100 Filipino Organizations ask Aquino: Adopt pro-poor agenda
p d i | 22.06.2010 10:48 | Migration | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | World
MANILA, Philippines—Some 100 non-government organizations from all over the country under the umbrella network of Kampanya para sa Makataong Pamumuhay (KAMP or Dignified Life for All Campaign) are asking incoming President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to adopt their pro-poor agenda.
The agenda, which will be presented to the public and key legislators and possible Cabinet secretaries on Tuesday, June 22, in Sulo Hotel, seeks to prioritize people's rights to work, food, and essential services like housing and health.
“The start of this administration is filled with hope. We hope that President Aquino will focus all his energy at the alleviation of poverty and inequality,” said Ana Maria Nemenzo in a news release to media outfits.
Under the call for decent work for all, KAMP proposes the adoption of India's National Rural Employment Guarantee and Labor-Based Equipment-Supported technology; the passage of the bill ensuring security of tenure; and the reversal of OWWA Omnibus Policies to give inactive OWWA members access to $12-billion OWWA Fund.
To ensure adequate food for all, KAMP recommends that school children in public schools be fed in school. The network of NGOs wants to formalize the subsidy of agricultural inputs, especially eco-friendly ones that ensure sustainability. “Implement food price subsidy program and ensure that subsidized rice reach the targeted poor,” KAMP said.
KAMP also seeks a three-year moratorium on demolitions while a program for housing especially of those affected families are being developed and calls for in-city housing development. It seeks government-abled universal quality health care (health services) by instituting reforms in the PhilHealth system and increasing government spending in health care services. It calls for a subsidy of 6 cubic meters per poor household per month (water), as well as a subsidy of electricity connection of poor households and a review lifeline subsidy rates (electricity)
For social insurance, KAMP seeks universal pension for the elderly, agricultural insurance for subsistence agricultural workers, unemployment insurance to job seeking workers, among others.
The agenda presentation is part of a three-day series of activities on social protection. Prof. Kamal Chenoy, a prominent scholar-activist from the Jawarhal Nehru University, is also scheduled to share India's experience with similar programs, and how India has struggled with the concept of rights to work and food and how it is expanding definition of social protection. He will share relevant lessons from the Indian experience, including strategies that worked and did not work.
Among the 100 organizations are: AKBAYAN (Citizens Action Party); Alab Katipunan (AK), Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), Angono-Binangonan Central Allied Tricycle Operator's and Driver's Association (ABCATODA), Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE),
Kilos Maralita (Kilos M), Laban ng Masa (Fight of the Masses), Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center (LMLC), League of Urban Poor for Action (LUPA), Liga Manggagawa-Quezon City (LM-QC), Makati Transport Group, Medical Action Group. Inc. (MAG), National Federation of Labor (NFL), National Federation of Labor Union (NAFLU),
National Labor Union (NLU), National Urban Poor Coalition (NUPCO), Pagkakaisa ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan (KAISAKA), Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (PKMM), Pambansang Katipunan ng Maralitang Pilipino (PKMP), Pambansang Katipunan ng Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK), Partido Manggagawa (PM - Workers Party), Pesante-Pilipinas,
Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions (PAFLU), Progresibong Alyansa ng Mangingisda (PANGISDA), Progressive Organization of Worker Advocates (PROWORKER), Rural-Urban People's Linkages (RUPEL), San Roque Coordinating Council-North Triangle Alliance (SRCC-NTA), Union Network International-Philippine Liaison Council, Urban Missionaries Inc. (UM-AMRSP), WomanHealth Philippines, Workers Welfare Watch.Philippines, and Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND).
“The start of this administration is filled with hope. We hope that President Aquino will focus all his energy at the alleviation of poverty and inequality,” said Ana Maria Nemenzo in a news release to media outfits.
Under the call for decent work for all, KAMP proposes the adoption of India's National Rural Employment Guarantee and Labor-Based Equipment-Supported technology; the passage of the bill ensuring security of tenure; and the reversal of OWWA Omnibus Policies to give inactive OWWA members access to $12-billion OWWA Fund.
To ensure adequate food for all, KAMP recommends that school children in public schools be fed in school. The network of NGOs wants to formalize the subsidy of agricultural inputs, especially eco-friendly ones that ensure sustainability. “Implement food price subsidy program and ensure that subsidized rice reach the targeted poor,” KAMP said.
KAMP also seeks a three-year moratorium on demolitions while a program for housing especially of those affected families are being developed and calls for in-city housing development. It seeks government-abled universal quality health care (health services) by instituting reforms in the PhilHealth system and increasing government spending in health care services. It calls for a subsidy of 6 cubic meters per poor household per month (water), as well as a subsidy of electricity connection of poor households and a review lifeline subsidy rates (electricity)
For social insurance, KAMP seeks universal pension for the elderly, agricultural insurance for subsistence agricultural workers, unemployment insurance to job seeking workers, among others.
The agenda presentation is part of a three-day series of activities on social protection. Prof. Kamal Chenoy, a prominent scholar-activist from the Jawarhal Nehru University, is also scheduled to share India's experience with similar programs, and how India has struggled with the concept of rights to work and food and how it is expanding definition of social protection. He will share relevant lessons from the Indian experience, including strategies that worked and did not work.
Among the 100 organizations are: AKBAYAN (Citizens Action Party); Alab Katipunan (AK), Alliance of Progressive Labor (APL), Angono-Binangonan Central Allied Tricycle Operator's and Driver's Association (ABCATODA), Coalition of Services for the Elderly (COSE),
Kilos Maralita (Kilos M), Laban ng Masa (Fight of the Masses), Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center (LMLC), League of Urban Poor for Action (LUPA), Liga Manggagawa-Quezon City (LM-QC), Makati Transport Group, Medical Action Group. Inc. (MAG), National Federation of Labor (NFL), National Federation of Labor Union (NAFLU),
National Labor Union (NLU), National Urban Poor Coalition (NUPCO), Pagkakaisa ng Kababaihan para sa Kalayaan (KAISAKA), Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (PKMM), Pambansang Katipunan ng Maralitang Pilipino (PKMP), Pambansang Katipunan ng Samahan sa Kanayunan (PKSK), Partido Manggagawa (PM - Workers Party), Pesante-Pilipinas,
Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions (PAFLU), Progresibong Alyansa ng Mangingisda (PANGISDA), Progressive Organization of Worker Advocates (PROWORKER), Rural-Urban People's Linkages (RUPEL), San Roque Coordinating Council-North Triangle Alliance (SRCC-NTA), Union Network International-Philippine Liaison Council, Urban Missionaries Inc. (UM-AMRSP), WomanHealth Philippines, Workers Welfare Watch.Philippines, and Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND).
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