST REV. BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D.                        MA. JULIETA F. WASAN, PhD        Chairman, CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity                   LAIKO President

February 8, 2019 ·  By John Nery, Manila for international.la-croix.com

Two recent statements issued by the Philippine Catholic bishops’ conference, though muted in tone, sounded the alarm over the country’s political situation.

The statements, released after the bishops met in Manila for the first of their semi-annual assemblies, were carefully written; the documents did not even mention the name of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In an exhortation to voters in the Catholic-majority country to vote for the common good in upcoming mid-term elections, the bishops included a warning that Duterte’s government was headed towards “total control.”

 “The mid-term elections on May 13 are already crucial. In our country today checks and balances in government are being undermined. So far the Senate is the only institution in government that is holding out as our country is inching towards total control.”

The use of “country” to mean “the present government” is both diplomatic and clearly understood. And the context for the bishops’ analysis of the undermining of the democratic principle of checks and balances is also clear: The executive branch has almost complete domination of the House of Representatives and effective control of the Supreme Court; in this reading, only the Senate, where a vocal minority is still able to block impeachments or other extraordinary measures, is “holding out.”

The bishops use slightly stronger language to signal their opposition to the latest government attempt to change the 1987 constitution.

 “However, more than the elections, another serious, and perhaps more insidious, matter that we should pay attention to is the threat the version of constitutional change and federalism approved by the Lower House and now being dangled to the senators. It takes away the term limits of most of the elected officials and allows political dynasties to continue. It opens the national resources to foreign ownership and eventual control. Its version of federalism is vague and it will do away with the 2019 elections.

 “We denounce any attempt to avoid the 2019 elections.”

This position should not come as a surprise; a year ago, the bishops released pastoral guidelines “for discerning the moral dimension of the present-day moves” to revise the constitution. In sum, the bishops agreed with those who favor the “full implementation” of the constitution, rather than its revision. The provisions of the three-decade old basic law that have not yet been implemented include a ban on political dynasties.

The second communication from the bishops — a pastoral statement issued to address Duterte’s attacks on Church doctrine as well as criticism of the Church for its response to the president’s extremely violent campaign against illegal drugs — adopted a similarly measured tone.

 “We are aware that many of you have been wondering why your bishops have kept a collective silence over many disturbing issues, about which you may have felt you urgently needed our spiritual and pastoral guidance. Forgive us for the length of time that it took us to find our collective voice.”

To Duterte’s attacks, the bishops offered the other cheek.

 “When people do not understand our essential doctrines as Roman Catholic Christians, we have also ourselves to blame…. Perhaps we should find better and more appropriate ways of communicating the faith.”

But to criticism about its role in rehabilitating drug addicts and assisting the families of the victims of the government’s “war on drugs,” the conference stood fast.

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Sagot ni Duterte sa Kahirapan sa Niyugan: Pagbasura sa panukalang batas sa coco levy?

Kaming mga maliliit na magniniyog na paloob sa siyam (9) na pambansang pederasyon ng mga magsasaka at dalawang (2) non-government organizations sa ilalim ng koalisyon ng Kilusan para sa Ugnayan ng mga Samahang Magniniyog (KILUS Magniniyog) ay lubhang nababahala sa lumalalang kahirapan sa niyugan, at ngayon sa pagbasura ni Duterte sa panukalang PCA Reconstitution.

KAHIRAPAN SA NIYUGAN, LUMALALA

Ilang buwan nang bagsak ang presyo ng kopra ngayon na binibili ng mga kumpanya ng langis at siyang batayan ng presyuhan ng mga nagkokopra at nagbebenta ng whole nut.

Tinatayang kasing-baba ng Php 12 ang farmgate price ng kada kilo ng kopra ngayon sa Samar at Php 15.18 naman sa Quezon. Kung ipagbebenta ang whole nut, lalagapak ang presyo sa 3 pesos kada whole nut sa Samar at 4.50 pesos sa Quezon.

Malinaw na kumikitil sa buhay naming mga magniniyog ang ganitong kababang presyo ng aming produkto. Ang sanhi: ang pagkatali ng lokal na pamilihan ng kopra sa presyo ng langis sa pandaigdigang merkado.

Sa panukalang batas na Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act, nakapaloob ang isang pagtingin na ang magniniyog ay maaaring kumalas sa pagkakadena sa pagkokopra at traders. Sa aming pag-aaral, kung magkakaroon ng sapat na suporta mula sa gobyerno, marami pang ibang produkto ang maaaring pakinabangan sa niyog: langis, tubig, harina, asukal, mga coco fiber-based products at iba pa.

Kung kailan higit na kailangan ang ganitong pagbabago sa industriya ng niyog ay ito namang lantarang pagsagka ni Duterte sa pagsasabatas ng mga mahahalagang panukala kagaya ng Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act.

Ang panukala naming magtatag ng isang Trust Fund na mayroong ganitong pagtingin sa industriya ang aming inaasahang magbibigay ng pangkabuhayan at negosyo sa mga magniniyog at magbibigay kapangyarihan sa sektor sa pamamagitan ng representasyon nito sa paggamit, pangangasiwa at administrasyon ng naibalik na coco levy funds.

Malinaw sa amin na sa kadahilanang binasura ni Duterte ang panukalang batas na kapatid ng Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act ay numinipis ang pagkakataong umahon pa sa hirap sa ilalim ng administrasyong ito ang milyun-milyong magninyog.

KANINONG INTERES BA TALAGA ANG PAG-VETO?

Sinasabi ng Pangulo na ginawa niya ang pag-veto upang protektahan ang interes ng mga magniniyog. Aniya, kinakailangan ng mga safeguards upang maprotektahan ang pondo.

Mula pa kampanya, maraming pagkakataon si Duterte na ihain ang anumang mungkahi sa Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund:

• 2016 pumirma si noo’y kandidatong Duterte sa isang ‘social pact’ kasama ang mga magniniyog na mapapakinabangan ng mga magniniyog ang coco levy sa loob ng 100 araw • 2017 listed as priority legislation sa Legislative – Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC)

• 2018 Nabanggit ni Duterte ang coco levy bill sa kanyang State of the Nation Address (SONA)

• 2018 Ipinasa ng bicameral conference committee ang kanilang bersyon ng Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Act kung saan minandato ang PCA bilang tagapangasiwa ng pondo

• Dec 2018 ibinalik ng Malacanang ang nasabing batas, inamyenda muli ng bicam at saka isinumite sa opisina ng pangulo

• Feb 2019 vineto ni Duterte ang PCA Reconstitution bill

Kung talagang nasa interes niya ang interes ng magniniyog, bakit hindi niya binanggit ang mga katanggap-tanggap na pag-“safeguard” sa pondong ito habang umuusad ang proseso sa Kongreso? Wala siyang tukoy na sinabi tungkol dito.

Hanggang hindi nagsasalita ang Pangulo sa kung ano ang mga safeguards na ito, katulad ng PAGTATATAG NG ISANG TRUST FUND COMMITTEE na siya namang matagal nang mungkahi ng sektor at siya ring bitbit ng mga magniniyog nang mag-martsa mula Davao hanggang Maynila noong 2014—titingnan namin ang anumang labas dito bilang pambobola lamang sapagkat kung mayroon mang nakikinabang sa kanyang pag-veto, ito ANG MGA ELITISTA NA NANGUNA SA COCO LEVY SCAM na silang naghahangad na huwag mapakinabangan ng mga maliliit at mahihirap na magniniyog ang coco levy.

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February 8, 2019

Greenresearch joins the urgent calls about the Manila Bay:

NO  to the reclamation of the Manila Bay!
YES  to the rehabilitation of the Manila Bay!

Greenresearch Executive Director, Patria Gwen M.L. Borcena,  an environmental sociologist  who was one of the civil society representatives-members of the Planning Committee (PC) for the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for both the Aquino and Duterte administrations, reminds the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Manila Local Government officials and other concerned policy makers:

Given our country’s vulnerability to  climate change, economic development blueprint for Manila should place a high premium on the conservation, protection, and rehabilitation (CPR) of the environment and natural resources (ENR) towards sustainable development,   so that the city will be  more climate-resilient and very equipped to lessen the occurrence of major disasters and handle these effectively and efficiently if these occur.

The development, utilization and management of  the  natural capital in Manila and other parts of the country should be guided by the precautionary principle, environmental impact assessment (EIA), cost-benefit analysis/economic valuation studies,  as well as a national industrialization plan which will rationalize the  extraction and use of  natural resources  towards nationalist industrialization.

Thus, the ecology of the Manila Bay should not be sacrificed for the pursuit of short-term gains or profits.

As stated in Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’: On the Care for Our Common Home:

 “The protection of the environment is in fact  “an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.” (Laudato Si, No. 141)

Sustainable development does not necessarily mean  balancing economic agenda and environmental protection.   As stressed by this green encyclical:

 “It is not enough to balance, in the medium term, the protection of nature with financial gain, or the preservation of the environment with progress. Halfway measures simply delay the inevitable disaster. Put simply,  it is a matter of redefining our notion of progress.  A technological and economic development which does not leave in its wake a better world and an integrally higher quality of life cannot be considered progress.  Frequently, in fact, people’s quality of life actually diminishes – by the deterioration of the environment, the low quality of food or the depletion of resources – in the midst of economic growth. ((Laudato Si, No. 194)   

Thus, instead of pushing for  the establishment of a “Manila Solar City” catering to the interests of foreign tourists, transnational corporations, and a few local elite in the business sector,   Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and the rest of his local government unit should improve their efforts in rehabilitating Manila Bay, implementing  ecological solid waste management, creating more “green spaces,” and preserving cultural heritage.

Greenresearch  urges  a stronger synergy among non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), religious groups, youth, academe, green champions in the industrial sector  and legislative branches in order to block proposed reclamation projects in Manila Bay.   We also hope that the  present emerging discourse  about the Manila Bay will eventually lead to  participatory ecological governance in Metro Manila.  

Attached are two published articles which critically discuss the dangers of  the proposed Manila Bay Reclamation:

“Why Reclamation of Nearshore Manila Bay is A Very Bad Idea”

By Kelvin Rodolfo, Ph.D.

Kelvin S. Rodolfo, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a corresponding member of the Philippine National Academy of Science and Technology. He lives in Viroqua, Wisconsin and comes to the Philippines regularly.

 “7 Reasons Why We Should Oppose Manila Bay Reclamation Projects”

by Mark Anthony Abenir

Mark Anthony Abenir is an associate professor and director of the Simbahayan Community Development Office of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He is also a development worker and serves as chairman of the Community Development Society of the Philippines.

Christiana Figueres who is a key person in the climate justice movement is visiting the Philippines on February 14 -15, 2019. She would like to have a focused group discussion around the climate change issue with key persons from the civil society organizations, academe and religious sector. 

As executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) from 2010 to 2016, Christiana was responsible for rescuing the process after the disaster at COP 15 in Copenhagen and steering the talks that led to the Paris Agreement in COP21. Currently, she is the convener of Mission 2020. “Mission 2020 is a global initiative that seeks to ensure the world bends the curve on greenhouse gas emission by 2020 in order to protect the most vulnerable from the worst impacts of climate change and usher in an era of stability and prosperity.”

On behalf of Mission 2020, the Global Catholic Climate Movement – Pilipinas (GCCM-Pilipinas) and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) would like to invite you to this focus group discussion which will be held on February 15, 9:00 – 11:00am at Dolcelatte, 1616 Quezon Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. We can only accommodate one (1) participant from each organization/institution. Kindly submit the name of your group’s representative, together with their position/role, email address and contact number to Sr. Elizabeth (Bing) Carranza at gccmpilipinas@gmail.com on or before February 11.

Council of Laity Walk for Life (Feb 16 @Quezon Memorial Circle) and Catholic Church Network Against Human Trafficking (CCNAHT) united call for action and celebration of the Eucharist on Feast Day of St Josephine Bakhita (8 Feb)

8 February 2019    |    Friday    |    11:00 AM
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas
LAIKO Building, 372 Cabildo St., Intramuros, Manila Philippines
Tel: (02) 5275388/ 09771794938
e-mail: laiko_phils@yahoo.com.ph

The Council of Laity of the Philippines/ Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas announces its call for respect of human dignity and human life by action – Walk for Life – and invites all who are concerned with different current issues and debates related to Life, to join by walking on February 16 at Quezon Memorial Circle, QC from 4:00-9:00am;  this announcement is joined by the call of Catholic Church Network Against Human Trafficking (CCNAHT) composed of CBCP Cluster Against Human Trafficking and the Association of Major Religious Superior of the Philippines, for awareness and action to combat human trafficking especially recent trends on vulnerable children, on this day of International Day of Prayer Against Human Trafficking and Feast Day of St. Josephine Bakhita, Patron saint of victims of slavery and human trafficking (February 8).  The Joint Press Conference culminates in a mass at the Manila Cathedral at 12:10pm concelebrated by Manila Auxillary Bishop Most Rev. Broderick S. Pabillo and Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos, Chairperson of Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People.

Contacts:

Joseph Jesalva
Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (LAIKO)
09771794938
laiko_phils@yahoo.com.ph

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Pass SB 1826 Now!

Nagkaisa Labor Coalition believes that the reported signing of a MOA between DOLE and ECOP is nothing but a ploy to thwart the passage of the End ENDO Bill in the Senate.  The timing is suspect. It is being executed and advertised widely while the Senate is on the verge of passing the End ENDO bill. 
The MOA cannot change the miserable situation of our contractual workers. Only a new law can do that.

And what is more shameful of this turn is that the signatories to this pact represent the party of pathological liars and hypocrites as they have ever since been, together with DTI, the first line of defense against the workers’ struggle for the abolition of contractualization.

DOLE deserted from this anti-ENDO battle since day one when it issued department orders that would legitimize ENDO further. ECOP and DTI on the other hand have resorted to blackmail and the consequence of their actions was executive paralysis which contaminated even the Office of the President.

Now they are making a pact for voluntary compliance on ENDO?  Were they not the same party who were making a fool of the workers by mocking their own decisions? Was it not DOLE which issues compliance orders on regularization but only to be defied by ECOP members?  And now they are making a new pact?

Besides, what kind of pact on regularizing workers can DOLE and ECOP agree on, if it is done without workers, who are the supposed beneficiaries of this agreement? Clearly, in this case, workers are yet again the victims of their evil design. The mere act of signing with employers, behind the back of workers—an equal partner under the principle of tripartism and social dialogue—exposes DOLE’s betrayal of the workers.
Our senators must be getting bad signals from this insidious operation.  DOLE’s action can be interpreted as the official position of the executive absent the OP’s strong push for the passage of the End ENDO bill. ECOP on the other hand may have succeeded in convincing DOLE and the Executive to abandon the End ENDO bill and opt for this MOA template instead. Or they might have been working on it together since day one to block any effort at changing the rules of the game in favor of workers.

We call on our senators not to be swayed by DOLE-ECOP’s fake advertisement. The End ENDO Bill is about social justice. It’s about decent work and decent life. The DOLE-ECOP MOA is just a PR stunt, perhaps fake news personified, meant to mislead the policymakers.

Participants condemn deadly bombings of Catholic church and mosque in the southern Philippines last week

Jigger Jerusalem, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
February 4, 2019

Christians and Muslims in the Philippines held “unity walks” to call for peace following deadly blasts that rocked the south of the country last week.

In Manila, hundreds of people gathered for a prayer rally on Feb. 3 to show “the world that Filipino Muslims and Christians are one.”

They condemned the bombing of a Catholic cathedral in Jolo province that killed at least 22 people on Jan. 27 and a grenade explosion in a mosque in Zamboanga City that killed two on Jan. 30.

In Mindanao, an interfaith prayer rally was also held in Cagayan de Oro City on Feb. 2 to mark the start of the observance of “World Interfaith Harmony Week.”

Monsignor Rey Monsanto admitted that there was “a sense of fear” among Catholic clergy in Mindanao and that the bomb explosions in Jolo and Zamboanga could spark further violence.

“We are worried that Christians and Muslims will begin blaming each other,” said the priest, adding that they might use religion as an excuse to wage war.

Abdulnasser Masorong, director of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, said the violence “has caused harm to the entire nation in a divisive effort to further widen the gap between Muslims and Christians.”

Alec Mohammad, a Muslim religious leader in Cagayan de Oro, however, said the violence “will not break the spirit of the long-standing relationship” among Mindanao’s peoples.

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