Land monopoly is government's war on rural poor – health group

Press release: October 25, 2017

Farmers in the countryside bear the brunt of hunger and poverty caused by the government's fraudulent land reform program, which sees its 45th year today, according to Health Alliance for Democracy.

"Nine of ten farmers do not own the land they till. Most endure uneven share agreements with landlords, while their crops are bought cheap. Farmworkers suffer from unfair and hostile work conditions on top of low wage. This framework hurls farmers, who compose 75% of our population, towards hunger, poverty, malnutrition, and sickness" said Dr. Joseph Carabeo, HEAD Secretary General.

"The government insists on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program as its cure-it-all, but with its high amortization rates, it only takes away land from farmers instead of distributing it," Carabeo said. "Add this to land-use conversion and it becomes apparent that the government does not intend to distribute land at all. The Duterte administration's policies, a mere copy of the previous administrations, have been failing and will continue to do so."

"And instead of addressing the just and humanitarian needs of farmers, the government resorts to fascism," added Carabeo. Farmers who fight for their right to till experience harassment from state forces or murdered. From July 2016 to September 2017, 91 farmer leaders and activists have been killed.

"The most obvious solution remains elusive: genuine agrarian reform and the free distribution of lands," added Carabeo. "The Philippines' naturally rich soil and ideal climate for agriculture are keys to solving widespread hunger and poverty, and in turn malnutrition. Agriculture as the foundation of enterprises will ensure food sustainability and social services and will bring forth employment, new industries, and infrastructure."

HEAD therefore encourages the Filipino people to support the farmers' struggle for their right to till and free distribution of land. The realization of genuine agrarian reform will help uplift the lives of Filipinos in both short and long terms. We must eject and expose the anti-poor, anti-farmer, and especially the fascist policies of the US-Duterte regime! ##

Health group opposes MRT/LRT fare hike

The group Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) today urged the people to unite and strongly oppose plans by the Aquino government to raise fares in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems by March 1, 2011. This increase will push through despite massive opposition from various sectors during “public consultations” with government officials.

“Is the concern of the Aquino administration for the plight of the poor mere rhetoric? The MRT/LRT fare hike plan seems to say so,” Dr. Geneve Rivera, HEAD secretary general said. “This fare is on top of other increases in prices of petroleum products and basic services like electricity, and will be a tremendous addition to the daily costs of living. The heaviest burden will be on daily wage earners who barely get the minimum wage but have to go to work every day.”

According to HEAD, the MRT and LRT have a combined average of about a million riders per day. Aside from students, most of these riders are employees and blue collar workers who suffer the daily grind of these trips in order to make ends meet. That is why in many countries, essential social services like mass public transport systems necessarily require government subsidies and are not meant to be profitable.

“However, the fare hike is actually meant to showcase the profitability of the mass rail transport systems so as to attractive more potential buyers,” added Dr. Rivera. “The fare hike is actually a step in Aquino’s policy of greater privatization.”

“Because of this privatization policy, public infrastructures like the MRT and LRT operate to gain profit and not to provide public service to the public. Worse, the bulk of so-called losses being shouldered by the government are actually payments for guaranteed profits in the form of ‘equity rental payments’, and for the loans incurred by the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC) when it built the MRT under a 25-year ‘build-lease-transfer’ (BLT) scheme in 1997. The BLT contract guaranteed the consortium a 15% rate of profit.”

“In this regard, the government of PNoy is no different from past regimes. It makes public utilities milking cow for the profiteering of private companies. It puts the economic burden of neoliberal policies imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on those who are already suffering much: the poor.”

HEAD insists that instead of raising MRT/LRT fares, the Aquino regime should review the lopsided BOT/BLT contract and rescind it with the public welfare in mind.

“In light of the current economic crisis and already difficult social conditions, it is unacceptable for the Aquino regime to sell off the few remaining state assets at the expense of the people he vowed to serve.” Dr. Rivera concluded. The health group urged Filipinos to vigorously oppose the unjustifiable MRT/LRT fare hike plan and make the Aquino administration accountable for its anti-people, pro-big business measures.

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HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY(HEAD)
2/F Doña Anita Bldg, 284 E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City
Telefax: (02) 725 4760 Email: headphil@gmail.com

Reference :
Dr. Geneve Rivera, Secretary-General