| Subersibo |
 |
| Michelle
Licudine |
RIZAL DAY gave us a big astonishment when Gloria Macapagal-Aroyo
said she's not running in the 2004 elections to end too much politics
and to push for reforms in the nation. Her annoucement made most of
the Filipinos hopeful even if we are affected by the current political
and economic crisis.
But is too much politicking the main problem that led us to this
dreadful crisis, or was it the policies of the government headed by
Macapagal that put us in such a pathetic condition?
We would like to commend such a show of political will, but this
wouldn’t be enough for Macapagal to be excused in our assessment
of her administration's political actions after she took the post
as president of the state.
Let us look back into the details of various sectors' problems right
after People Power 2 to be able to make an objective stand on the
continuing people's cry for social justice.
It was the youth that made up the majority of the participants in
People Power 2 so let us start with our sector.
Education should have been the source for national industry improvement
since it is capable of developing the mechanisms on production. But
the government ceases to see this fact, as seen on the prioritization
of budget allocation. Based on the Sectoral Budget Analyses from the
House of Representative, the number of enrollment in the basic education
is growing while the government spending on education is declining.
“In 1999, 2001 and 2003, public enrollment grew by 2.6%, 2.5%,
and 4.1%, respectively, while the real total budget of the Dep Ed
contracted by 2.8%, 1.1%, and 3.3%, respectively.”
Let us also not forget that it was Macapagal who pushed for the country's
membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) when she was still
a senator. She also pushed for more macroeconomic or global policies
on the economy. Even before our membership to the WTO, global trending
on our economy had been happening. But due to Macapagal's consistency
as an economist and member of the ruling elite, she pushed for more
liberalization, deregulation, and privatization which produced a drastic
and ballooning budget deficit, loss of government revenues, and worst,
the socio-economic status of the Filipino family continues to depreciate.
Basic social services were no longer considered as a major necessity,
while automatic appropriation on foreign and local debt has been accommodated
in budget allocation, burning up 45% of our national budget for the
year 2002 and 25% for this year. This left us with a penny for health
allocation for which the government spent only P14.5 billion last
year and P14 billion for this year. Not only did the budget decline,
it is also below the World Health organization's benchmark of of the
country's gross national product (GNP).
While there are positive reports on the increase of the GNP and the
gross domestic product (GDP), the workers' minimum wage remains at
P280. With only such amount of money on hand, it would not be enough
to suffice basic family spending of P506 a day to live decently. Unemployment
rose to 3,814 for 2002 from 3,286 in 2001, a 1.1% increase.
Demolitions in urban poor communities are becoming more aggressive,
while the government have less attention on housing problems. Since
1990 until last year the average housing budget was only 2.5 billion
per year, and for this year the allotment was only 1.7 billion. Housing
problems have been around for a long time byt the agencies and institutions
were not even alarmed—only 21% of its beneficiaries were really
poor families. On the other hand, the vendors, most of whom were living
in a poor condition, have lost their job due to subsequent annihilation
of Macapagal’s cabinet secretary Bayani Fernando.
This problems rose after People Power 2, after the peoples uprising
against an incompetent leader, Erap Estrada. But after the revolt,
the same political twists and same spices on public statements were
experienced by the nation, and all these made Juan de la Cruz taste
the bitterness of traditional politics.
Looking back it has always been this way: from one elitist group
to another. Just recently a new formation within their ranks was proposed:
the Government of National Unity, later called the “Council
of State.”
The formula for the council of state should include the broad political
groups from left to right and as a proof of this, they invited the
National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front—both
categorized as terrorist organizations by the government of America
and the present administration—to join this formation for reforms.
But how can we expect the sincerity of this Council of State if it
wants these groups to abolish their armed wing, while the council
is not presenting details on the process of implementation of the
council's program. How will unity amid diversity be realized if in
this new formation. the tyrants are focused on ensuring their positions
instead of making a platform of government that would change the Filipino's
poor condition.
The honeymoon period for Macapagal is over, and giving another luxury of
time for the government to realize that working class and the poor
people should be a priority is a farce.
We must move! We must act strongly for us to be first in line in
the government's priority. Demand our needs and our rights as the
majority in this society. If no actions will be done despite the promises
of the Council of State, amid the promises of Macapagal for better
living conditions, it would be more than enough for us to turn the
state upside down and for real democracy run the state. What we need
is a government that would serve us and put our interest in the main
line
The youth as the catalyst for change should bring the real line for
the ailing masses. We should be more organized and be more aggressive
in drawing the marginalized sectors to their real struggle. It is
important to be heard in demanding the government's withdrawal of
support to US war on Iraq—we can no longer allow millions of
civilians to die in war. We must call on the government to bring to
an end the globalization of our economy! The Zero Tariff Regime should
be suspended. Subsequent increase in water and oil is too much. Abolish
the Purchase Power Adjustment and suspend the water rate hike. Moratorium
on demolishing urban poor areas and the street vendors, until we have
sufficient fund for housing and we have created enough jobs. Re-channel
debt servicing to social services.
This would never be easy for us. But the twist in the political condition
should not be treated as a common political situation. As one of the
great leaders have stated “Dare to struggle! Dare to win!
