Commercialization of health services, the lack in budget, facilities, and personnel of government hospitals, and poverty combine to make health services more inaccessible. This explains the spread of diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) even as the cure for it has been discovered as early as 1952 and has been available locally since the 70s.
BY DABET CASTAÑEDA
Bulatlat
The former livelihood center is jam-packed with children running barefoot around a wet, mud-spattered floor while male adults play billiards in one corner. Some of the women do the laundry while others gather in front of a sari-sari (small consumer store) store for a small talk. Inside this center are around 50 houses made of bamboo and nylon sacks. The two-by-four square meter dwellings inside the evacuation center serve as temporary housing for more than 100 families whose houses were burned in December last year.
Outside the evacuation center, children – some naked, some clothed – play around dark muck. Some women peel garlic, teenage boys collect plastic bottles and steel scraps; young men repair furniture or tinker with vehicles while the rest of the neighborhood play card games in a wake.
This is Barangay (village) 105 Happy Land, a community in Tondo, Manila with a total population of 3,496. A survey conducted by the Canossa Health and Social Center (CHSC) in 2004 shows that 67.8 percent of the residents here peel garlic for a living. The same survey shows 99 percent of the community’s population earn less than the minimum wage of P350 ($6.78 at an exchange rate of $1=P51.56).
In the same survey, 55.1 percent were diagnosed to have upper respiratory tract infections, 15 percent had diarrhea while eight percent had skin diseases. The rest of the 21.9 percent had fever at the time of the survey.
An index of poverty
Marilyn Miane, 26, her husband Melchor, 27, and children Melvin, 3, and Marichu, 2, live in the evacuation center in Happy Land.
While Marilyn takes care of the kids and does household chores, Melchor drives a pedicab from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. He gives P60 ($1.16) of his earnings to the pedicab’s owner and takes home around P50 ($0.97) to P80 ($1.55) a day for their family’s needs.
In February this year, Marilyn was diagnosed by the CHSC to have tuberculosis (TB). In an interview, Marilyn said she had cough and colds three weeks before she decided to have herself checked up.
Since the CHSC promotes an anti-TB program, the rest of Marilyn’s family underwent TB diagnostic tests. Results showed Marilyn’s two children had also acquired primary complex or pediatric tuberculosis. The three are now under the CHSC program receiving free medication everyday for six months (the allotted period for TB medication).
Edna Masangya, CHSC TB Program Senior Coordinator, said the local government unit provides medicines for adults while the center’s German benefactors provide those for children. The center also has a feeding program for its patients.
However, Masangya said TB treatment does not depend on medicines alone. “Patients need proper nutrition and good environment,” she said.
TB, an airborne disease, is usually transmitted to family members just like what happened to Marilyn and her children. “Ang mga pasyente namin pami-pamilya, hawa-hawa sila,” (We have whole families as patients as they tend to contaminate each other.) Masangya said the spread of TB within and among families is mainly due to congested houses and poor diet.
TB is known as a sensitive index of a nation’s poverty. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) named the Philippines as having the highest rate of TB occurrence in the Western Pacific with 36 percent of 82 million Filipinos infected. The same report says 75 Filipinos die of TB daily while 100,000 contract the disease yearly.
This is despite the fact that the cure for TB was discovered as early as 1952 and has been available in the Philippines since the early 1970s.
Inaccessible services
Masangya said the budget for one TB patient is a minimum of P6,000 ($116.37) for six months using generic drugs. She said most if not all of their patients in CHSC have gone through self-medication before going to the center for proper diagnosis.
“Karinawan ay umiinom sila ng gamot na bigay lang ng kapitbahay kasi hindi naubos. Madalas tuloy mali o hindi sapat ang gamot na iniinum nila,” (They usually take medicines which have been given to them by their neighbors. Oftentimes they have either been taking the wrong medicine or have been taking insufficient dosages.) she said.
Dra. Geneve Rivera, the lone resident doctor of the CHSC, said in an interview that most if not all her patients reach the center “kung malala na.” (when they are in a worse state)
This, she said, is a common practice nationwide due to the inaccessibility of health services. “Pag tinatanung ko yung pasyente kung bakit ngayon lang sila nagpa-check-up, ang sagot nila ay kasi wala silang pambayad sa doctor,” (Whenever I ask patients why it took them time before having a check-up, their usual response is that they do not have money to pay a doctor.) she said.
The inaccessibility can be due to, first, the commercialization of health services.
She said the consultation fee of private clinics ranges from P150 ($2.91) to P350 ($6.79) per visit. This does not include expenses for medicines and laboratory fees.
Even public hospitals such as the Jose Reyes Medical Hospital in Manila asks for P50 ($0.97) as consultation fee for out-patients, Rivera said.
Although the CHSC offers free consultation, not all patients can be accommodated by one center alone, Rivera added.
Lack of budget
Hospital and laboratory fees are unaffordable to patients even in cases of emergency or severe illnesses.
Emma Manuel, radiological technologist of the Tondo Medical Center (TMC) and chairperson of the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW), said public hospitals are now expected to augment their budget.
For 2006, the national government only allocated P10.4 billion ($201,706,749) for health services or 25 centavos ($0.0048) per Filipino. TMC, a tertiary hospital, was given a P124 million ($2,404,965) budget for 2006 where P24 million ($465,477) goes to maintenance, operating, and other expenses (MOOE) while P100 million ($1,939,487) goes to personnel services.
Manuel said the budget for MOOE is not even enough to pay for water and electricity for one year. Their water and electricity bills amount to a maximum of P25 million ($484,877) a year.
This is why public hospitals are forced to charge laboratory and other fees, Manuel said.
Manuel said in the late 1970s, they only ask for a P5 ($0.09) donation for x-ray. Today, the lowest fee for chest x-ray (the most common due to the prevalence of TB) is P120 ($2.33) for adults and P240 ($4.65) for children.
Furthermore, Manuel said patients in the Emergency Room are made to buy practically everything. (see table)
Fees of Materials to be Bought by Patients of the TMC Emergency Room
Plaster - P5.75/ruler
Cotton - P.25/ball
Gauze - P7/pack
Dextrose - P61/1000ml bottle
Gloves - P5/piece
Oxygen - P473/tank
Rivera said inaccessibility can also be due to the urbanization of health services. This means a high percentage of health institutions are concentrated in Metro Manila and other urban centers in the country like Baguio in Northern Luzon, Cebu and Davao in Central and Southern Philippines, respectively.
Far-flung provinces, meanwhile, depend on provincial or regional hospitals that lack facilities and health personnel, she added. (link to Aubrey’s article on health devolution)
The greatest manifestation of the inaccessibility of health services, Rivera said, is the health seeking behavior of patients.
“Kanino ba pumupunta ang mga tao pag may nararamdaman sila? Di ba sa mga albularyo o hilot o yung tinatawag na traditional health workers?” (Where do people go if they are sick? They usually go to quack doctors or traditional health workers.) she said.
She said this practice is prevalent even in urban centers.
Working with limited resources
Dr. Gerry Ymson, Assistant Municipal Health Officer of the Manila Health Department (MHD), said in an interview that the Department of Health (DoH) has no definite commitment to local government units with regards the health budget.
“Hindi namin inaasahan ang budget na manggagaling sa DoH kasi if we do we will fail with our programs,” (We do not rely on the DoH for our budget otherwise our programs will fail.) he said.
Although the devolution of health services started in the early 1990s, the Manila City government has been working with its own budget since 1940, Ymson said. This was the same time the MHD was established.
The MHD has programs on TB and other communicable diseases, leprosy, venereal disease, childhood illnesses and dengue. The budget that comes from the DoH is given to the MHD in the form of medicines, Ymson added.
The MHD also boasts of a feeding program for children under five years old who are enrolled in day care centers.
Ymson also said that since TB ranks fourth among the 10 leading illnesses in the city, one of its thrust programs is towards containing TB. A big chunk of medicines for TB comes from the DoH.
Despite this, in March this year, 33-year old Arlene Hernandez has again been diagnosed with tuberculosis. She was first diagnosed with the same disease in 2001. Today, she is already considered a Category II patient which means she has to undergo re-treatment for eight months.
But Arlene’s misery has tripled today. Her two children, John, 5, and Jerryson, 11 months, have also been diagnosed with primary complex.
Arlene’s husband, Julioto, 36, is, at present, jobless.
They also live in one of those two-by-four square meter dwellings in a community they call Happy Land.
© 2006 Bulatlat ■ Alipato Media Center
Permission is granted to reprint or redistribute this article, provided its author/s and Bulatlat are properly credited and notified.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Evacuation Mess Turning ala "P700M Fertilizer Scam"
News Release
July 28, 2006
The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center is worried that the evacuation funds for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Lebanon is turning like the infamous "P700M Fertilizer Scam", wherein the money never reach the supposed beneficiary.
"The developing story behind evacuation mess is very smelly and similar to the "P700M Fertilizer Scam" but on a more grandiose scale, involving P8 billions of OFWs' money. We will not be surprised if the name of Gloria Arroyo will be implicated in this mess based on her track record of corruption," said Nenita "Ka Nitz" Gonzaga, Secretary of the KMU Women's Department.
The infamous P700M Fertilizer Funds were supposedly for farm inputs but it never reached the hands of our farmers but was used instead as grease money for House of Representative members to kill the impeachment bid against Arroyo. The veteran labor leader also supported the moves by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to dig deeper in the evacuation mess.
"We think both houses should investigate because this P8.1B is not government money but came from the blood and sweat of our toiling workers abroad and to make proper accounting of this hard-earned money is the least they can do, "opined Gonzaga .
"The earlier the better so as to locate where the stench is coming from and whose pockets are involved."
"While our countrymen are being shelled everyday in Lebanon, the finger-pointing between OWWA officials and Philippine Embassy in Lebanon continues. OWWA officials argue that there is money, while those in Lebanon state another story. If there is no problem with funds, show us the money," stated Gonzaga.
Gonzaga also criticized the government for being too stingy when it comes to the safety of our OFW's. "The OWWA has P 8.1B funds available but we are wondering why only a measly P150 million are made available. There are more than 30,000 Filipinos needed to be evacuated and P150M is far from enough." According to estimates the P150M is enough to cover only 3,000 or almost 10% of the total Filipinos in Lebanon. ###
-- Visit us at www.kilusangmayouno.org
July 28, 2006
The Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center is worried that the evacuation funds for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in Lebanon is turning like the infamous "P700M Fertilizer Scam", wherein the money never reach the supposed beneficiary.
"The developing story behind evacuation mess is very smelly and similar to the "P700M Fertilizer Scam" but on a more grandiose scale, involving P8 billions of OFWs' money. We will not be surprised if the name of Gloria Arroyo will be implicated in this mess based on her track record of corruption," said Nenita "Ka Nitz" Gonzaga, Secretary of the KMU Women's Department.
The infamous P700M Fertilizer Funds were supposedly for farm inputs but it never reached the hands of our farmers but was used instead as grease money for House of Representative members to kill the impeachment bid against Arroyo. The veteran labor leader also supported the moves by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to dig deeper in the evacuation mess.
"We think both houses should investigate because this P8.1B is not government money but came from the blood and sweat of our toiling workers abroad and to make proper accounting of this hard-earned money is the least they can do, "opined Gonzaga .
"The earlier the better so as to locate where the stench is coming from and whose pockets are involved."
"While our countrymen are being shelled everyday in Lebanon, the finger-pointing between OWWA officials and Philippine Embassy in Lebanon continues. OWWA officials argue that there is money, while those in Lebanon state another story. If there is no problem with funds, show us the money," stated Gonzaga.
Gonzaga also criticized the government for being too stingy when it comes to the safety of our OFW's. "The OWWA has P 8.1B funds available but we are wondering why only a measly P150 million are made available. There are more than 30,000 Filipinos needed to be evacuated and P150M is far from enough." According to estimates the P150M is enough to cover only 3,000 or almost 10% of the total Filipinos in Lebanon. ###
-- Visit us at www.kilusangmayouno.org
Monday, July 24, 2006
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Our Very Own Dirty War
By Walden Bello*
(This article appeared in Business World, July 17, 2006.)
In Argentina, during the “Dirty War” in the mid-seventies, the military used to load tortured university students into helicopters and push them into the stormy South Atlantic.
We have not yet come to that, thank god. But the statistics are mounting, as almost every week now, activists and journalists are murdered or abducted. The dirty war is a grim reality that is unfolding, especially in the countryside.
Like many institutions, the University of the Philippines as a community has been slow in reacting to the spread of the dirty war. But when its very own were swept up in the dragnet, it finally reacted. Sherlyn Cadapan, an outstanding athlete, is with the College of Human Kinetics. Karen Empeno is a student at my unit, the Department of Sociology of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. Both were picked up by masked men with long firearms at 2 am in Hagonoy, Bulacan, along with a male companion from the same area.
In a letter to Ronaldo Puno, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, UP President Emerlinda Roman requested the assistance of government authorities in locating the two students. In the letter the president reminded Puno: “We know that you share with us a commitment to the spirit of the UN General Assembly’s ‘Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance… We also know that the acts done by masked armed men are criminally punishable under our laws.”
Ten days after President Roman’s letter, with still no word from the military or any other government agency on the whereabouts of the two students, the University Council approved with no negative votes a resolution reiterating her request for information and asking the government to “provide [the students] with medical and legal assistance and release them to the care of the University as soon as possible.” The July 13 resolution added: “We consider the continuing silence of the authorities in this matter of life and death to be inexcusable and a betrayal of the public trust.”
The university community’s reaction, along with the recent Catholic Bishops Conference Pastoral Statement of July 11, which condemned the spate of killings, was an important step in the awakening of civic consciousness over the grave danger to the liberal democratic regime posed by the rampant assassinations and abductions.
But the protests from these two institutions are far from turning the black tide of state and paramilitary terrorism.
In contrast to the waning years of the Marcos regime and the early years of the Aquino presidency, there has yet been no mass outrage at the systematic assassination of activists and media people. It could be that people have become cynical about the ability of the justice system to bring the perpetrators of such deeds to justice. This is understandable since none of the perpetrators of the killings of high-profile figures—Benigno Aquino, the student leader Lean Alejandro, labor leader Rolando Olalia—have been brought to justice, much less identified. This cynicism about the justice system is part of the general disillusionment with the institutions of the unraveling EDSA liberal democratic state that replaced the Marcos regime.
Lack of faith in mass actions, profound skepticism that the vote can change anything, a withdrawal into the private sphere, general dispiritedness—these are the elements of the miserable political context in which the killings are taking place.
The systematic assassinations and abductions are part of an anti-communist campaign that has run out of control. They are being perpetrated by elements of the security and defense establishment, along with private landed armies, and these forces are encouraged by the unwillingness of civilian authorities to check them. For the civilian authorities—in this case, Malacanang—are not only weak; they depend for their survival on the support of the military. This symbiosis between a corrupt and weak civilian regime and a strong and reckless military is what is stripping the EDSA state of its last liberal features.
For all intents and purposes, we are living in a repressive, post-liberal, post-democratic state.
It is estimated that at least 15,000 young people were assassinated in the dirty war in Argentina. It will never get that bad here, some say. Well, let me tell these people that this is no longer a far-fetched scenario, and the only thing that will prevent it from transpiring is a mobilized civil society that says enough, and is angry enough to bring back the rule of law.
Can we turn the tide? Yes, but that will take a lot of determination and a lot of courage.
*Walden Bello is professor of sociology at the University of the Philippines.
(This article appeared in Business World, July 17, 2006.)
In Argentina, during the “Dirty War” in the mid-seventies, the military used to load tortured university students into helicopters and push them into the stormy South Atlantic.
We have not yet come to that, thank god. But the statistics are mounting, as almost every week now, activists and journalists are murdered or abducted. The dirty war is a grim reality that is unfolding, especially in the countryside.
Like many institutions, the University of the Philippines as a community has been slow in reacting to the spread of the dirty war. But when its very own were swept up in the dragnet, it finally reacted. Sherlyn Cadapan, an outstanding athlete, is with the College of Human Kinetics. Karen Empeno is a student at my unit, the Department of Sociology of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. Both were picked up by masked men with long firearms at 2 am in Hagonoy, Bulacan, along with a male companion from the same area.
In a letter to Ronaldo Puno, Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government, UP President Emerlinda Roman requested the assistance of government authorities in locating the two students. In the letter the president reminded Puno: “We know that you share with us a commitment to the spirit of the UN General Assembly’s ‘Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance… We also know that the acts done by masked armed men are criminally punishable under our laws.”
Ten days after President Roman’s letter, with still no word from the military or any other government agency on the whereabouts of the two students, the University Council approved with no negative votes a resolution reiterating her request for information and asking the government to “provide [the students] with medical and legal assistance and release them to the care of the University as soon as possible.” The July 13 resolution added: “We consider the continuing silence of the authorities in this matter of life and death to be inexcusable and a betrayal of the public trust.”
The university community’s reaction, along with the recent Catholic Bishops Conference Pastoral Statement of July 11, which condemned the spate of killings, was an important step in the awakening of civic consciousness over the grave danger to the liberal democratic regime posed by the rampant assassinations and abductions.
But the protests from these two institutions are far from turning the black tide of state and paramilitary terrorism.
In contrast to the waning years of the Marcos regime and the early years of the Aquino presidency, there has yet been no mass outrage at the systematic assassination of activists and media people. It could be that people have become cynical about the ability of the justice system to bring the perpetrators of such deeds to justice. This is understandable since none of the perpetrators of the killings of high-profile figures—Benigno Aquino, the student leader Lean Alejandro, labor leader Rolando Olalia—have been brought to justice, much less identified. This cynicism about the justice system is part of the general disillusionment with the institutions of the unraveling EDSA liberal democratic state that replaced the Marcos regime.
Lack of faith in mass actions, profound skepticism that the vote can change anything, a withdrawal into the private sphere, general dispiritedness—these are the elements of the miserable political context in which the killings are taking place.
The systematic assassinations and abductions are part of an anti-communist campaign that has run out of control. They are being perpetrated by elements of the security and defense establishment, along with private landed armies, and these forces are encouraged by the unwillingness of civilian authorities to check them. For the civilian authorities—in this case, Malacanang—are not only weak; they depend for their survival on the support of the military. This symbiosis between a corrupt and weak civilian regime and a strong and reckless military is what is stripping the EDSA state of its last liberal features.
For all intents and purposes, we are living in a repressive, post-liberal, post-democratic state.
It is estimated that at least 15,000 young people were assassinated in the dirty war in Argentina. It will never get that bad here, some say. Well, let me tell these people that this is no longer a far-fetched scenario, and the only thing that will prevent it from transpiring is a mobilized civil society that says enough, and is angry enough to bring back the rule of law.
Can we turn the tide? Yes, but that will take a lot of determination and a lot of courage.
*Walden Bello is professor of sociology at the University of the Philippines.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Update on Rice Subsidy and Other Matters
On June 2, 2006, the All U.P. Workers's Union Manila have a dialogue with the UP Manila Chancellor, Dr. Ramon Arcadio. The agenda include: benefits under the Magna carta of Public Health Workers (RA 7305) and the early release of the first sack of rice.
The Chancellor agreed and suported the early release of the 1st sack of rice after consultation with PGH Director, Dr. Carmelo Alfiler (PGH constitute about 76% of the 3,400 administrative personnel of UP Manila). He also agreed to help convince the other chancellors, considering that UP Manila constitutes the bulk of the 8,000 administrative personnel of UP.
The Chancellor further agreed to form a committee to study the financial and other aspects of the benefits yet to be implemented under the Magna Carta such as the Longevity and Overtime Pay, free treatment and hospitalization and housing facility and/or allowance. To date, the seven (7) member committee headed by the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Orlino Talens had already met once, and have an imposed dealine to submit its recommendation to the Chancellor on/or before September 30, 2006
This dialogue was also adopted by the AUPWU's National Executive Committee so that before the meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) on June 21, the Chancellors of UP Diliman and Los Baños were already on board to support the early release of the rice subsidy (1st sack of the two (2) sack per year subsidy). UP's campuses in Manila, Diliman and Los Baños are considered "the big three" (heavyweights) of the seven (7) constituent units of the UP System.
Tomorrow, June 30, 2006, the UP's Board of Regents are expected to affirm the PAC's recommendation for the early release of the 1st sack of rice. However, we still need to lobby it during its meeting at UP Open University in Los Baños tomorrow at 9:00 AM. We therefore call on everybody to go to UPOU tomorrow starting at 8:00 AM.
Upon approval by the BOR, we expect each of us to received our one (1) sack rice starting on the last week of July 2006.
On the other hand, the case of our National Treasurer, Mr. Ely Estropigan has been partially resolved on our favor. Mr Estropigan was collared by the PSG and WPD operatives on June 15, 2006 during the turnover rite of the Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal when Mrs. Arroyo visited the PGH. He was out on P100.00 bail on the charge of "breach of peace" in violation of a Revised City Ordinance. The charge by the police of inciting to sedition was recommended "for further investigation" instead of being dismissed outright by the inquest fiscal. We in the union however believed that the action of the PSG and WPD operatives were way out of bounds considering that the peaceful protest action was done in a public place and in UP grounds at that. The Memorandum of Agreement between UP and the AFP/PNP specifically prohibits the AFP and PNP personnel to intervene on any peaceful concerted activities done within the campus by UP constituents. The Union was therefore mulling also to file administrative charges against the PSG and WPD operatives who arrested Mr. Estropigan and the two students at PGH. We finally believed that this harassment suit filed against Mr. Estropigan will be dismissed in due time.
The Chancellor agreed and suported the early release of the 1st sack of rice after consultation with PGH Director, Dr. Carmelo Alfiler (PGH constitute about 76% of the 3,400 administrative personnel of UP Manila). He also agreed to help convince the other chancellors, considering that UP Manila constitutes the bulk of the 8,000 administrative personnel of UP.
The Chancellor further agreed to form a committee to study the financial and other aspects of the benefits yet to be implemented under the Magna Carta such as the Longevity and Overtime Pay, free treatment and hospitalization and housing facility and/or allowance. To date, the seven (7) member committee headed by the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Orlino Talens had already met once, and have an imposed dealine to submit its recommendation to the Chancellor on/or before September 30, 2006
This dialogue was also adopted by the AUPWU's National Executive Committee so that before the meeting of the Presidential Advisory Council (PAC) on June 21, the Chancellors of UP Diliman and Los Baños were already on board to support the early release of the rice subsidy (1st sack of the two (2) sack per year subsidy). UP's campuses in Manila, Diliman and Los Baños are considered "the big three" (heavyweights) of the seven (7) constituent units of the UP System.
Tomorrow, June 30, 2006, the UP's Board of Regents are expected to affirm the PAC's recommendation for the early release of the 1st sack of rice. However, we still need to lobby it during its meeting at UP Open University in Los Baños tomorrow at 9:00 AM. We therefore call on everybody to go to UPOU tomorrow starting at 8:00 AM.
Upon approval by the BOR, we expect each of us to received our one (1) sack rice starting on the last week of July 2006.
On the other hand, the case of our National Treasurer, Mr. Ely Estropigan has been partially resolved on our favor. Mr Estropigan was collared by the PSG and WPD operatives on June 15, 2006 during the turnover rite of the Sentro Oftalmologico Jose Rizal when Mrs. Arroyo visited the PGH. He was out on P100.00 bail on the charge of "breach of peace" in violation of a Revised City Ordinance. The charge by the police of inciting to sedition was recommended "for further investigation" instead of being dismissed outright by the inquest fiscal. We in the union however believed that the action of the PSG and WPD operatives were way out of bounds considering that the peaceful protest action was done in a public place and in UP grounds at that. The Memorandum of Agreement between UP and the AFP/PNP specifically prohibits the AFP and PNP personnel to intervene on any peaceful concerted activities done within the campus by UP constituents. The Union was therefore mulling also to file administrative charges against the PSG and WPD operatives who arrested Mr. Estropigan and the two students at PGH. We finally believed that this harassment suit filed against Mr. Estropigan will be dismissed in due time.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Channel P1billion AFP Fund to Schools, Medicines, and Peace Talks, Ka Bel Challenges GMA
NEWS RELEASE
June 22, 2006
From the Office of Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
"Socio-economic development' component of AFP's all-out war is only a deodorizer for bloodbath."
Anakpawis Congressman Crispin Beltran today challenged the Palace and the AFP "to prove their sincerity in achieving a just and lasting peace by rechannelling the controversial P1 billion counter-insurgency fund to basic social services, such as education and health, and to the peace talks with the CPP-NPA".
"The government should be channeling such funds to augmenting grossly inadequate basic social services, instead of funding murderous counter-insurgency campaigns in the countryside. The Arroyo administration should be castigated by all societal sectors for splurging on the military allotments while chronically neglecting and scrimping on the budget for health and education. This shows that the President is only interested in protecting herself rather than the nation's interest and welfare," Beltran said while confined at the Philippine Heart Center.
"The people's money would be better spent on laying the groundwork for the resumption of peace talks with the CPP-NPA rather than an all-out counter-insurgency bid. Yet the Arroyo administration seems to favor wielding the bloody sword of war over going back to the negotiating table," Beltran said.
Beltran also criticized AFP Chief Generoso Senga's claim that criticisms of the counter-insurgency fund were "unfair".
"Senga should quit denying the obvious and call a spade a spade. He is evading well-founded and historical observations that the military counter-insurgency fund will only increase the number of civilians killed, tortured, and harassed and the extra-judicial killings of activists who are operating well within the law. He is lamely and illogically trying to justify a bloodbath by saying that the AFP will be having all these small livelihood projects anyway," Beltran said.
"The 'socio-economic development' component of this counter-insurgency campaign is only a deodorizer for the stench of blood and tears that is sure to come if the military war dogs go on such a killing spree in the provinces. These small-scale projects will not fundamentally alter the causes of widespread poverty, and can never compensate for the human rights violations by the military," Beltran said.
Beltran said he was wary of such "socio-economic development projects, especially those bearing the seal of approval from the Palace".
"Frankly speaking, we have witnessed how the Arroyo administration has only used such Palace-approved allotments as a convenient piggybank for Pres. Arroyo's campaigns at shameless self-promotion. The 2007 elections are nearing, and President Arroyo will be needing subtle and not-so-subtle ways to promote herself, her allies and her cohorts in their bid to extend their abominable presence in governance," Beltran said.
"This socio-economic development component of the P1 bilion military allocation might only end up as another Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) fertilizer fund scam or another OWWA Philhealth fund anomaly," Beltran said. ###
June 22, 2006
From the Office of Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
Lisa C. Ito, Public Information Officer (+63)927.796.7006
"Socio-economic development' component of AFP's all-out war is only a deodorizer for bloodbath."
Anakpawis Congressman Crispin Beltran today challenged the Palace and the AFP "to prove their sincerity in achieving a just and lasting peace by rechannelling the controversial P1 billion counter-insurgency fund to basic social services, such as education and health, and to the peace talks with the CPP-NPA".
"The government should be channeling such funds to augmenting grossly inadequate basic social services, instead of funding murderous counter-insurgency campaigns in the countryside. The Arroyo administration should be castigated by all societal sectors for splurging on the military allotments while chronically neglecting and scrimping on the budget for health and education. This shows that the President is only interested in protecting herself rather than the nation's interest and welfare," Beltran said while confined at the Philippine Heart Center.
"The people's money would be better spent on laying the groundwork for the resumption of peace talks with the CPP-NPA rather than an all-out counter-insurgency bid. Yet the Arroyo administration seems to favor wielding the bloody sword of war over going back to the negotiating table," Beltran said.
Beltran also criticized AFP Chief Generoso Senga's claim that criticisms of the counter-insurgency fund were "unfair".
"Senga should quit denying the obvious and call a spade a spade. He is evading well-founded and historical observations that the military counter-insurgency fund will only increase the number of civilians killed, tortured, and harassed and the extra-judicial killings of activists who are operating well within the law. He is lamely and illogically trying to justify a bloodbath by saying that the AFP will be having all these small livelihood projects anyway," Beltran said.
"The 'socio-economic development' component of this counter-insurgency campaign is only a deodorizer for the stench of blood and tears that is sure to come if the military war dogs go on such a killing spree in the provinces. These small-scale projects will not fundamentally alter the causes of widespread poverty, and can never compensate for the human rights violations by the military," Beltran said.
Beltran said he was wary of such "socio-economic development projects, especially those bearing the seal of approval from the Palace".
"Frankly speaking, we have witnessed how the Arroyo administration has only used such Palace-approved allotments as a convenient piggybank for Pres. Arroyo's campaigns at shameless self-promotion. The 2007 elections are nearing, and President Arroyo will be needing subtle and not-so-subtle ways to promote herself, her allies and her cohorts in their bid to extend their abominable presence in governance," Beltran said.
"This socio-economic development component of the P1 bilion military allocation might only end up as another Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) fertilizer fund scam or another OWWA Philhealth fund anomaly," Beltran said. ###
Itchy Trigger Fingers or Itchy Palms?
Editorial
People's Independent Media
THURSDAY JUNE 22, 2006
'The police need not raise the Red bogey to ensure each member has a sidearm. Just waive the 10 percent "SOP," please.'
The Philippine National Police is itching to get its licks in at the communist rebels following Gloria Arroyo's declaration of "all-outwar."
"We want an active role, like conducting offensives," PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Samuel Pagdilao said.
According to Pagdilao, the PNP has always been on a "defensive mode" toward the communist rebels. The police can act only when attacked. As a result, they have been relatively easy targets for raids which usually result in firearms being carted off by the rebels.
The zeal of the PNP is commendable. But why can't it devote its attention to maintenance of peace and order first?
Criminality is rampant. The PNP admits as much by saying it could not perform its job well because it is undermanned and inadequately equipped. The PNP has 118,000 members securing 80 million people, for a policeman-to-population ratio of around 1:700, well below the 1:500minimum.
The PNP even lacks basic firearms, let alone prowl cars, ships and planes to carry out its mission. Of hand guns, the PNP has 100,500 in its inventory, leaving 14 percent of its men without this basic equipment.
So why should the police look for a new fight when it cannot even lick the enemy at hand?
Perhaps, it's not a case of itchy trigger fingers, but of itchy palms?
This is probably unfair to the PNP leadership but, let's face it, themilitary and the police have not exactly been known for, ah, scrupulous financial accounting.
Gloria has ordered the release of P1 billion to bankroll her all-out war against the communist rebels. A total of P400 million is earmarked for the Armed Forces, P300 million for the PNP and P300 million for unspecified "developmental" projects.
We are not begrudging the PNP for seeking a fair share of the P1billion funding. It certainly needs the money. Let's go back to the handgun shortage. Let's place the shortage at an even 18,000. AtP30,000 a piece, the price the PNP is paying for it latest negotiated purchase, 18,000 guns already cost P540 million. (Of long firearms, the PNP has 60,000, including those on the pipeline. That's a shortage of 58,000. But Gloria says 100,500 handguns plus 60,000 long firearms gives a total 160,000 firearms. There is, therefore, no shortage by Gloria's kind of arithmetic.)
Our suggestion to the PNP is to use all P300 million to buy 10,000 hand guns. That still leaves an 8,000 shortage. But it has to start somewhere. The police need not raise the Red bogey to ensure eachmember has a sidearm. Just waive the 10 percent "SOP," please.
COPYRIGHT 2004 (c) People's Independent Media Inc.
People's Independent Media
THURSDAY JUNE 22, 2006
'The police need not raise the Red bogey to ensure each member has a sidearm. Just waive the 10 percent "SOP," please.'
The Philippine National Police is itching to get its licks in at the communist rebels following Gloria Arroyo's declaration of "all-outwar."
"We want an active role, like conducting offensives," PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Samuel Pagdilao said.
According to Pagdilao, the PNP has always been on a "defensive mode" toward the communist rebels. The police can act only when attacked. As a result, they have been relatively easy targets for raids which usually result in firearms being carted off by the rebels.
The zeal of the PNP is commendable. But why can't it devote its attention to maintenance of peace and order first?
Criminality is rampant. The PNP admits as much by saying it could not perform its job well because it is undermanned and inadequately equipped. The PNP has 118,000 members securing 80 million people, for a policeman-to-population ratio of around 1:700, well below the 1:500minimum.
The PNP even lacks basic firearms, let alone prowl cars, ships and planes to carry out its mission. Of hand guns, the PNP has 100,500 in its inventory, leaving 14 percent of its men without this basic equipment.
So why should the police look for a new fight when it cannot even lick the enemy at hand?
Perhaps, it's not a case of itchy trigger fingers, but of itchy palms?
This is probably unfair to the PNP leadership but, let's face it, themilitary and the police have not exactly been known for, ah, scrupulous financial accounting.
Gloria has ordered the release of P1 billion to bankroll her all-out war against the communist rebels. A total of P400 million is earmarked for the Armed Forces, P300 million for the PNP and P300 million for unspecified "developmental" projects.
We are not begrudging the PNP for seeking a fair share of the P1billion funding. It certainly needs the money. Let's go back to the handgun shortage. Let's place the shortage at an even 18,000. AtP30,000 a piece, the price the PNP is paying for it latest negotiated purchase, 18,000 guns already cost P540 million. (Of long firearms, the PNP has 60,000, including those on the pipeline. That's a shortage of 58,000. But Gloria says 100,500 handguns plus 60,000 long firearms gives a total 160,000 firearms. There is, therefore, no shortage by Gloria's kind of arithmetic.)
Our suggestion to the PNP is to use all P300 million to buy 10,000 hand guns. That still leaves an 8,000 shortage. But it has to start somewhere. The police need not raise the Red bogey to ensure eachmember has a sidearm. Just waive the 10 percent "SOP," please.
COPYRIGHT 2004 (c) People's Independent Media Inc.
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