Senate approves Roxas's affordable medicine measure

The Senate yesterday approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 2263, the bill authored by Sen. Mar Roxas that seeks to amend specific provisions of the Intellectual Property Code to make medicines more affordable in the country.

The Upper Chamber voted 20-0 to approve of the measure which, after it becomes a law, Mar Roxas says would herald an era when Filipinos would be able to buy their medicines at more affordable costs similar to medicine prices in Thailand, India, Japan, and other countries.

"I sincerely thank my colleagues for their support to the bill," Roxas said, adding:

"This is just a first step toward promoting competition in the local pharmaceutical market that would increase people's access and lead to lower prices of medicines to ensure our people's health."

Senate Bill 2263 seeks to address the three major obstacles to the people's access to affordable, quality medicines, namely:

1) Structure of the pharmaceutical industry – "[…] unlike other countries, the industry here is characterized by extreme concentration of market power, in short, controlled by a handful of players. In technical terms, what we now have is what's known as an uncontested market. Whatever these players charge, the market will bear, because of the relative absence of competition and alternatives. Kung ang gamot ay tubig, ang pagdaloy nito ay nagmumula lamang sa iilang gripo at kontrolado din ng iilan lang ang hose."

2) Behavioral orientation of consumers, doctors and public health institutions – "Our consumers have yet to fully appreciate the value for money offered by generic substitutes. Our doctors and public health institutions must not negate the spirit of the (Generics) law by failing to live up to their duty to inform their patients, particularly the poor, about generic substitutes."

3) Protectionist provisions of the existing law – "Certain provisions of the Intellectual Property Code (IPC) have been misused over time such that profit trumps public interest. Because of the highly technical and abstruse nature of the intellectual property system, the multinational pharmaceutical companies have dominated the application of the intellectual property law to the detriment of public welfare."

The bill, as approved by the Senate seeks to:

• Amend Section 72.3 of the IPC to expressly adopt the "early working" doctrine to allow generic producers to get ready earlier so that they can start the production and sale of a generic drug shortly after its patent expires. "This proposed amendment is known internationally as the Bolar amendments after such were entered into US Law. Many other countries have adopted similar provisions, such as, Canada, Argentina, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Moreover, this principle has been recognized by the WTO in a case involving Canada vs. the European Union member states."
• Amend Section 72.1 of the IPC by adopting "the doctrine of international exhaustion of intellectual property rights" from the present domestic exhaustion principle currently applied in the Philippines. "Under the international exhaustion regime, once a product has been introduced anywhere in the world by the patent owner, then anyone may buy and import the same for resale in the Philippines without risk of patent infringement. Consequently, this amendment will allow the parallel importation of medicines so that anyone, whether a trader or an individual, can shop beyond our shores for better prices."
• Amend Section 159 of the IPC for an exception to the application of trademarks and tradename restrictions when applied to parallel imports.
• Amend Section 26 of the IPC by disallowing the issuance of another patent for new uses of an existing substance that has already been patented. "This enables generic companies to aggressively market their own versions without threats of law suits arising from newly-discovered uses for previously patented products. The committee adopted this approach from the Indian Patent Act."
• Amend Section 74 of the IPC, "Use of Invention by Government", to remove the requirement for government to undergo the long and tedious compulsory licensing process so that government may avail of the medicine for public health reasons in a more timely manner. "The health of our people cannot be made to wait especially in times of emergencies. The government must have the power to do this outright without need for a lengthy process."

Senator Roxas stressed that Filipinos should not be made to pay quality medicines at prices that are five times or more than those available in other countries.

With Senate approval, the bill goes to a bicameral conference committee where its conflicting provisions with the counterpart bill in the House will be reconciled. It will then go back to the plenary of both Chambers for approval before it is sent to the President for her signature.

Senate inaction on RE Bill not an option, Greenpeace says

Manila, PHILIPPINES — Greenpeace today intensified their call on the Senate to fast-track the passage of the Renewable Energy (RE) Bill, in a press conference in Quezon City with other pro-renewable energy groups, contending that renewable energy can-and must-play a leading role in the world's energy future if we are to secure the planet for the next generation.

The press conference, which included speakers from World Wildlife Fund-Philippines and the Klima Climate Change Center of the Manila Observatory, came at the heels of the launch of Energy [R]evolution: A sustainable World Energy Outlook, a groundbreaking new report produced by the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and Greenpeace. The report details how renewable energy, combined with the smart use of energy, can deliver half of the world's energy needs by 2050, and effectively help stop climate change and its disastrous consequences.

"The Senate must realize that the massive uptake of renewable energy is both urgently necessary and technically possible. All that is missing is urgent policy support. The Philippines' RE Bill would be the first of such policies in our region-if the Bill is enacted before the 13th Congress adjourns. Otherwise, the bill, which took 10 years before it was passed in the Lower House, can face another long wait-time which our country can ill afford," said Greenpeace Climate & Energy campaigner Jasper Inventor.

"We need a renewable energy law with clear targets which would allow Filipinos to benefit from the country's vast wind and solar energy potential. It is just unacceptable that this potential remains mostly untapped, especially given the daunting challenges we face in the areas of energy security and climate change," he added.

The Philippines, along with other developing nations across the region, have been bearing the brunt of the disastrous consequences of climate change. Last year, the country was battered by three strong typhoons which left entire regions in a state of calamity with the tragic loss of lives and property. Early this week, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) admitted that damage to agriculture from typhoons have adversely affected economic growth in 2006. Meanwhile, climate change impacts are expected to worsen in the coming years, likely to trigger fresh rounds of economic disasters.

The massive uptake of renewable energy is the key to the fight against climate change. At the same time it also addresses other challenges, such as energy security and the increasing volatility of fossil fuel prices, which are crucial to developing countries like the Philippines.
"Inaction is not an option. The RE Bill is a measure to protect the people and the economy. For the sake of a sound environment and economic growth, the Senate must immediately ensure the passage of this bill, and in doing so commit to a truly secure and sustainable energy future," said Inventor.

http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/

No way, young voters tell trapos and political butterflies

Voters from AKBAYAN Youth today expressed disgust over the political circus taking place as politicians scramble to place themselves in winnable senatorial slates. As it launched its "Boto Ko, Anti-trapo!" campaign, young voters were reminded to be vigilant and observe who among the self-proclaimed senatorial candidates should be avoided at all cost.

The group said that it is sickened by the horse-trading and indecent maneuverings of politicians from different colors just to get a position in a slate that they deem would deliver the much-needed resources for their campaign. AKBAYAN Youth lamented that "from the Opposition to the Administration and even the so-called 'Third Force', the basis of unity if money, machinery, and fame, not platform or concrete programs."

The group also launched the "Vote-O-Meter", a political barometer of candidates based on their position on concrete issues to guide young voters in determining who's trapo and who's not. The "Vote-O-Meter" seeks to help young voters to veer away from personality-oriented politics and categorizes candidates that have no concrete platform, who are corrupt, and who uses violence and fraud to win elections as trapos and thus should not be voted.

AKBAYAN Youth lambasted the likes of former Tessie Aquino-Oreta and Tito Sotto whose party-switching demonstrates traditional politics at its worst. They also challenged the so-called "Third Force" to demonstrate their independence and autonomy by presenting a distinct platform.

The launching was attended by AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros, youth activist Patsy Abad, and UP College of Law Professor Barry Gutierrez.

According to AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros, young voters should constantly remind candidates of their obligation to treat elections as a sacred pact between a sovereign people and those who seek to represent them. "Traditional politicians have reduced our electoral process into an arena of who could cheat the most. We need to restore what is essential – the politics of fair play and the free market of ideas. We have to put politics and elections within the realm of programs, platforms, and meaningful political ideologies," Rep. Hontiveros said.

AKBAYAN Youth vowed to conduct a series of voters' education activities to ensure that young voters would bring back idealism in our politics.

Debt-ridden Napocor needs the P2.6 billion dividends more than the National Government

Is there really a need for the National Power Corporation (Napocor) to give P2.6 billion to the National Government or it needs the money more than the government?

The National Power Corporation (Napocor), although it posted P86 billion net earnings in 2005 – the only positive gains in the past ten years and allegedly the highest so far in the past seventy years –, incurred losses again in 2006. In its first six months last year alone, it had a net loss of P8.32 billion and an estimated net loss of some P50 billion by end that year if peso continued to depreciate and could be due to price manipulation at the wholesale electricity spot market. The $500 million bonds it floated last year and the $450 million fresh loan from the Asian Development Bank further illustrated Napocor's dire financial position as it needed additional funds to pay off its long-term debts amounting to almost P400 billion as of end-2005. Its total debts and liabilities already stood at about P1.3 trillion that year – equivalent to about twenty-five percent of the total NG debt as of June 2006 amounting to P4 trillion.

Napocor has been the single highest contributor to the NG debt because of its huge long-term debts and liabilities. But when in had recovered, the government wanted to claim its dividends immediately even when trends last year had indicated that the positive gains in 2005 was shortlived.

The Freedom from Debt Coalition is thus puzzled that with the sorry fiscal position of Napocor, the government still collected from it dividends amounting to P2.6 billion. Mrs. Gloria M. Arroyo even had to issue Executive Order 599 on 18 January 2007 adjusting the dividend rate of Napocor on its net earnings in 2005 to three percent (3%). The losses incurred and the strings of borrowings by Napocor last year including the planned borrowings this year only show that the power company needs money and whatever gains it had in 2005 cannot be sustained.

Instead of remitting the P2.6 billion to the National Government, Napocor could use the earnings to reduce its debts, either interest or debt stock. However, FDC still maintains that all debts should still be scrutinized and eliminate the onerous ones from the list of accounts to be paid.

Napocor's borrowings are guaranteed by the national government. In the event it fails to meet its obligations, the government assumes the responsibility of paying these off. This could mean additional debt burden to the Filipino people.

We cannot help but wonder why given the dire need for additional funds by Napocor, the government was still interested in getting the dividends from the state-owned power corporation, and was collected only a year after the power company posted its only positive gains. Why only now?

EO 599 states that the dividends will be collected in the interest of national economy and general welfare. But, the government itself boasts that it has already attained a "rosy" fiscal and economic situation. Then why does it still need to get money from the debt-ridden Napocor that has been continuously borrowing to service its maturing financial obligations? Where will the government use the money?

Again, in the context of unresolved misuse of government resources and scandals that have plagued the Arroyo Administration, the use of these extraordinary dividends from a debt-ridden agency can only lead to strong suspicion that the fund maybe used for election-related activities.

- www.freedomfromdebtcoalition.org

Greenpeace launches first comprehensive global energy strategy for tackling climate change Calls on Senate to fast track RE Bill

Manila/Brussels, International — Renewable energy, combined with efficiencies from the smart use of energy, can deliver half of the world's energy needs by 2050, according to one of the most comprehensive plans for future sustainable energy provision, launched today. The report: 'Energy [R]evolution: A sustainable World Energy Outlook', produced by the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and Greenpeace, provides a practical blueprint for how to cut global CO2 emissions by almost 50% within the next 43 years, while providing a secure and affordable energy supply and, critically, maintaining steady worldwide economic development.

Notably, the plan takes into account rapid economic growth areas such as Southeast Asia, China, India and Africa, and highlights the economic advantages of the energy revolution scenario. It concludes that renewable energies will represent the backbone of the world's economy—not only in developed countries, but also in developing countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, India and Brazil. The plan states that renewable energies have the potential to deliver nearly 70% of global electricity supply and 65% of global heat supply by 2050.

"The report demonstrates that a massive uptake of renewable energy is not only urgently necessary but is also technically possible. It correctly points out that all that is missing is the right policy support. The Philippines' Renewable Energy Bill would be the first of such policies in our region, if it is immediately enacted. Our country's renewable energy potential is vast. The report shows we can, and must, harness these solutions now," said Greenpeace Climate & Energy campaigner Jasper Inventor.

The report also highlights the urgency of making the right decisions in energy infrastructure, which will have to be made by governments, investment institutions and utility companies. Within the next decade, many of the existing power plants in the developed countries will come to the end of their technical lifetime and will need to be replaced, while developing countries such as Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, India, and Brazil are rapidly building up new energy infrastructure to service their growing economies.

Arthouros Zervos, president of the European Renewable Energy Industry Council (EREC) said: "The global market for renewable energy can grow at a double digit rate till 2050, and achieve the size of today's fossil fuel industry. With wind and solar markets worth US$ 38 billion and doubling in size every three years, their growth follows the path of the internet or mobile technology. We therefore call on decision makers around the world to make this vision a reality. The political choices of the coming years will determine the world's environmental and economic situation for many decades to come. Renewable energy can and will have to play a leading role in the world's energy future. There is no technical, but a political, barrier to make this shift."

The report was developed in conjunction with specialists from the Institute of Technical Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and more than 30 scientists and engineers from universities, institutes and the renewable energy industry around the world. It provides the first comprehensive global energy concept which gives a detailed analysis of how to restructure the global energy system based only on a detailed regional assessment for the potential of proven renewable energy sources, energy efficiency and the utilization of efficient, decentralized cogeneration. The Energy [R]evolution scenario is compared in the report to the effects on CO2 emissions (and, thereby climate change) of carrying on with a 'business as usual' scenario, that scenario being provided by the International Energy Association's breakdown of 10 world regions, as used in the ongoing series of World
Energy Outlook reports.

- http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/

FDC hits compromise deal on 2007 budget, lauds Senate’s move to scrap North Rail project counterpart

The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) today hit the trade-off between Malacañang and lawmakers following the scrapping of the P4.7 billion School Feeding Program from the proposed P1.126 billion national government budget in exchange for the retention of the P400 million intelligence fund under the Office of the President.

"While we laud the scrapping of that dubious fund, we are disappointment over how the issue was settled," said FDC president Ana Maria R. Nemenzo.

"Time and time again, we have pointed out the danger of an incumbent occupant in Malacañang wielding too much discretionary power over intelligence funds that are being used to harass, intimidate and even kill legal political dissenters," she said.

She added that under Mrs. Gloria Arroyo's six-year 'rule,' several hundred activists, civilians and media people were tortured and killed in a systematic effort to squash the peoples' right to political remonstration.

"With the May 2007 elections around the corner, the President's intelligence funds will almost certainly be used to crush the political opposition as well as party-list groups, which are being maliciously branded as 'leftists' or 'communists,'" said Nemenzo.

The proposal to delete the School Feeding Program was part of the alternative budget proposed by various civil society groups, including FDC.

They argued that the lessons from the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani rice program in 2004 should not escape every Filipino at this point, referring to the P728 million fertilizer scam wherein the Department of Agriculture allegedly dispersed funds even for non-agricultural areas.

The country's debt watchdog, however, expressed support to the reallocation of the scrapped fund to the building of additional classrooms and to the funding of a sensible Nutrition Feeding Program incorporated in the Department of Education (DepEd) Budget.

In addition, FDC likewise commended the Senate panel for scrapping the country's counterpart to the controversial North Rail Project in the 2007 budget pending a full review of its alleged anomalies.

"This proposition will surely contribute in averting the implementation of anomalous contracts that could have a big impact in our country's future indebtedness. We hope this initiative by the Senate will be reflected in the final version of the 2007 budget," said Nemenzo.

In an unprecedented move, FDC along with several minority congressmen, party-list groups, Social Watch Philippines, Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) Philippines, E-Net and Youth Against Debt (YAD) crafted an alternative budget for 2007 that will ensure the financing of significant social services and the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)-related programs.

Nemenzo said that although there are gains from this engagement, a lot has still to be done to achieve a genuine people's budget.

This early, Nemenzo revealed, they are preparing their budget engagement for 2008 national government budget.

- www.freedomfromdebtcoalition.org

CARP implementation worst under DAR Sec. Pangandaman

Zero installation record, very low land distribution, cowardice in the face of resisting landowners, and bowing to pressure frominfluential officials, all resulting in very poor implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

These are some of the accusations hurled by the peasant federation Task Force Mapalad (TFM) against Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and his Undersecretary for Field Operations Narciso Nieto.

"Pangandaman and Nieto are the two most important DAR officials in terms of ensuring the implementation of CARP at field level. Unfortunately, these two officials have practically done nothing despite their numerous pronouncements about fast tracking land distribution and the installation of farmer-beneficiaries who have been holding titles for years," TFM president Jose Rodito Angeles said.

TFM made the statement as top officials of DAR throughout the country gather in Davao City for a three-day assessment of CARP accomplishments last year.

"Contrary to usual practice, DAR until now has not made any official announcement about how many hectares of land it has distributed last year. We will not be surprised if DAR fails to meet its measly target of 100,000 hectares. If it reports accomplished target, we have reason to assume that it is doctored and padded," Angeles said.

He added that in terms of installation of farmer-beneficiaries who have been holding certificates of land ownership award (CLOAs) for years, DAR under Pangandaman has zero record.

"Pangandaman and Nieto have not exerted efforts to install the thousands of CLOA holders in the land already awarded to them. Their orders for installation are being ignored by local DAR officials, and they are not doing anything. At field level, the frustration of uninstalled FBs is growing," Angeles said.

He said that CARP implementation is particularly worst in Negros Occidental, where overall accomplishment is only 46 percent last year, with only 5,191 hectares of land acquired from the revised target of 15,314 hectares, which was finally reduced to 11,310 hectares.
In terms of regional accomplishment, Region VI, which includes the province of Negros Occidental, has the worst performance of only 66 percent, with only 13,366 hectares acquired.

"We are doubtful if the lands reportedly acquired in Region VI and in Negros Occidental have been distributed," Angeles said.

Angeles said that the reason for poor CARP implementation is Pangandaman's weak and indecisive leadership.

"He was afraid to confront landowners who resist CARP. Even when the law is clearly on the side of DAR, and even when the courts have decided in favor of the FBs, Pangandaman did not dare to act in favor of the FBs because he was too afraid of the landowners," he said.

Angeles also scored Nieto for joining Pangandaman in his cowardice. "Nieto only goes through the motion of issuing orders for installation of CLOA holders, but does nothing if the local DAR officials ignore his order. He is as boneless as Pangandaman," he said.

Angeles cited the case of Tuzon estate in Cagayan province where the local DAR officials recommended the cancellation of CLOAs instead of obeying his order to install the FBs.
 Angeles also said that the 122 FBs in Hacienda Velez-Malaga in Barangay Robles, La Castellana, Negros Occidental have lost hope that they will ever be installed in their land with Pangandaman and Nieto at the helm of DAR.
 "One day, the 122 FBs of Hacienda Velez-Malaga, who have been CLOA holders for four years, might decide to install themselves in their own land. If something untoward happens, the responsibility should rest with Pangandaman and Nieto," he said.

- Kilusan para sa Pagsulong ng Repormang Agraryo

Groups call anew junking JPEPA deal

Environmental activists rallied senate to ask the legislators not to ratify the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), a treaty that will "legalized" the dumping of toxic waste in the Philippines.

Members of the Ecological Waste Coalition dramatized in front of the Senate the mismatched but determined struggle of our country in the arena of the looming toxic battle against Japan posed by the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).

The environmental activists also highlighted the mounting call of different local and international groups to the Senate to finally reject the lopsided treaty that will make the country a dumping site of toxic waste.

In the action prepared by the ecogroup and youth from the November 17 Movement, the menacing sumo wrestler from Japan, joined by Pres. Macapagal-Arroyo wearing the wartime "makapili" bayong, assaulted Inang Bayan with toxic wastes inside a wrestling arena. Shored up by the Filipino people, Inang Bayan rose up to resist the toxic onslaught.

"With JPEPA, our government is allowing the Philippines to be kicked around, exploited, and made into a waste colony by Japan. It is trying to dupe and mesmerize our people into accepting all these by dangling dubious promises of economic gain. We must fight this hypnosis. We must open our eyes to see the ugly deal for what it is, roundly reject it, and keep our dignity and integrity as a nation," said Marie Marciano, spokesperson of the EcoWaste Coalition.

The environmental group finds the controversial agreement fraudulent due to the absence of open, transparent and meaningful public consultation and participation in the negotiation process.

Last week, 30 groups from 14 countries of Asia voiced concern over toxic waste and dirty technology transfer from Japan to developing countries, in the guise of economic partnership agreements.

These groups, delegates of the Waste Not Asia conference last January 15-18 in Kerala, India, called on the Philippine government to refuse the ratification of JPEPA and stop the waste trade.

A broad multi-sectoral coalition named Magkaisa Junk JPEPA is also pressing the senate to reject the treaty.

"International groups are supporting our collective local efforts at asserting the right of the Filipino people to a clean and safe environment. It is now in the hands of the Senate to unequivocally uphold these rights. It is their business, their sworn duty, to do so," said Marciano.

- EcoWaste Coalition, ecowastecoalition (at) yahoo.com

Solon accuses big pharma group of misinformation, hypocrisy

AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros chided today the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) for claiming that a bill amending the Intellectual Property Code to lower the cost of medicine would be more detrimental. "Claiming that the bill 'could open the floodgates to fake drugs' is grossly misleading. The entrance of fake drugs is a different issue altogether. What they want to do is to demonize cheaper medicines acquired through parallel importation," Rep. Hontiveros said.

"To say that lowering the price of medicines would be harmful is to ignore the fact that the high cost of drugs is killing many Filipinos," Rep. Hontiveros said. "Lower the price of essential medicines, and we will at least have greater chances of combating diseases and illnesses that are already preventable and treatable."

The solon, who is one of the principal authors of the bill amending the Intellectual Property Code (HB 6305), also corrected the image that big pharmacies are trying to create. "Branded medicines are more expensive not because big pharmaceuticals are spending more resources for safeguards and quality control. Much of the cost actually goes to marketing: the money they spend for advertising and the perks that they give to doctors to encourage them to prescribe branded products," Rep. Hontiveros said.

She also accused PHAP of hypocrisy. "Big pharmas are abusing the flaws of our patents law. They commit evergreening by indiscriminately applying for several patents for one product to extend its protection. They are now using their propaganda machinery to block the passage of a bill that would boost our own healthcare programs. They are concerned that this would curb profiteering in the industry," she said.

The solon added that imported drugs will have to go through the Bureau of Food and Drugs for quality control. She said that the entrance of fake medicines in the country is a different issue altogether, and should be addressed by strengthening BFAD and customs regulations. "Imported or not, we are obliged to check the quality of all medicines being sold to the public," according to the solon.

Yesterday, Rep. Hontiveros urged the House of Representatives to act of HB 6305, which has already been certified as urgent by Malacañang. She said that it's one of the social reform bills that Congress must prioritize before the session adjourns for start of the campaign period.

STOP THE KILLINGS!

Opinion

by  Bill Mitsuru Shimizu

 

It's my usual practice every time I log in to the internet to first go to the Philippine Daily Inquirer for the latest news from home and this morning was no different and what caught my eye is the breaking news about a former broadcaster slain in Albay by suspected NPA members, his former comrades in the movement.

Another killing in the never- ending cycle of violence in the Philippines where both protagonists (read: AFP and NPA) have added another dimension in their war of attrition by shifting to another front and away from their traditional battlefield by killing or liquidating people perceived to be unsympathetic to their cause or unarmed supporters of each side reminiscent of the Philippines in the waning years of the Marcos dictatorship in the 1980s.

The spate of killings of perceived Leftist supporters and Military assets done treacherously by elements of both sides is not only sad and lamentable for it only shows that the decades- old war which has claimed thousands of lives is far from over- a war that has destroyed the lives and extinguished the dreams of so many young and brilliant Filipinos.

The list is endless and their potentials could have been immense and at what cost to a nation that has been dubbed as the sick man of Asia?

You can only imagine of what a difference those young people could have made to our nation's present situation and the future.

No matter what their spin- masters will concoct to justify their actions, it still leave a bad taste in the mouth and an uneasy feeling in the gut.

The war has gone on for too long now for an ideology that has been proven to be a bust by the rest of the world with just a few holdouts like North Korea and Cuba. Some people with ties to the left have even shifted their approach by participating in the elections and having them in Congress have shown that the people have spoken that they welcome their cause to be fought in a peaceful manner.

But some of them have other designs on their minds for you can't talk about justice and peace on one hand and have a gun on the other. This smacks of a Jekyll and Hyde strategy which has no place in our society.

If they want the people to believe in their cause I think it is about time to abandon the armed struggle and participate in the democratic process no matter how we perceive the system to be imperfect but it has to start somewhere if we want change to happen and in the process rendering the Philippine military and their well-publicized abuses against civilians unjustified. Their relevance will become moot for most of the military abuses stemmed from the fact that it is usually committed in the guise of their search and destroy operations against the communist rebels especially in the countryside.

Too much blood has been spilled and too many lives have been taken in years of fighting between blood- brothers that in the end the only loser is the Filipino nation and its people from whatever angle you look at it.

I have been to the mountains of the Cordilleras and far- flung barrios in the Visayas as well as to the remote parts of Mindanao on a Medical Mission with some NGOs and other well- meaning Organizations during the time of my youthful idealism years ago and I admit that the fire is still there burning and the dreams of serving the people and the common good will always be with me.

I have experienced being asked and questioned by armed men in those places regarding the purpose of our presence there; one group asked us if we were leftist sympathizers while the other group asked us whether we were government spies.

I have met and talked to people in those places and have understand their situations and predicaments of being in the crossfire of two opposing forces that they have to contend with in their every day lives. It is a choice between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea if you ask me. It is really an irony for it is always the people who suffer whenever these two contending forces clash in spite of the fact that both sides have sworn and uphold to protect them.

I have once upon a time believed in the cause that our brothers in the mountains espoused and I still believe in them. I have once upon a time sympathized with the plight of our brothers in uniform and I still support them. I have lost some really good friends on both sides through the years which to this very day I still rue the loss of their young lives to an unjust war being fought between brothers.

Let us stop the killings. Let us stop the senseless war.

Let's us give Peace a chance.

 

http://bms70.blogspot.com/2007/01/stop-killings_20.html

GMO rice unapproved for human consumption still in local supermarket shelves

Manila, PHILIPPINES — Sacks of "Uncle Sam Texas Long Grain Rice" confirmed last November to be contaminated with a GE(genetically-engineered) strain unapproved for human consumption continues to be sold in supermarket shelves in Metro Manila, Greenpeace revealed today. The environment organization also expressed shock and disgust over the Department of Agriculture's (DA) serious failure to recall the GE-tainted rice from supermarkets to protect consumers, despite the government agency's pronouncements last December that they are vigilantly inspecting US rice meant for export to the Philipines to block the entry of the unapproved GMO (genetically-modified organism).

"This is utter negligence. Once again, the Department of Agriculture has proven itself inutile in preventing and containing the threat of illegal GE products entering the country. The DA is fully aware of the US rice contamination scandal that affected global rice markets last year. They are also fully aware that "Uncle Sam Texas Long Grain Rice" has tested positive for GMO contamination. But aside from merely issuing a statement that they will be checking future rice imports for GE contamination, they have not taken any steps to prevent the continued sale of this illicit product in the market," said Greenpeace campaigner Daniel Ocampo.

"Uncle Sam Texas Long Grain Rice," distributed by Purefeeds Corp. of Sta. Cruz, Manila, was tested last year by an independent laboratory to be positive for Bayer LL601. Bayer's LL601 is rice genetically-altered to survive the powerful herbicide glufosinate. It was field-tested under permits granted by the USDA (Department of Agriculture) from 1998 to 2001 but development was stopped by Bayer in 2001 for unclear reasons. On July 31, 2006, Bayer informed the USDA of LL601 contamination in the food chain, but neither Bayer nor the USDA was able to tell how much rice was contaminated, which rice products were involved, or where the contaminated rice was found. Bayer LL601 is illegal (not approved for commercial distribution or human consumption) in any place in the world except in the US where the company applied for marketing approval only after it illegally contaminated the food chain, presumably to limit its legal liability for the episode.

The widespread Bayer LL601 contamination scandal was the most significant demonstration of GE rejection in a global scale last year. The news elicited strong reactions from rice farmers and processors, as well as governments. Bayer faced a class-action lawsuit filed by
hundreds of US farmers, and Japan, EU, and Russia responded with import restrictions. The incident also prompted rice producers and exporters in the US, EU, and Asia to commit to GMO-free production and trade. In the Philippines, the National Food Authority prohibited future GMO rice imports, and assigned a team in the US to test possible contamination in
shipments to the Philippines.

"But, the DA should also not neglect to address the contamination already in our shores. For starters, the distributor of this contaminated rice in the country should be made to account. The concerned agencies should investigate and trace how this rice, unapproved for human consumption, ended up in our supermarkets," added Ocampo.

Greenpeace held a press conference last November to warn the public about the presence of the GMO-contaminated rice product, as well as to demand the government for its immediate recall. The contaminated rice was at that time sold in branches of Robinson's, Shopwise, and SM supermarkets. The DA, as well as the retailers, were informed of the contamination. But, to this day, the said GMO-contaminated rice continues to be sold openly in branches of SM supermarket (Megamall and SM City North EDSA), and Robinson's Galleria.

"There is irrefutable evidence that governments, farmers and consumers throughout the world recognize that GMOs are unreliable, unviable or downright dangerous. The global GE rice scandal involving Bayer's LLR601 impressed on farmers, exporters, retailers, consumers, and governments, the uncontrollable nature of GMO crops," said Ocampo. "Clearly, this
technology is unsafe as it can neither be controlled nor regulated. The government must therefore take concrete steps to protect consumers—-and not just render lip service and empty statements. To continue to neglect the matter is unacceptable."

Greenpeace campaigns for GE-free crop and food production that is grounded in the principles of sustainability, protection of biodiversity and providing all people to have access to safe and nutritious food. Genetic engineering is an unnecessary and unwanted technology that
contaminates the environment, threatens biodiversity and poses unacceptable risks to health.

- http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/en/

EDSA I, EDSA Dos veterans vow to bring spirit of EDSA in the ballots

Several youth activists, EDSA Dos young leaders, and first time voters gathered today in front of the Faculty Center of UP Diliman to commemorate EDSA Dos and relive "a promising moment that was betrayed and degraded by traditional politics."

The gathering was initiated by AKBAYAN Youth and the First Time Voters Project to call on young Filipinos to re-launch the spirit of People Power in the country by exercising their right to vote conscientiously. The event was attended by AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros, a veteran of the earlier People Power I that toppled the Marcos dictatorship, and by Patsy Abad, the daughter of Rep. Henedina Abad who held the bible used when Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was sworn in as President during the 2001 popular uprising.

"EDSA Dos should be remembered as the victory of the Filipino youth's exuberant and righteous indignation. It's a good reminder to politicians, GMA in particular, where sovereignty and power really reside. It is a refreshing proof, too, against the cynicism and apathy of young Filipinos these days. Their collective passion is their strength, and their transformative power is their birthright," Rep. Hontiveros said.

"However, as we commemorate the strength of our unity, we should not also fail to forget those who betrayed the spirit of EDSA Dos, especially those who have benefited from the people's indignation. We should continue to exact accountability from politicians like GMA who merely exploited the gains of the people to advance their personal interests," she said.

She added that the spirit of EDSA Dos is not that it was able to topple a corrupt regime, but that it promises of complete transformation and political rebirth. "Reliving the spirit of EDSA I or EDSA Dos should happen everyday," Rep. Hontiveros stressed.

During the gathering, young voters were urged to use their votes to hold the GMA administration accountable for fraud and human rights violations.

FTV Coordinator Machris Cabreros said that young voters to bring the spirit of EDSA in the ballots. "Casting one's vote in favor of truth and new politics is a form of revolution. When young voters speak out for decency and dignity in their ballots, they are proving that the spirit of EDSA Dos is very much alive," Cabreros said.

TRO sought against MMDA, DPWH to stop eviction

Fighting for their right to put roofs over their heads, informal settlers are seeking a temporary restraining order against Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Dir. Josefino Rigor of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to prevent their eviction and the demolition of their houses located under San Andres Bridge 1 along South Super Highway, Paco, Manila.

The settlers composed of 54 families who live for more than 14 years at the community located along Estero Tripa de Gallina, a jurisdiction of Brgy. 734 and Brgy 735, filed their petition for a TRO and preliminary injunction January 12 at the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Based on a raffle held last Monday, the presiding judge who would handle the case is Judge Tita Bughao Alisuag of RTC Branch 1, according to the Urban Poor Associates (UPA) in a statement.

Led by Alberta Abenaza, president of Samahan ng mga Taga Ilalim ng Tulay Neighborhood Association (SAINT), ten petitioners have executed their sworn statements that beginning in October 2006 MMDA and DPWH threatened and continue to threaten to demolish their homes without offering relocation sites.

"Ang aming pamilya ay nangangamba na baka sa anumang oras ay sapilitan kaming paalisin sa aming tinitirhan. Mahigit anim na taon na naming nilalakad ang ibat-ibang ahensya ng ating pamahalaan para mabigyan na kami ng relokasyon subalit wala kaming nakuha kundi puro pangakong walang kasagutan. Hirap na hirap na po kami. Nawawalan na po kami ng pag-asa," said Abenaza.

Through petitioner's representations with its officials, MMDA has deferred its plan to evict plaintiffs but with a promise and assurance that it will pursue its plan to demolish and evict the plaintiffs pursuant to its beautification program "Metro Gwapo".

DPWH, on the other hand, without any written notice and dialogue with the petitioners, has verbally informed the residents that it will demolish the petitioner's houses due to the repair of the bridge.

"Respondents intended action to demolish and evict the petitioners without consultation and more importantly, without any provision for adequate relocation as mandated by the Constitution and Republic Act 7279 also known as Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA) is gross violation of the law and it runs afoul with the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)," said Atty. Bienvenido A. Salinas 2nd, coordinator of UPA's legal unit, St. Thomas More Law Center.

UPA is a non-government organization established to educate families in housing rights matters and assist communities in eviction crises. It has helped thousands of families to relocate in-city or at least prevent the never-ending cycle of homelessness.

- Urban Poor Associates (UPA)

Detained solon and veteran labor leader turns 74

The Free Ka Bel Movement, Anakpawis Party-list and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) held a 'birthday picket' last January 7, 2007 in honor of Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran in front of the Philippine Heart Center where Beltran remains under incarceration after almost 11 months on the charges of rebellion and sedition. Beltran celebrates his 74 th birthday today, and 50 of these 74 years he spent being a respected labor leader and beginning 2001, a progressive people's law maker.

FKBM, Anakpawis and KMU members and leaders and other supporters held their 'birthday picket' in front of the PHC because they were not allowed inside the building. They came bearing balloons, birthday cards, and a cake decorated with a sign for a P125 across-the board nationwide wage increase. Beltran is one of the main authors of the legislated wage hike bill in the House of Representatives passed last December prior to the Christmas break. A similar bill is being deliberated upon in the Senate under the Sen. Jinggoy Estrada's Committee on Labor.

"We are most grateful to Ka Bel for all that he has done to serve and protect the interest of workers and the rest of the working people," they said. He is a true servant of the poor and exploited. He should be released immediately."

FKBM spokesperson Dennis Maga said that it was an outrage that a convicted rapist such as US Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith has been essentially freed from jail while Rep. Beltran, a renowned labor leader, internationalist, and patriotic congressman, remains incarcerated.

"Where is the justice in this? Ka Bel has been incarcerated for almost 11 months, and it's appalling that he has had celebrated the holidays in detention and under the close watch of government security men. He is now 74 and the greater part of his past year he spent under arrest. He should be released immediately. We won't have him spend another year of his life under detention. The charges against him are all false and fabricated," he said.

At the age of 74, Ka Bel has gone through a lot of challenges in his entire life as a labor leader, a former political detainee under the Marcos dictatorship, and as a people's lawmaker in an institution dominated by business and elitist political interests. The Macapagal-Arroyo administration continues to incarcerate Ka Bel despite of the firm knowledge that he is innocent of the charges against him and that he is being used by the Macapagal-Arroyo administration as a mascot-deterrent against those who dare to oppose the government are taking a toll on him," he said.

Initially, the PNP requested for a court order that Ka Bel be transferred to the Makati City Jail. In a letter dated October 23, 2006, PSupt. Dexter G. Rellora, chief of the PNP Custodial Center requested the issuance of a Commitment Order from RTC Branch 150 for Ka Bel's transfer to the Makati City Jail.

Rep. Beltran has been recommended to undergo the following tests on a regular basis as part of his health monitoring: complete blood count, blood chemistry (including lipid profile), urinalysis, electrocardiography , chest x-ray, 2D Echodoppler, carotid duplex scan, and possible stress thallium; and treatment for hypertensive cardiovascular disease. "Given the overall health condition of Congressman Beltran which is the primary concern of the court, it is imperative that his attending physicians be required to submit their report," according to the Makati RTC 150.

Dr. Reginald Pamugas, MD, Health Action for Human Rights, one of the doctors attending to Ka Bel said that to transfer Ka Bel to Camp Crame would be to sign his death certificate. "If the Courts are really concerned about Ka Bel's health, then should release him at once. It's the stress of being illegally incarcerated that's taking a toll on his health and causing it to deteoriorate, " Dr. Pamugas said.

Dr. Pamugas said that Ka Bel's vital blood pressure fluctuates with highest at 160/90 and lowest at 110/70. His respiratory and heart rate are within normal range. For the past months there was no record of infection and fever.

Latest laboratory examinations on Complete Blood Count (CBC) which show a slightly decrease or low red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit and platelet count. Other laboratory examinations like Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Total Cholesterol Level, and Uric Acid were within normal range.

"Cong. Beltran's relatively stable health condition doesn't come so easy, there is the financial burden, maintenance medications and mental stress that sometimes shaking him up. He is taking about 10 assorted medicines in order to keep his health condition in good shape. And lately, he is doing some exercises like skipping rope and push ups. But despite of the incarceration and his relatively stable health conditions, the strong support of mass movement here and abroad makes him stronger to fight the brutal force of Macapagal-Arroyo administration," Maga concluded.

Malacañang getting ready to appoint ‘new’ Garci

AKBAYAN Rep. Risa Hontiveros warned today that Malacañang is on the move to cheat in the 2007 election. She revealed that "Malacañang is about to appoint a new COMELEC Commissioner who will be groomed as the new 'Garci'."

"We have heard from reliable sources that Malacañang is choosing between Judge Moslemen Macarambon of Iligan City or Maguindanao Provincial Prosecutor Salick Panda to replace retired Commissioner Mehol Sadain. Both Macarambon and Panda are from the judiciary, but they're also known in Mindanao as politicians. This last minute and silent appointment in the COMELEC will complete the administration's cheating machinery. This also contradicts GMA's statement that the government will be transparent with its COMELEC appointments," Rep. Hontiveros said. "What is alarming is, why the hush?"

She also revealed that the new appointment will take place "right before the campaign period starts."
She added that the 'Hello Garci' men have actually been promoted in COMELEC.

"Francisco Pobe, for instance, was recently promoted as assistant regional director for the CARAGA region and is now under Cirilo Naja Jr., one of Garci's friends. In 2004, he was the provincial elcetion supervisor of Surigao del Sur and he talked to Garci to give updates on the votes from Cotabato City that President GMA was keen on 'protecting'," Rep. Hontiveros said.

"Renato Magbutay, who in one of the conversations tried to convince Garcillano to have a woman election official kidnapped because she refused to cheat for GMA, is now the regional director for Region VI. Ray Sumalipao, who headed the Board of Canvassers for Lanao del Sur, where massive cheating allegedly took place, is now the regional director for ARMM. Renault Macarambon, who talked to Garci to ensure the victory of a senatorial candidate, now heads the Election and Barangay Affairs Department of COMELEC," she added.

According to the AKBAYAN solon, this, as well as the reported sale of party-list seats and the mass suspension of local government officials, fit in the administration's strategy.

"They are aware that they will most likely lose in the senatorial election. They also want to ensure to retain their control in the House of Representatives and the LGUs. They will cheat to do that and they will cheat to give administration senatorial bets a chance to win," she warned.

"While we have nothing against the implementation of our anti-corruption measures, the recent mass suspension of LGU officials is clearly an electoral strategy. Otherwise, why are they implementing this only now? Despite what DILG Sec. Puno is saying, this clearly favors the administration candidates in key local positions," she said.

She likewise slammed the reported sale of PL seats to increase the number of pro-administration members in the Lower House. "This destroys the essence of the PL system, which is to give voice to marginalized sectors. We challenge the pro-administration PL groups to be transparent in the selection of their nominees," Rep. Hontiveros said.

ASEAN for the People: Statement of the 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC II) 10-12 December 2006 Cebu City, Philippines

 

 

We are more than 300 participants from countries in the ASEAN region, together with guests and partners from all over the world, who gathered for the 2nd ASEAN Civil Society Conference (ACSC II) organized by the Solidarity for Asian People's Advocacy (SAPA) Working Group on ASEAN and its partners, in Cebu City, Philippines on 10-12 December 2006. We come from various community-based organizations, civil society groups, NGOs, social movements, people's organizations and trade unions that work on critical social, political and economic issues in the ASEAN region. Together, we deliberated on the theme "Creating a Caring and Sharing Community - Enhancing People's Participation in Governance and Development".

The ACSC II consolidates our inputs and proposals to the ASEAN processes including the ASEAN Charter process. Equally important, the ACSC II is an expression of our collective aspirations and commitment for the ASEAN region.

REGIONAL TRENDS AND CHALLENGES

Our work and experience in the region that was consolidated during the ACSC II identifies the following key issues that require the immediate attention of ASEAN Members individually as well as ASEAN regionally:

 

§         Contraction of Democracies and a Volatile Peace. We call on ASEAN to actively enrich and deepen democracy by critically examining its cultural base by extending citizenship within the region and guaranteeing free and honest elections, participatory governance, basic liberties, and a free and plural media. We also challenge the ASEAN principle of non-intervention to address the human rights concerns and conflict prevention mechanisms that prioritize dialogue and cooperation especially in the case of Burma.

 

§         Human Rights: Violation and Impunity without Redress. We call on ASEAN to put an immediate remedy to the grave human rights situation in the region by creating a regional human rights body, and by promoting communication rights of peoples and communities through ensuring citizens' access to information and upholding freedom of expression.

 

§         Economic Integration: Negative Impacts of Integration and Neo-liberal Globalization. The ASEAN Members should protect essential public services, and create mechanisms towards cooperation in regional public goods and services. We call on ASEAN to explicitly ratify, fulfill and promote the ILO conventions on core labor standards. ASEAN should adopt a Social Charter enshrining workers' rights, and institutionalizing participation of workers in mandatory social dialogue and consultation.

 

§         Population Movements: Displacement, Forcible Migration and Migration Insecurity. We call on ASEAN to uphold the principle of equal treatment, and to create an instrument for the protection and promotion of the rights of all migrant workers. We emphasize the need to establish a regional mechanism to protect the healthcare of migrants, and to move away from mandatory towards voluntary health testing. We advocate for the mutual recognition of skills of workers within the ASEAN region.

 

§         Sustainable Development Concerns and Increasing Health and Environmental Volatility. The diverse natural and ecological resources of the ASEAN region are being threatened that results in environmental insecurity, displacement from places of livelihood and health concerns. We challenge ASEAN to clarify environmental bottom-lines, and identify and protect no-go zones/options in highly sensitive sustainable development areas in the region. ASEAN should do this in consultation with all sectors but with clear preference for the interests of the poor.

§         Prevailing Asian Patriarchies: Gender Inequalities. It is imperative that the level of awareness and understanding of women's issues through consciousness raising and capacity building is increased within ASEAN. We challenge ASEAN to achieve and surpass the universally agreed minimum targets on women's participation in decision making and leadership. The planned Commission on Women and Children should be used as a platform for discussing socio-cultural issues as well as for expressing women's rights and views.

 

§         Exclusion and Insecurity of Children and Youth. A growing number of children and youth face precarious conditions in ASEAN. We call on ASEAN member states to recognize the youth as a specific majority group that needs special and urgent attention. The ASEAN should invest in youth education and resources, job opportunities and capacity building, and should respect the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and ratify the optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflicts.

 

§         ASEAN Economic Community: Limited Vision of Regionalism. The transformation of the region into a single community should go beyond economic integration and must be people-centered, humane and rights-based at all times, and must reinforce environmental sustainability. We call for an alternative regionalism that is anchored on people's participation at all times and that truly represents a community of people of diversity, with different political and economic systems and historical backgrounds. This should be bound by an undivided commitment to the universal principles of human rights, justice, peace, democracy, tolerance, and solidarity.

CIVIL SOCIETY COMMITMENT AND CALL TO ACTION

We, participants of the ACSC II, commit to work together to build a people-centered and people-driven community in the ASEAN region based on the principles of human rights and dignity, human security, a just and lasting peace, participation and social dialogue, social and economic justice, cultural and ecological diversity, environmentally sustainable development, and gender equity.

We resolve to continue to engage with and challenge the ASEAN at all levels, making use of all available spaces and opportunities to defend and advance the rights and interests of the marginalized and excluded people in the region. We further resolve to strengthen our ranks and expand our initiative in solidarity and movement building, challenge ourselves to be more inclusive and participatory, and respond to issues of urgent concern in a timely manner. We commit to build an ASEAN People's Charter that reflects the rights, interests and aspirations of all peoples in the ASEAN region.

We demand that the ASEAN create effective mechanisms for transparency, accountability and people's participation. In particular, we demand for automatic civil society seats in all decision making processes of the ASEAN.

We demand that ASEAN includes automatic review clauses in all its initiatives and agreements internally and with partners outside of the region.

We demand that the ASEAN guarantee the full participation of civil society in the ASEAN Charter drafting process, and that the final draft be subject to national referendum.

We resolve to meet again at the ACSC III in Singapore in 2007 in conjunction with the 13th ASEAN Summit, armed with new challenge, renewed energy and greater determination to advance the kind of regionalism we aspire for.

ASEAN roadmap to fisheries integration strengthens capitalist intervention in the fisheries sector

The ASEAN is currently promoting and selling the concept of a "Roadmap to Fisheries Integration." The Fisherfolk Movement-Philippines believes this is nothing but an illustration of the desperate attempt of ASEAN governments to systematize the flow of capital and goods amongst ASEAN member countries in the fisheries industry.

It is clear that the document "Roadmap" does not serve the interests, or the welfare of the artisanal fisherfolk all over Southeast Asia.

First, it is becoming more evident that management of fisheries resources is not among the priorities of the ASEAN. The ASEAN is only concerned on how to ensure the smooth and free flow of imported fish products in its member countries. This is reflective of the Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) at Hazard Analysis Critical Point (HACP) provisions, which both aim to monitor if exported and imported products pass quality and safety control standards.

Second, no fishery law or policy at the regional level was indicated in the "Roadmap" document. In the event that the implementation of laws concerning the fisheries sector in any of the countries in the region is still very weak and even laws/policies which are still being formulated are likewise ineffective, the flooding of imported fish products, vessels and capital will continue to drown the already helpless fisherfolk, domestic market and industry.

Third, it is obvious that the only sector that has a stake in the "Roadmap" document is the private or commercial sector primarily or mostly engaged in commercial fishing and aquaculture. Not even a single organization or group of the artisanal fisherfolk was consulted on ASEAN discussions regarding the fisheries sector, its issues and demands. The artisanal fisherfolk cannot rely on the private sector to defend and struggle for their rights and welfare versus the huge profits that capitalists will gain from these agreements.

Lastly, this framework only follows the worldwide trend of strengthening aquaculture methods and strategies as a primary tool to develop the fisheries industry in most ASEAN member countries and in the process lead towards barrier-free and smooth trade of fish products amongst ASEAN nations. In the final analysis, the document "Roadmap" is only a regional translation of the Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) agreement being imposed by the WTO to developing countries such as the Philippines wherein the fisheries and other products such as auto parts, etc. are included.

Kilusang Mangingisda

APL denounces brutal dispersal of rally in Cebu

The Alliance of Progressive Labor condemns the violent dispersal of protestors belonging to the Laban ng Masa coalition in Cebu during the ASEAN summit being hosted there.
 

"Members of the different protesting organizations numbering about 500 were 50 meters away from the international convention center, a distance that was clearly honored by our ranks, but the police violated. We were yet to finish the program when the police started moving in. They were not positioning themselves to secure the area, they were in dispersal mode," said APL-Cebu Chairperson Jose Tomongha.

 

"The policemen, numbering 200 dispersed the rally and as a result, scores of protestors were injured, and two arrests were made," Tomongha added.

Meanwhile APL Secretary-General Josua Mata said that "This is yet another intolerable example of this government's deep-seated hatred of opposition and dissent. It is paranoid and oblivious to the interests of its own citizens all for the sake of pleasing its international guests."

 

"This is not only an affront to the rights of citizens to seek redress and express themselves, but a critical example of the lengths that this government will go to in order to project an image of stability and order," Mata added.

 

"We demand an investigation into this incident and that the police officials involved be immediately sacked," Tomongha said. 

 

"This dispersal could not have occurred without the go signal of higher ups and we demand that those responsible be charged and made to pay for their violations of the rights of workers and ordinary people to peacefully assemble and express their sentiments against the hypocrisy of the host government and the inaction of the ASEAN in matters concerning the poorest of its citizens," Tomongha said.

 

Asian People's Declaration on ASEAN Conference

We, various organizations and social movements representing the landless peasants, small farmers, indigenous peoples, artisanal fishers, women, workers, small and medium business, consumers, and marginalized peoples in South and Southeast Asia, gathered together on the occasion of the International Conference on Alternatives to Corporate-led Globalization and Regional Integration this December 9-10, 2006 in Cebu City, express our grave concern, as follows:

 

·        The recent proliferation of bilateral and regional free trade agreements pushed by developed countries such as the ASEAN- Japan Economic Partnership Agreements, US-ASEAN  Trade and Investment Framework (TIFA), the Australia-Thailand FTA, Japan-Malaysia FTA, Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) and in particular the surge in negotiations for US FTAs in the region such as the US-Thailand FTA, the US-Malaysia FTA, and the US-Korea FTA and preparations for such in the Philippines and Indonesia pose grave threats to people's livelihoods, public health, biodiversity and environment. Bilateral and regional free trade agreements aim for a more rapid and comprehensive liberalization of economies of developing and least developing countries, which we have seen to have exacerbated poverty as well as class and gender inequalities for the last two decades.  

 

·        Furthermore, through the ASEAN, the negotiations for regional and bilateral free trade and investments agreements with rich industrialized countries are being fast-tracked on top of its existing economic initiatives like the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement(AFTA), ASEAN Industrial Cooperation Scheme (AICO) and ASEAN Investment Area (AIA).  Envisioned to create a single market for more than 500 million Southeast Asian people, these free trade agreements and regional economic integration project is coated in rhetoric of "creating equitable access to opportunities." However past and present episodes of liberalization and economic integration have shown that they merely expand and facilitate market and investment opportunities for developed countries' transnational corporations. Thus, the creation of an ASEAN single market within the rubric of free trade will only result to worsening the economic, social, political and environmental crisis faced by many developing and LDCs in the region, in particular, the aggravation of landlessness and dislocation of  small farmers, fishers and indigenous peoples; more virulent import surges destroying local livelihoods and enterprises; stagnation of national industries leading to more unemployment and lower wages and exploitative working conditions, rising out-migration and increased environmental destruction.

 

·        There are no indications that the key issues related to the full operationalization of the Special and Differential Treatment (SDT) for developing countries through the Special Products (SP) and Special Safeguard Measure (SSM) in agriculture will be resolved even with the soft resumption of the negotiations. Instead, given the ambitious agenda for fuller liberalization in agriculture, NAMA and services under the Doha Round, its resumption and conclusion may push more peoples in the region into impoverishment and hunger.

 

·        Food sovereignty is clearly undermined under WTO, the bilateral and regional free trade agreements and the ASEAN's neo-liberal concept of economic integration. All these agreements are aimed at "harmonizing" trade, investments, intellectual property, sanitary and phyto-sanitary and environmental policies and standards of developing and least developed countries. This clearly violates the inherent rights of peoples, communities and governments to determine their own policies on food and agriculture that are appropriate to their specific circumstances. 

 

·        Meanwhile, states and national governments in both South and Southeast Asia, instead of protecting their national sovereignty in order to promote the interests of their small farmers, fishers, workers, indigenous peoples and local businesses have acceded and embraced neo-liberal policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization. In consequence, their domestic policies have greatly facilitated or hastened the rapid entry of cheap imported products into the local markets unfairly competing with domestic commodities; food aid that destroy local livelihoods; product and toxic wastes dumping; exploitation of cheap labor; extraction of  natural resources through mining, commercial fishing and expansion of plantations like palm oil, banana, etc.; commodification of land and the commons and the increased entry and commercialization of genetically-modified crops. Likewise, there's a gaping lack of political will on the part of governments to address lingering structural inequalities in many countries, in particular landlessness and land concentration.

 

·        Moreover, most governments in the region have failed to represent the democratic interests of their people and have addressed the rising tide of resistance and struggles of peoples for survival with intensifying repression and human rights violations. In many cases, governments have initiated political reforms such as constitutional changes to further align their national policies and legislations with the neo-liberal corporate agenda of the WTO and the international financial institutions.

 

·        Finally, the current surge towards intensifying neo-liberal globalization, regional integration and trade liberalization through free trade agreements and domestic policies and regulations are clearly driven by the trade and economic as well geo-political interests of developed countries and their transnational corporations and thus openly undermines human rights, food sovereignty, social rights, environment, and democracy in the region.

 

In this context we, participants of this conference and members of the Asia-Pacific Network on Food Sovereignty demand and call for the following:

 

1.            DEFEND NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY AND RECOGNIZE the freedom and rights of peoples and their governments to set their own policies that will protect their political, social, economic and cultural rights towards attaining food sovereignty and sustainable development.

 

2.            STOP  BILATERAL AND REGIONAL FREE TRADE talks and reject existing free trade agreements like AFTA, SAFTA, US-Thai FTA, US-Korea FTA, Thai-China FTA, Philippines-China FTA and the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) that  result to greater political, social, cultural, and economic deprivation of the common people; environmental degradation; displacement/migration and human rights abuses.

 

3.            NO RESUMPTION of the DOHA Round unless and until existing implementation issues have been addressed (e.g. subsidy reduction), the negotiating agenda has been radically altered in favor of the interests and demands of developing and least developing countries' interests and demands and decision-making processes in the WTO have been reformed/ democratized, i.e. stopping green room negotiation practices and other manipulative /indirect threatening practices of developed countries.

 

4.            New trade rules should/shall/must be able to regulate international trade in order to correct inherent asymmetries between the powerful rich countries and their TNCs and the economically weaker developing and least developed countries. Such rules should/shall effectively curb agriculture dumping by developed countries, eliminate their direct and indirect export subsidies and curb overproduction through innovative instruments like supply management; allow developing countries to use import protection like quantitative restrictions to address import surges; allow countries to support their state trading enterprises and marketing and producer cooperatives or associations; and enforce legislations to regulate TNC operations or investments. 

 

5.            STRENGTHEN  farmers', fishers' and indigenous peoples' OWNERSHIP, CONTROL and or ACCESS to their land, water, seeds, forests, and other productive resources through  the speedy implementation of a genuine agrarian reform program, recognition of ancestral domain of indigenous peoples, and a land use legislation that prohibits or prevents effective ownership or appropriation of large tracts of lands by TNCs and agri-business firms. PRIORITIZE FOOD SECURITY in land use and stop entry of large- scale commercial plantations and extractive industries.

  

6.            REJECT the neo-liberal market model of regional integration in Asia; PROMOTE a Southeast and South Asian social pact/ alliance based on the principles of fair relations, respect of sovereignty and mutual cooperation and that seeks to promote economic justice, the people's social and economic rights and in particular the recognition of ancestral domain of indigenous peoples, democracy, and the balanced development of agriculture and national industries based on sustainable technologies and practices.

 

7.            NO to corporate-led agenda on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). In this regard, governments should RECOGNIZE, SUPPORT and PROTECT the traditional knowledge of farmers and farming communities in relation to plant genetic resources (PGR) for food and agriculture, as well as the basic right of farmers to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed and/or propagating materials, equitably participate in sharing benefits arising from the utilization of PGR for food and agriculture, and participate in making decisions on matters related to the conservation, development, access and sustainable use of PGR for food and agriculture.

 

8.            STOP the commercialization of genetically modified crops, undo the patent on life forms and encourage public research instead of corporate-led research.

 

9.            NO to IMF-WB-ADB and corporate-led agenda on harmonization programs/PRSP and other forms of structural adjustments programs that promote full economic liberalization, privatization and deregulation. No to loan conditionalities.

 

10.        RECOGNIZE and PROMOTE women's role in ensuring food sovereignty, and create gender-responsive policy reforms that will empower women. Stop policies that push women to vulnerable positions.

 

11.        STOP extra-judicial killings and other forms of human rights abuses being perpetrated by governments and their military institutions to suppress the struggles of social movements in the region.

 

12.        UPHOLD genuine democracy and protect civil and political rights to ensure active people's participation in national and local decision and policy-making.

 

TASK FORCE FOOD SOVEREIGNTY –APNFS PHILIPPINES

PKMP

PKSK

AMA

KPMK

KASAMA-KA

WOMANHEALTH

PKKK

Liga Manggagawa (LM)

Integrated Rural Development Foundation (IRDF)

PHILNET-RDI

SEARICE

MODE, INC.

National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA), Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines

Appropriate Technology Resource Center (ATCRD)

RESOURCE CENTER FOR PEOPLE'S DEVELOPMENT (RCPD)

AKBAYAN

KAGAN PEOPLE'S FORUM

IDIS, Inc.

ALLIANCE OF PROGRESSIVE LABOR -DAVAO

Fair Trade Alliance (FTA)

KAISAMPALAD

Urban Missionaries (UM)

AKTIB

Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD)

CONZARRD

ASIAN FARMERS ALLIANCE (AFA)

KRKP – FOOD SOVEREIGNTY NETWORK INDONESIA

VECO Vietnam

BARCIK (Bangladesh)

Unnayan Dhara Bangladesh

Alternative Agriculture Network - Thailand

CARITAS – Sri Lanka

CARITAS - Bangladesh

Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD, Thailand)

COASTAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP/APNFS-BANGLADESH

LAJUSUAR, Indonesia

Sawit Watch, Indonesia

SPKS, Indonesia

INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE, Indonesia

International Gender and Trade Network-Asia  (IGTN)

FTA-WATCH (Thailand)

FSPI-Via Campesina Asia

TNC-WATCH (Thailand)

CEDAC - Cambodia

Local Act Thailand

WALHI – FOE Indonesia

SANSAD-  India

Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC) - India

LRC – FOE Philippines

HOMENET

ASIADHRRA

APWLD

WAC

KAFF –Korea

RRAFA - Thailand