PLM Statement on the Supreme Court's TRO

PLM STATEMENT ON THE SUPREME COURT’S TRO

The Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) condemns the Supreme Court’s decision to grant a temporary restraining order on the watch list and hold-departure orders of the Department of Justice against the Arroyos. The haste with which the Supreme Court ordered the TRO appears to be a move in collusion with the Arroyos and not in accordance with the people’s right to be served justice.

We also deplore the Supreme Court’s decision which suggested that ex-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should be given the right to travel just like any ordinary citizen. We ask the Court, did the ordinary citizens sabotage elections, plunder the economy, and abuse authority? The Supreme Court should not use our names to argue for the right of saboteurs, liars, plunderers and abusers.

By its action, the Supreme Court has proven once again that is a heavily factionalized and “politicized” (i.e, trapo-controlled) body. This is a result of Arroyo’s appointees still lording it over the courts in the land. This is a problem with a Supreme Court beholden to those who have appointed them in powers.

We also lamented the fact that the Aquino government, up to now, has failed to file any criminal and administrative charges against the Arroyos so they will be barred from leaving the country. Because of this failure, the people continue to suffer the consequences of the factional infighting of the Arroyo and Aquino camps within the Supreme Court and the government’s gross incompetence in providing justice for the people.

We hold the Supreme Court and the Aquino government both responsible for the failure to prosecute the Arroyos. The Arroyos have attempted to flee the country last night; they will try to do it again and again, until the Aquino government has put its act together and dealt with the Arroyos firmly.

Specifically, we ask the Supreme Court justices to resign, not only with regard to this latest mess, but with previous decisions that favor only a few people seen to be their benefactors, such as the flip-flopping decision on the Fasap issue favoring the capitalist taipan Lucio Tan.

We ask the Aquino government to continue the hold-order against the Arroyos, file the long-overdue criminal and administrative charges, and haul them off to jail.

Sonny Melencio

Chair, Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)

November 16, 2011

polyeto - Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Ayala - Oktubre 21, 2011

Nilalaman ng polyetong ipinamahagi sa isinagawang pagkilos sa Ayala, Makati, Oktubre 21, 2011.

PAGKAGANID SA TUBO: PAHIRAP SA MASANG PINOY

Nakikiisa kami sa pandaigdigang panawagan laban sa pagkaganid sa tubo at emperyo ng kapitalismo. Itinuturing namin ang "Occupy Wall Street" bilang inspirasyon sa mundong pinaagas ng mga pandaigdigang monopolyong korporasyon.

Doon sa puso ng kaaway - sa pinakamalaking kapitalistang ekonomya ng mundo - sumisigaw, kumikilos ang mga manggagawang Amerikano sa iba't ibang syudad laban sa pinakamalaking agwat ng mayaman at mahirap sa mahabang kasaysayan ng sistemang kapitalismo sa daigdig.

Ang "Occupy Wall Street" ay naghawan ng bagong daan na nagpadaluyong ng protesta sa buong mundo laban sa bulok na sistemang kapitalismo na ugat ng kahirapan ng sangkatauhan. Sa maraming bansa, inokupa ng mga nagpoprotesta ang mga plaza upang ipakita ang kanilang matinding galit sa pagkaganid ng mga korporasyong kapitalista.

Tayong mamamayang Pilipino ay matagal na ring biktima ng pagkaganid sa tubo ng mga kapitalista, kaya nagpoprotesta kami dito sa Philippine stock Exchange na simbolo ng walang hanggang pagkauhaw sa tubo.

Ngunit higit na mahalaga ang nilalaman kaysa porma, lumalahok kami sa pandaigdigang panawagang "Mamamayan muna bago tubo." Kaya, dapat unahin ng gubyerno ang kapakanan ng mamamayan kaysa pagkamal ng tubo ng iilang mayaman na.

Nananawagan kami sa Gubyernong Aquino - sa ngalan ng katarungang panlipunan - na baliktarin ang sumusunod na tunguhin, na pawang salaminan kung paanong ang pagkaganid sa tubo ay nagpapahirap sa mamamayang Pilipino:

1. No to Outsourcing and Contractualization! Humingi ng paumanhin sa publiko ang Pangulo sa pagbabanta niyang kasuhan ang PALEA ng “economic sabotage.” Magdeklara ng polisiya na protektahan ang karapatan sa regular at tiyak na trabaho laban sa abusadong paggamit sa “management prerogative” gaya ng outsourcing at downsizing.

2. No to Oil Deregulation! Repasuhin ang mga polisiya kung paano ibabalik ang pagkontrol sa presyuhan ng langis. Sapat na ang labintatlong taong ebidensya para patunayang kung walang kontrol ang gubyerno, walang depensa ang mamamayan sa napakatakaw na pagkamal ng tubo ng mga kapitalista sa langis.

3. In-city Development! Makatao at sustenableng kondisyon (hindi mataas na presyo para sa mga kapitalista sa real estate) ang dapat na pagsimulan ng anumang usapan at resolusyon sa problema ng maralitang lungsod.

4. No to Privatization! Ang pagbebenta ng gubyerno sa pribado (lokal at dayuhang kapitalista) ng mga batayang serbisyong panlipunan gaya ng kuryente, tubig at kalsada ay nagbunga ng sobrang taas na presyo. Di dapat talikuran ng gubyerno ang tungkulin nito sa mamamayan na maglaan ng sapat na pondo, maalam na tauhan, at episyenteng pangangasiwa para sa serbisyong panlipunan. Itigil ang pribatisasyon; huwag pagkaitan ang mamamayan ng serbisyong panlipunan.

5. No to Liberalization! Di dapat iasa ang ekonomikong pag-unlad sa dayuhang puhunan gaya ng dayuhang monopolyo kapital at produkto ng mga dayuhan. Paunlarin ang ekonomya sa pamamagitan ng industriyalisasyon at modernisasyon ng agrikultura.

6. Climate Justice Now! Ang pagkaganid sa tubo ng kapitalismo ay di lamang nagkakait ng trabaho at sapat na kita sa mamamayan kundi banta o panganib rin ito sa ating kinabukasan. Ang mundo ay para sa lahat. Itaguyod ang sustenable at planadong paggamit ng likas-yaman.

SANLAKAS

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT)

Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML)

Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)

Kalayaan!

Makabayan Pilipinas

SM-ZOTO

Unified Press Statement - Occupy Ayala mob

UNIFIED PRESS STATEMENT

October 21, 2011

SANLAKAS

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT)

Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML)

Samahan ng mga Mamamayan-Zone One Tondo Organization (SM-ZOTO)

Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA)

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)

KALAYAAN

Makabayan-Pilipinas

Corporate Greed: Wrecking havoc on the Filipino People

Our organizations join the worldwide call against “corporate greed” and the empire of capitalism. We look up to “Occupy Wall Street” (OWS) as a beacon to a world bled dry by global monopoly corporations.

Right at the very heart of the enemy – at the biggest capitalist economy – American workers have spontaneously begun to speak out against the widest rich-poor divide in the history of capitalism; not with their voices but with their feet by occupying selected choke points in several key cities in the US.

OWS is a trailblazer that set a wave of anti-capitalist protests around the world. In various countries, protesters have occupied public spaces to express their sentiment against corporate greed.

Because we are inspired by the resurgence in America, we are staging a protest here at the Philippine Stock Exchange - right before the institution which symbolizes capital’s naked and insatiable drive for profit.

But more important than the form is the substance, we are joining the global call for “People before Profit”. Indeed, government must heed the primacy of people’s welfare over the right to profit by the elite few.

We are calling on the Aquino administration – in the name of social justice – to reverse the following trends, which are all manifestations of how corporate greed is wrecking havoc on the Filipino people:

a) No to Outsourcing! The President must issue a public apology for threatening to sue PALEA with “economic sabotage”. Declare a policy of protecting the right to regular and secure jobs against abusive practices of management prerogative such as outsourcing and downsizing.

b) No to Oil Deregulation! Review policies on how to revert back to a regulated oil market. Thirteen years of deregulation is enough evidence to prove that without state intervention, the public would be defenseless against shameless profiteering by the oil oligarchs.

c) In-city Development! Humane and sustainable conditions (not higher land values for real estate moguls) should be the starting point of any resolution to the urban poor question.

d) No to Privatization! The sale of basic public social services (i.e., electricity, water, roads) to the private sector (local and foreign) has resulted in exorbitant prices. Government should not turn its back on its role to provide its people social goods and services. End privatization schemes; do not deny the people of social services.

e) No to Liberalization! Economic development should not be dependent on foreign investment (i.e., foreign monopoly capital) much less foreign products. Develop the national economy through industrialization and modernization of agriculture.

f) Climate Justice Now! Capitalism’s greed does not only deny jobs and income to the people but also threatens our future. The world is for everyone. Uphold sustainable and planned utilization of natural resources.

P-Noy at Korte Suprema, Nasa Bulsa ni Lucio Tan

P-NOY AT KORTE SUPREMA, NASA BULSA NI LUCIO TAN

Si Lucio Tan ay ikalawa sa pinakamayaman sa bansa. Nagkakahalaga ng 2.1 bilyong dolyar ang kanyang pag-aari. Siya ang El Kapitan ng iba't ibang mga kumpanya - kasama ang Fortune Tobacco, Asia Brewery, Allied Bank, Philippine Airlines, atbp.

Sa ngayon, humaharap si Lucio Tan sa dalawang kasong hinain ng kanyang mga manggagawa. Sa mga kasong ito, agad na kumampi sa kanya ang Malakanyang at ang Korte Suprema.

Ang unang kaso ay mula sa 2,600 empleyado ng Philippine Airlines, na tinanggal sa kompanya dahil ayaw nilang maging kontraktwal sa ilalim ng mga service provider. Tinututulan nila ang outsourcing - isang iskemang iligal at sumisikil sa karapatang security of tenure.

Kasalukuyang nasa Court of Appeals ang kaso. Pero bago ito humantong sa Korte, si Lucio ay pinaboran ng DOLE at ng Malakanyang.

Mismong si P-Noy ay nagdeklarang kakasuhan daw ng mga abogado ng Palasyo ang mga manggagawa. Economic sabotage daw ang nangyaring pagkakansela ng mga flight ng PAL. Pero ano ba ang ginawa ng unyon (PALEA)? Sila ay nagprotesta sa pagkakatanggal sa trabaho. Bakit nakansela ang mga flight? Dahil sa ginawang pagtatanggal ng PAL management! Sino ngayon ang nananabotahe?

Ang ikalawang kaso ay ukol sa retrenchment ng 1,400 myembro ng Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP). Nanalo na ang mga manggagawa sa kasong ito. Umabot na sa ikalawang dibisyon ng Korte suprema - matapos ang 13 taon na mahabang proseso ng talo't panalo - ng apela at kontra-apela mula pa sa "mababang korte" (National labor Relations Commission o NLRC).

Sa desisyon ng 2nd division ng Korte, umabot na sa ikatlong Motion for Reconsideration. Kahit pa noong desisyunan ang kaso - pabor sa FASAP - sinabi nitong ang desisyon ay "final and executory". Pinal na at hindi na papakinggan pa ang anumang apela dito.

Pero sa isang iglap, kahit tatlong beses nang paboran ng Korte, muling nabuksan ang kaso matapos lamang silang sulatan ng abogado ng PAL (si Estelito Mendoza ng counsel ni Erap sa impeachment case). Kaya ngayon, nakabinbin muli ang kaso sa buong mahistrado (Supreme Court en banc).

Bakit ganito kalakas si Lucio Tan sa Korte Suprema? Hindi ba't ang hustisya ay may piring sa mata upang hindi siya "masilaw sa yaman" ng nagkakaso o kinakasuhan? At hindi ba't ayon mismo kay Erap, si Lucio Tan ang nagpasok kay dating Chief Justice Davide sa Korte?

Natutukso tayong magduda. Tila sumusunod ang Korte sa ginawang "kontra-manggagawang" tindig ni P-Noy sa kaso ng PALEA. At ang alitan ng Korte at Palasyo ay hanggang salita lamang dahil kapag sinukat sa "gawa", pareho silang umaayon sa kagustuhan ni Lucio Tan.

At hindi natin maiwasang maghinala sa kaso ng FASAP. Ang ligal na obligasyon ni Lucio Tan (full back wages matapos ang reinstatement) sa kanyang mga empleyado ay umaabot ng 3 bilyong piso! Barya lamang ito sa bilyon-bilyong dolyar niyang ari-arian.

Pero imbes na bayaran ang mga myembro ng FASAP, mas mainam pa rin kay Lucio kung siya ay "makatitipid". Kung porsyon ng kabuuang money claim (kung ipagpalagay na 10% lamang o P300M) ay kayang-kayang "wawaldasin" sa iilang mahistrado (ang Supreme Court en banc ay binubuo lamang ng may 15 katao!) para makatipid.

Hindi kalabisan ang paghinalaan ang isang respetadong institusyon sa bansa. Dahil ang ganitong klase ng "pagtitipid" ay modus operandi sa mga kasong may money claim ang manggagawa. Ito rin ang sistema sa NLRC!

Sa muling pagkakataon, itinuturo nito na huwag tayong umasa at magkasya sa "simple, lantay at payak" na labanang ligal. Hindi sapat ang "pakikibakang papel" sa mga korte.

Magkaiba ang "tama" at "mali" sa pagitan ng kapital at paggawa. Ang husgado - kasama ang Korte - na tila nyutral na namamagitan sa dalawang uri - ay mas kumikilala sa katuwiran ng mga kapitalista. Sinasagrado nila ang karapatan sa pribadong pag-aari (property rights) kaysa sa mga karapatan ng manggagawa (labor rights).

Kung gayon, mananaig tayo kung kokombinahan natin ito ng sama-samang pagkilos ng manggagawa. Hindi lang para presyurin ang korte na pumabor sa FASAP at PALEA. Kundi para iprepara ang uri upang palitan ang gobyernong nasa bulsa ng mga kapitaista. Tandaan nating "ang paglaya ng manggagawa ay nasa kamay mismo ng uring manggagawa."

Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP)

Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon (PMT)

Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM)

polyeto for June 26 PLM Cainta assembly

ANG PARTIDO LAKAS NG MASA (PLM)

Ang Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) ay isang bagong tayong partido pulitikal ng masang Pilipino na naghahangad na makapanaig laban sa mga bilyunaryo at elitistang partido sa pagpapatakbo ng gobyerno.

Naniniwala ang PLM na isa sa mayor na dahilan kung bakit naghihirap at api ang malaking mayorya ng mamamayang Pilipino ay sapagkat kontrolado ng partido ng iilang mayayaman ang pagpapatakbo at pagdedesisyon sa buhay at pulitika ng buong sambayanan.

Kaya’t kapakanan ng mga kapitalista at ng mga kasapi ng elitistang partido ang pinapangalagaan sa tuwing sila ay gagawa ng batas at patakaran, hindi ang kabuhayan at kapakanan ng masang Pilipino. Sa pamamagitan ng mga batas, nagiging ligal ang pang-aapi at pagkakamal ng yaman ng iilan. Sa kabilang banda nagiging ligal din ang kaapihan at pagdarahop ng masa ng sambayan.

Ligal ang walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis dahil may ipinasang batas na nagbigay ng buong laya sa kapitalista na itaas ang presyo nito sa kung ano mang halaga at gaano man kadalas nilang naisin. Ito ay ang OIL Deregulation Law.

Mataas ang presyo ng iba pang bilihin dahil bukod sa binigyan ng buong laya ang mga kapitalista na itaas ito, nagpatong pa ang gobyerno ng 12% VAT sa halos lahat ng produkto. Ito naman ay ang VAT Law.

Problema naman ng mga manggagawa ang kontraktwalisasyon, mababang sahod at kawalan ng trabaho. Ito naman ay dahil sa HERRERA Law na isinabatas noong panahon ni Cory Aquino.

Mas masahol ang kalagayan ng maralitang tagalungsod na di na nga sila nabigyan ng matinong trabaho ng mga nagpalit-palit na partido, walang-awa pang dinidemolis ang kanilang tahanan dahil naman sa patakarang Decongestion ng Metro Manila at Court Order kaya’t ligal na winawasak ang kanilang tahanan.

Batas naman hinggil sa Property Rights ang nagligalisa na kamkamin ng mga mayayaman ang malawak na lupaing taniman at itaboy ang mga magsasaka sa kanilang lupang sinasaka at kinatatayuan ng kanilang tahanan.

Marami pang mga patakarang isinabatas ang mga elitista at ang kanilang partido mula sa panahon ng Nacionalista Party, LP, KBL, PDP-Laban-UNIDO, PMP ni Erap, Lakas-NUCD, hanggang ngayong sa pagbabalik ng LP ni Noynoy Aquino – na nagbigay ng ligalidad upang payamanin nang payamanin ang iilan at papaghirapin at apihin ang milyong bilang ng masang Pilipino.

Kailangan na ang tunay na pagbabago at ito ay magaganap kung ang partidong nakapwesto sa loob ng gobyerno ay hindi na partido ng mga elitista, kapitalista’t asendero kundi ang Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM). Ang partido na gagawa ng batas na pantay para sa lahat.

Sa panahong maganap ito, unang aasikasuhin ng Partido Lakas ng Masa ang pagresolba sa laganap na kagutuman at malnutrisyon ng masa. Ang libreng pagpapa-ospital ng lahat at pag-aaral ng mga bata at ang kasiguruhan sa disenteng paninirahan. Maraming pera ang gobyerno, maraming pagkukunan, ang problema, napupunta sa kamay ng iilan.

Isusunod ng PLM ang pag-aalis sa mga mapang-api at mapagpahirap na batas tulad ng VAT, Oil Deregulation Law upang pababain ang presyo ng bilihin at ang pagbubuo ng komprehensibong programa na magtitiyak na protektado ang karapatan at kabuhayan ng masa.

Kaya’t, palawakin ang kasapian ng PLM! Wakasan ang paghahari ng partido ng mga kapitalista’t asendero! Itayo ang gobyerno ng masa ng sambayanan, hindi ng iilan. Sumapi sa PLM!

DUMALO SA PAGTITIPON NG PLM SA

JUNE 26, 2:00PM

SA PEOPLE’S CENTER

SA HARAP NG CAINTA MUNICIPAL HALL.

P125 Minimum Wage Increase Now!

P125 Minimum Wage Increase Now!

by Partido Lakas ng Masa

The Workers Create the Wealth of the Society!

We Deserve Better!

The Regional Wage Board’s decision of giving NCR workers a 22 pesos non-wage benefit is unacceptable and considered an insult to all non-agricultural workers. The additional Php 22 was too little to make any economic impact for the workers because it was given way too late when prices of basic commodities and transportation fares were already increased. We can say that the adjustment is really not an adjustment to help but a mere pampalubag loob (consolation). President Noynoy Aquino (Pnoy) made an announcement before May 1, International Labor Day, that he has good news for the workers. But instead of making good of his promise to help alleviate a little the economic condition of the workers, he failed the expectations of the Filipino working class for the nth time. This decision and the inability of Pnoy to act in favor of the majority, made it clear that Pnoy’s bosses are not the ordinary people but the elites.

The Php 22 is not a wage increase which the workers are asking. It is way below the Php 125 or the Php 75 that the workers are asking, and is too little for a Living Wage needed by a worker to live a decent life. The Php 22 that will be added to the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) will not be subject to over time and night differential and 13th month pay computations, making the Board’s decision more favorable to employers than the workers who badly need a salary increase.

This decision is a manifestation that the ruling elite of this country is highly favored by this government. The Private Partnership Program (PPP) of Pnoy is in full motion to the detriment of the working class. All those who will benefit from this shenanigan are the capitalists who are cashing in on the government’s inability to protect the interest of the working class who produces the wealth of the society.

The Partido Lakas ng Masa (Party of the Laboring Masses) calls on Pnoy to do something for a change, to do something to benefit the ordinary Filipino, especially the Working Class. What he needs is a political will to put forward policies that will benefit the poor majority of the society. What the workers are asking is a Php 125 salary increase, the scrapping of the Oil Deregulation Law, and the cancellation of EVAT for basic commodities! And we will not settle for anything less!

11 May 2011

PLM Statement on May Day 2011

PARTIDO LAKAS NG MASA MAY DAY STATEMENT-- 2011

"Sobra na ang Kahirapan!

Tama na ang Pagpapabaya ng Pamahalaan!"

Enough of Poverty!

Enough of Government Neglect!

Intensify the Struggle Against Capitalism

and towards Socialism of the 21st Century!

This May 1, despite getting rid of the hated government of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and electing a new President Noynoy Aquino who has promised to end corruption and poverty, over 100 years since the first May Day, Filipino workers and the poor have very little to celebrate. Despite the high expectations of large sections of the working class and the poor who voted for President Aquino, his government has failed to address any of the substantial questions facing Filipinos today: poverty and hunger, low wages, unemployment.

The latest SWS survey showing an increase in hunger is a major concern that must be taken seriously and not brushed off in a squabble over statistics. According to the March 4-7 poll 20.5% of respondents -- or an estimated 4.1 million families -- have gone hungry at least once in the past three months. This is up from the estimated 3.4 million families recorded in November 2010, i.e., almost one million extra families are going hungry today due to poverty. Along with the other examples of poverty and marginalization – such as the shocking deaths of up to 30 people in Palawan, including children, due to easily preventable ailments such as diarrhea – this demonstrates that the situation of the masa is deteriorating.

The fact is that wide-spread poverty, and related hunger, continues to exist and is the most serious socio-economic problem that the country faces today. We don’t need statistics to tell us this. The masa know this and we experience it in our daily lives. The deteriorating situation of the masa and the seeming inability of the government to reverse the trend represent the failure of the government to carry out its promise of poverty reduction during its first year in office.

We needed far reaching reforms and strategies – at least 12 months ago. Without meaningful measures and reforms the situation for the masa will continue to worsen, and poverty and hunger will increase. The President must put forward a concrete development plan. The President must have a clear strategy for poverty reduction and must have the political will to implement them. At the heart of such a strategy and plan should be far-reaching measures for job creation for the country’s citizens – not Conditional Cash Transfer programs. There is no time to waste. The people are hungry and are getting desperate.

This May I the Partido Lakas ng Masa commits to intensifying the struggle around a series of demands that will provide immediate protection for the working class and the poor. We will now take up the fight in direct opposition to the government of President Noynoy Aquino. PLM and our allied mass organizations will launch a series of campaigns around the following demands:

Scrap the Value Added Tax!

Price Ceiling Now!

Extend the Moratorium on Demolition!

For a P125 daily minimum wage increase!

Job creation program for the youth!

In intensifying our struggle around these demands, we reaffirm our commitment to the unity of the left and progressive movements who also support these demands and we will explore all avenues to maximize the unity of the mass movements to strengthen our struggles to protect and defend the masa.

This May 1 PLM also reaffirms its commitment to international solidarity. We will draw on the lessons and the inspiration provided by workers and comrades struggling around the world, to challenge the capitalist order and build socialist alternatives -- from peoples power in the Middle East, to the mobilization of workers and students against cutbacks in Europe, to the comrades in Latin America who are showing us the way towards the Socialism of the 21st Century.

We also extend our warm solidarity to our sister socialist parties in the Asia region and we will continue to support all initiatives to strengthen our networks and relations.

With renewed determination to intensify the struggle we declare:

Long Live May Day!

May Day, 2011

Preventable child deaths in Palawan: What happened to the CCT program?

Partido Lakas ng Masa-Women Statement

Preventable child deaths in Palawan: What happened to the CCT program?

According to the latest reports at least 30 people, mostly children belonging to a Palawan tribe, died in what health authorities suspect to be an outbreak of cholera due to contaminated water. At least seven out of every ten dead were children under five years of age. The tribal community struck by suspected cholera live in Bataraza town.

“We were told that the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program would reach out to communities such as these, and provide households cash and other services for health and nutritional expenses. Palawan is also supposed to be one of the 20 poorest provinces in the country where the CCT program is being implemented. In fact the province has been described as a Set 2 beneficiary area, where the CCT program was started in April 2009 under the Arroyo administration and has been continued until 2014 under the government of President Noynoy Aquino. It was supposed to address poverty and improve the health of precisely these types of poor and marginalized communities. If the CCT was really effective, why should such disasters happen?” Emma Garcia, spokesperson for PLM-Women queried?

“We want some clarification on this from the DSWD Secretary Dinky Solliman and other agencies concerned with the implementation of the CCT program. Was the CCT program implemented in these areas affected by the cholera? If not, why not? If so, what are the results? Why wasn’t this epidemic prevented?”

"We organized a women's picket outside the Department of Health on Friday April 08 and PLM-Women are prepared to continue these women's pickets outside the DSWD and other relevant agencies until their questions are answered."

That children are dying due to preventable ailments such as diarrhea is an outrage that’s happening in 21st century Philippines. And the fact is that this is not an isolated incident. According to UNICEF Philippines, the UN organization mandated to work for children’s rights, diarrhea is a leading cause of under-five deaths in the country, responsible for almost 10,000 deaths per year.

“We call on the government of President Aquino for action, not mere words and sweet talk. Increase the health care budget now, establish a system of universal health care, and push for the immediate passage of the RH Bill which will save mothers and childrens lives”, Emma Garcia said.

Partido Lakas ng Masa -- Women

April 8, 2011

PLM Women - polyeto sa RH Bill

RH BILL, SUPORTAHAN!

IPASA ANG RH BILL! NGAYON NA!

A. Bakit sinusuportahan ng Partido Lakas ng Masa ang “The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development Act of 2011 (o Ang Batas sa Responsableng Pagmamagulang, Reproduktibong Kalusugan, at Populasyon at Pag-unlad ng 2011)”

Naninindigan ang Partido Lakas ng Masa sa pagsusulong at pagpapalaganap ng kalusugan ng kababaihan at ng bata at ng reproduktibong kalusugan at karapatan ng kababaihan. Naglalaman ang “The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development Act of 2011” ng mahahalagang panukalang batas upang isulong ang kalusugan ng kababaihan at ang reproduktibong karapatan. Kapag pumasa ang panukala, makatutulong ito sa mahihirap na kababaihan na palaging nagdusa sa kinahihinatnan ng di-inaasahang pagbubuntis, kamatayan ng ina sa panganganak, nakunan, at di ligtas o mapanganib na aborsyon.

B. Ano ang “The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development Act of 2011”?

Sa ilalim ng batas na ito:

• Maglalaan ng modernong pamamaraan ng pagpaplano ng pamilya sa lahat ng sinertipikahang pasilidad pangkalusugan (health clinics),

. Para sa maralitang kababaihan, ito'y dapat na libre at sapat na pagsubsidyo ng PhilHealth at tulong pinansyal ng pamahalaan;

• Ang mga suplay at produkto hinggil sa pagpaplano ng pamilya ay isasama sa regular na pagbili ng mga importanteng gamot at kagamitan sa lahat ng ospital;

• Bibigyan ng LGUs ang mga maralitang pamilya ng abot-kayang serbisyo para sa pagpaplano ng pamilya;

• Darami ang bilang ng mga hilot at may kasanayang tagapangalaga upang kamtin ang minimum na rata ng 1 buong oras na tagapangalaga sa panganganak sa bawat 150 isinisilang bawat buwan;

• Pag-upgrade ng emergency obstetric care at pagpapaunlad ng kakayahang maabot ito ng mga maralita,

• Pagpapaunlad ng mobile na serbisyo para sa kalusugan at pagkakaloob sa bawat distritong konggresyonal ng kahit isang Mobile Health Care Service van;

• Ang reproduktibong karapatan at edukasyong seks, kasama ang mga paksa hinggil sa kasarian at responsableng pakikipagrelasyon at pagmamagulang, ay ituturo sa mga paaralan ng mga gurong may kasanayan sa pamamagitan ng angkop na kurikula, mula Baitang 5 sa elementarya hanggang ika-4 na Taon ng high school;

• Dapat igalang ng mga employer ang mga karapatang reproduktibo ng mga nagtatrabaho at maglaan ng bayad na kalahating araw sa pre-natal at medikal na pagliban sa bawat buwan ng pagbubuntis ng manggagawang kababaihan;

• Ang karapatan sa impormasyon ng bawat indibidwal hinggil sa pagkakaroon ng serbisyo sa reproduktibong karapatan, kasama ang pagpaplano ng pamilya at pangangalaga bago panganak, ay dapat magarantiyahan ng pamahalaan.

• Mas higit na pamumuhunan at pagbibigay ng prayoridad sa pagpaplano ng pamilya at mga serbisyo sa reproduktibong kalusugan sa pamamagitan ng programang laban sa kahirapan.

C. Masasagip ng batas ang buhay ng maralitang kababaihan at mga bata.

Kapag naipasa ang batas at naipatupad, makakasagip ito ng maraming buhay. Kapag gumamit ng modernong pamamaraang kontraseptibo ang lahat ng kababaihan, ito'y makatutulong:

• Mabawasan ang maternal na pagkamatay ng 2,100 kada taon;

. Mabawasan ng 800,000 ang di-planadong pagbubuntis;

. Mabawasan ng 500,000 sapilitang aborsyon;

. Mabawasan ng 200,000 ang makukunan.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit sinusuportahan ng Partido Lakas ng Masa ang “The Responsible Parenthood, Reproductive Health, and Population and Development Act of 2011”. Nananawagan kami sa aming mga kasapian na sumama sa kampanya upang suportahan ang Panukalang Batas, mag-organisa ng mga aktibidad upang ipaalam at turuan ang mga komunidad at konseho ng barangay, at sumama sa mga mobilisasyong inorganisa ng RHAN at iba pang samahang kababaihan, suportahan ang pagpapasa ng lehislasyon sa Kongreso at Senado. Ipinakikita ng mga ebidensyang ito ang totoong mabuti at tamang gawin.

[1] Ang datos ay mula sa publikasyong Policy Brief ng Likhaan. Pinagkunang website ang www.guttmacher.org/pubs/2009 “Meeting Women’s Contraceptive Needs in the Philippines”.

PARTIDO LAKAS NG MASA

PLM-WOMEN

Pebrero 10, 2011

Stop the Plunder! Revamp the AFP Now!

Statement of the Partido Lakas ng Masa

Stop the Plunder! Revamp the AFP Now!

THE FUNDAMENTAL role and character of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been brought into question by the latest revelations of the colossal scale of corruption, nay, plunder of state and people’s resources by the general command of the AFP.

Lt. Col. George Rabusa, the former Philippine military budget officer, has revealed a fraction of this plunder, as well as one of the mechanisms by which it takes place: the payola (slush) fund, known as the provisions for command-directed activities (PCDA), which has a fund of around half-a-billion pesos yearly. Through this PCDA fund, General Angelo Reyes helped himself to 50 million pesos when he retired in March 2001, after just 20 months in office. Generals Villanueva and Cimatu were given a 10 million pesos start-up fund each. All three generals also received a P5 million monthly allowance from the fund during their term in office. Some 160 million pesos "pabaon" (send-off money) was given to General Villanueva when he retired in May 2002. In total, Rabusa had converted into dollars and handed out to the generals almost one billion pesos from the payola fund.

Perhaps even more alarming are the revelations of former Commission on Audit officer Heidi Mendoza. Mendoza states that an even larger amount of millions of dollars of overseas funding from international agencies, such as the United Nations, slated for Philippine troops on peacekeeping missions overseas, have been siphoned off into dubious accounts in the Philippines. This includes a single check for $5 million, which was “picked up” in the US by an “unidentified AFP officer”. Former comptroller General Carlos Garcia, who has been pinpointed by Mendoza, was the main operator who was fronting for several top generals, and not only Angelo Reyes.

High ranking officials of the AFP are now claiming that the plunder was stopped through the abolishment of the PCDA in 2005. But this sounds more like damage control on the part of the serving AFP top brass, to contain the situation from further damaging and undermining the institution. However, these plunder charges prove that there is something fundamentally flawed about the AFP as currently constituted. The AFP, far from being the protector of the people seems to be the very anti-thesis of this, plundering the resources that belong to the ordinary soldiers and the masa. Ordinary rank-and-file soldiers put their lives on the line every day and their families scrimp on meagre wages and are deprived of much needed benefits, while the top brass, their wives and children, wallow in plundered wealth.

We think that a genuine government of the people will act and take some immediate measures to revamp and fundamentally transform the AFP. These include the following actions:

· Press for the resignation of the top generals.

· Replace them with a younger generation of junior officers, with the commitment and will to serve the people.

· Abolish not only the slush funds, but all the discretionary funds of the generals, and channel the funds to the rank-and-file soldiers’ welfare and benefits, i.e. medical benefits, housing and salary increases.

· Review the defense budget with the aim of re-channelling the savings towards people’s welfare expenditure, such as education and health.

· Investigate the financial dealings of the top generals, with the view to charging them with corruption and plunder of the people’s resources.

These are the most immediate and practical measures that are necessary to revamp the AFP and transform it into a genuine protector of the people’s interests.

February 2, 2011