“This is unacceptable under the new government who claims to push for change, boasts of being democratic and pro-people. The Aquino government is no different from its predecessor Arroyo regime, implementing same-old fascist tactics to trample on our basic rights,” KMP’s Ramos declared after the dispersal and 42 of the peasant protesters had been hauled off to jail.
“If Aquino is this swift in breaking promises and disappointing the peoples’ expectations, it will be no surprise if he ends up more hated than his predecessor,” youth leader Dulce said.
As Usual, Poverty for the Majority, Super-profits for the Few?
Given the way Aquino has peopled his cabinet, and the way he projects his vision for the economy, it looks like “we are headed for a round-trip to the dark times under Arroyo,” Elmer Labog, chair of KMU, said in a statement.
Just who exactly then is Mr. Aquino’s real boss?
Into his first few weeks as president, it is becoming clear whose interest Aquino would serve more. By categorically stating his inclination “to induce a more vibrant business climate in the country to attract foreign investors,” Aquino has reassured the interests of entrenched big businesses in the country, to the detriment of the working people these interests habitually trample on.
“The US must be very happy for his strong affirmation of neoliberal policies, laying down an economic blueprint which parallels that of his pro-US predecessors,” Labog said.
NEDA director-general Cayetano Paderanga. (Photo courtesy of NEDA official website / bulatlat.com)
Leading the clues that these previously proven as bankrupt economic policies would be kept in force is the new NEDA Director-General Cayetano Paderanga, “who fully supported the full liberalization and deregulation of the economy during the Aquino and Ramos administrations that resulted in the further collapse of Philippine agriculture vis-à-vis our South East Asian counterparts,” said Terry Ridon of youth group Anakbayan.
Current Meralco president Jose “Ping” de Jesus, Maynilad Water Services CEO Rogelio “Babes” L. Singson, Manila Water Co. president Jose Rene D. Almendras, all in Aquino’s cabinet, also share the same track record of carrying out full deregulation of water, electricity and oil industries that resulted in the skyrocketing of water, oil, and electricity prices.
DPWH secretary Rogelio “Babes” L. Singson. (Photo courtesy of eleksyon.co.cc / bulatlat.com)
The Makati Business Club’s Alberto Lim and retained DFA Sec. Alberto Romulo also “represent the full opening of the Philippine economy to foreign interests, such as the perfection of planned free trade agreements with the United States,” noted Ridon of Anakbayan.
“Most surely, these moves that intend to allow more foreign access to our economy, will only mean more wage cuts, contractualization and job massacres. Foreign firms are always the first to block any wage increase, to push for massive contractualization and outsourcing schemes, and to cry ‘crisis’ and cost-cutting’ as excuses for retrenchments. The Philippines have always been fertile ground for their needed ‘cheapest labor’ to maintain growth of their profits,” Roger Soluta, KMU secretary general, said in a statement.
It is not just the Philippine human resources but also its natural resources that are being lined up by Aquino for continued plunder of the few. Leading the charge to the country’s resources is the new environment secretary, Mr. Ramon Paje.
DENR secretary Ramon Paje. (Photo courtesy of eleksyon.co.cc / bulatlat.com)
Like former secretary Horacio Ramos whose near-retention as environment secretary was resisted by environmentalists and the church, “Mr. Paje is one of the mining czars of the Arroyo administration in promoting and implementing mining liberalization in the country. The Minerals Development Council (MDC) which he heads facilitates the selling and privatization of mineral facilities and lands in the country. One of which is the gold-rich Mt. Diwalwal area in Campostela Valley, Davao del Norte,” said Clemente Bautista Jr. of environmental group Kalikasan-PNE.
It thus seems more likely that under Aquino, farmers and indigenous people would continue to be displaced from their lands in the name of large-scale mining and “environmental projects.” The drive for bio-fuels, which happens to be another US government priority here as declared by its new ambassador Harry K. Thomas, has already caused the displacement and fierce land struggles involving hundreds of farming families under the Arroyo government.
Mining liberalization is one of the priority economic policies of the previous Arroyo administration. The DENR now under mining czar Paje has identified 63 priority mining projects, most of which are foreign-owned. Based on the DENR record, there are 545 approved mining agreements covering more than 700,000 hectares of mineral lands as of December 2009.
As Aquino’s pronouncements and appointees suggest, his administration is unfolding into just another sequel in the poverty-inducing saga of implementing neo-liberal policies in the Philippines. The youth group Anakbayan, a sector who by inclination should have been more optimistic, “posits that the continuation of these economic policies” and these kind of appointees “might prevent Mr. Aquino from completely delivering on his promises of change in the next six years. (Bulatlat.com)
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I didn’t hear much about Noynoy during his term. Playing a low profile?
I hope we can start changing the corrupt system. From transparent biddings for government projects.
Mistakes from the past should have been corrected. The criminals released during mom’s presidency caused deadly massacres. I thought Ninoy’s vision would now be seen. Looks like it’s just’s gonna be more divisions.