‘Long and winding SONA silent on what matters most to Filipinos’ – progressive groups

Environmental groups supported Kadamay. Ces Quimpo, executive director of Center for Environmental Concerns (CEC), said the lack of urban planning and the sewerage system in Metro Manila are the primary reasons for the flooding.

For Clemente Bautista Jr., national coordinator of Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, clearing the waterways is but a palliative measure. “What is needed is a comprehensive plan to resolve flooding. The main reasons are the lack of infrastructure; the existing facilities are dilapidated already.”

“Stop blaming the poor,” Bautista said. “What about the factories and corporations dumping their garbage? The real estate projects of giant corporations such as SM change the natural flow of water, causing floods.”

Aquino talked about “28,398 families who were once informal settlers who finally have, or will soon have, decent homes.”

Badion said the construction of housing units supposedly for the urban poor is part of Aquino’s Private-Public Partnership (PPP) projects. “Those relocation sites would only benefit private corporations. We would not be able to pay for those homes,” Badion added.

“We went to the urban centers not to ask government to give us homes but in search of jobs,” Badion said. “If they would relocate us to places without livelihood, what good would it bring us?”

Who benefits from economic growth?

Aquino boasted in his SONA that agriculture grew thrice from 1.1 to 3.3 percent in 2012, but farmers’ groups said he failed to raise the issue of peasant poverty as a result of landlessness and joblessness. Despite the 3.3 percent growth in agriculture last year, employment in the agriculture sector has dropped by five percent in the same year, said Ibon Philippines. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) estimates that from seven to eight out of ten peasants are landless.

Aquino declared that Hacienda Luisita will be distributed by September and that his government will fasttrack the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms and will issue the remaining notices of coverage next year.

According to KMP, 1.2 million hectares remain from the Department of Agrarian Reform’s (DAR) reduced target of distributing 8.7 million hectares. And what the government has distributed are mainly government lands, so the remaining lands to be covered are privately owned, which are more contentious.

Among the other problems encountered by the CARPER are the reclassification of land, thereby resulting in the voiding of certificates of land transfers, and the difficulties of farmer beneficiaries to cope with the monthly amortizations. Quoting data from DAR, the KMP said only 15 percent of farmer beneficiaries were able to pay at least a few monthly amortizations. But in Nueva Ecija, for example, only four percent of farmer beneficiaries were able to complete their payments. Failure to pay the monthly amortizations results in the cancellation of land transfers.

“We have had the longest running land reform in the world, and that’s a reflection of the problem,” said Sonny Africa during Ibon’s mid-year economic briefing. He said land reform programs in the Philippines, now called CARPER, “created many possibilities to re-concentrate land reform.” Land reform could have improved the living conditions and buying potential of the peasant majority.

Aquino specially mentioned in his SONA the manufacturing sector’s 28.5 percent growth. However, Ibon said its impact on ordinary Filipinos is doubtful.

Under Aquino, the workers have not received any wage hike. Worse, Aquino has sought to cut their already low minimum wages through two-tiered wage system.

Good governance?

Aquino proudly said in his SONA that the 2013 election was “more peaceful and quiet,” with incidences of violence “reduced.” He thanked the voters for “giving” his candidates their votes.
Bobby Tuazon of CenPEG said Aquino defied the constitutional ban and a burgeoning mass movement calling for an end to political dynasties by campaigning openly for a cousin for the Senate and numerous leaders of traditional clans to ensure their election at all levels in the recent mid-term elections. Prof. Temario Rivera, CenPEG Fellow and Board chair, said the mid-term elections resulted in the entrenchment of political dynasties in 95 percent of 81 provinces. Indications are that the system of political dynasties has not only perpetuated but became more entrenched in Congress and local levels under Aquino.

He thanked the MILF for signing the framework agreement on the Bangsamoro.

Dean Julkipli Wadi of the UP Institute of Islamic Studies, a CenPEG Fellow, said Aquino did not heed a popular call from Moro groups to pursue a comprehensive peace process and as a result the GPH-MILF will not only be protracted but will remain unsettling given lingering issues with the MNLF, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and the Sabah claim.

President Aquino announced the plan to construct new housing units and livelihood project for police and soldiers. He promised to review their pension benefits and to work for the increase in the number of state security forces from the current 250,000. Aquino praised the heroic deeds of three police officers but warned that he has instructed the Department of Justice to investigate the killing of two suspected leaders of the “Ozamis gang” while under police custody.

But President Aquino did not mention anything about human rights violations and the prevailing impunity.

“We are disappointed that he did not take the opportunity to communicate to the military and the police that they will be held accountable for human rights violations. President Aquino’s failure to denounce abuses against outspoken activists, environmentalists, clergy and journalists sends the wrong message to abusive security forces and corrupt politicians,” James Ross, legal and policy director of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.

In assessing the first half of Aquino’s term, Simbulan, an authority on foreign relations, likened the Aquino government to a US drone, “directed by Washington and Pentagon for surveillance and as an attack dog to those who challenge U.S. hegemony in the Asia Pacific region.” The Philippine ports and airports are increasingly being used by US military warships. The US has also been ‘cooperating’ with Aquino in patrolling Philippine coastlines and building up the government troops citing the need for “minimum credible defense posture.”

In ending his speech, President Aquino talked about the transformation happening under his administration. He once again enumerated some corruption cases involving the former Arroyo administration.

“Aquino’s attempt to put the blame for the country’s problems on the previous government is fast becoming unconvincing to a growing number of Filipinos,” Labog of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) said in a statement. “We cannot stomach Aquino’s hypocrisy in blaming the previous government for the country’s problems even as he seeks credit for so-called improvements in the economy,” Labog said.
Bayan’s Reyes said that while Aquino made mention of the reduction of bonuses for Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) officials, he was mum on the rate hikes and the passing of tax burdens and operating expenses of water firms Manila Water and Maynilad to consumers.

“The challenge remains for Aquino to take a stand for the abolition of the pork barrel system as the lasting legacy of his anti-corruption drive,” Tinio said. In light of the scam, the Makabayan bloc in Congress consisting of ACT Teachers and four other partylist groups called for the scrapping of the priority development assistance fund.

After Aquino ended his SONA by saying he is proud to be Pinoy, Sonny Africa and even Juana Change reportedly felt slighted, saying they found it “insensitive.”

Progressive groups refuse to accept Aquino’s claim that his state of the nation address is the people’s SONA.

“President Aquino is in denial,” Africa repeated. “Summarizing it from where he came from, he thinks he’s okay, his life is going okay, everything is fine. He doesn’t see the lives being led by others. It is sad that that’s how our leader thinks.”