The Asian Social Institute (ASI), the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, ChaCharot: Samahan ng Tutol sa Charter Change, and the Urban Poor Associates, are jointly convening a Kongreso ng Taumbayan, to insist that national decision-making must include the opinions most important stakeholders: the poor.
The Kongreso brings national focus to the issues that matter the most: food security, quality and sanctity of life, and the chance for a better future for all.
These issues should take up the time wasted on the attempt to change the Constitution.
Rice, EJK, and the TRAIN that struck the poor badly —BIGAS, TODAS, HAMPAS — preoccupy the poor.
Supposedly, these issues will be addressed by charter change. A shift to a Federal form of government —according to the Administration mouthpieces — will guarantee equitable distribution of resources and fully decentralized governance Therefore, they say: sure-fire food on the table, available work, wellbeing.
But the facts are clear. Today’s scandalous price of rice, the even more horrible prospect of no rice to buy, the constant threat of death by execution or as collateral damage in poor communities, and the extreme trials of the daily commute and extremely low buying capacity —among many other Calvaries endured by the poor—clearly shows that the welfare of the poor is last on the minds of the present Administration.
Even if Federalism proves a good option in the future, in the hands of the Administration today, any turn to Federalism will lead to anti-poor, anti-democracy outcomes.
Objectives
The Kongreso ng Mamamayan is convened, therefore, to set our priorities right as a nation.
Place the poor at front and center of national policy: this is the mantra of the gathering. Make sure there is food to eat at affordable prices, work available at decent wages, and efficient ways to travel to and from work—even before demanding more sacrifices in the name of so-called progress. In fact, all government policy and programs cannot be progressive if decision-making happened only among politicians.
The Kongreso gathers the articulate voices of the basic sectors and the marginalized, joined by their allies among professionals, students, academe, the Church, and business. Together, through a one-day sequence of workshops, the assembly will
* Formulate a collective response to the rice crisis, the negative impacts of the TRAIN law, and transportation
* Formulate a collective response to the continuing violence of the “war on drugs”
* Propose immediate-action pro-poor resolutions following these formulations—resolutions that can be pushed by legislative and executive action at all levels of government, without resorting to Charter Change
* Propose do-able remedies that the private sector can address
* Resolve to act so that the ideas and priorities set by the poor can be heard by the politicians of all sides and ideologies.
In coming together, the groups and individuals serve notice to the leadership of the country that they will not be dismissed and made silent as decisions are made in their name.
In demanding a resetting of the national priorities, and in generating further ideas beyond what politicians are presently devising, the Kongreso ng Taumbayan reiterates the fundamental tenet of democracy: citizen participation in all affairs of state.
These are the stakeholders who are not engaged by the Administration in reasonable debate about charting their destiny and that of the nation. The gathering of stakeholders is intended
Programa: Kongreso ng Taumbayan
May 15, 2018
AM
0800 – 0900 Registration
0900 – 0910 Welcome Remarks by Marita Wasan, Sangguniang Laiko
0910 – 0915 Introduction of the Kongreso Objectives by Alice Murphy, Urban Poor Associates
0915 – 0920 AVP 1: “Una sa Lahat, Bigas”
0920– 1020 Plenary
Human Security 1: Kontra Gutom
Facilitated Open Discussion
Facilitators:
Vice Mayor Amie Hernandez
Mayor Jason Gonzalez
1015 – 1030 Coffee/Tea Break
1030 – 1115 Break-out Session
5 topics to be discussed by 2 groups of 20 participants each
- Pagsisiguro ng murang bigas
- Pag-iwas masagasaan ng TRAIN
- Pagtangkilik ng magsasaka
- Paghahanap ng hanap-buhay
- Paglutas sa malawakang gutom.
- 10 Facilitators for 10 Groups of 20 participants
[To be provided by ASI and KN]
1115 – 1200 Plenary Discussion
Reports of Break-out Groups
NN
1200 – 0120 Lunch Break
PM
0125 – 0130 AVP2: “War on the Poor”
0130 – 0200 Plenary
Human Security 2: Karapatang mabuhay
Facilitated Open Discussion
Resource Person: Raffy Lerma, photojournalist
0200 – 0230 Break-out Session
5 topics to be discussed by 2 groups of 20 participants each
o Pagtulong sa mga pamilya ng nasawi
o Pagkontra sa sistemang paglilista ng “adik”
o Pagtulong sa mga adik
o Pagdemanda ng katarungan para sa natokhang
o Pagtaguyod ng karapatang mabuhay
10 facilitators for 10 groups of 20 people
[Facilitators to be provided by ASI and NASSA]
0230– 0235 AVP 3: “ChaCha, Pederalismo, at Kinabukasan”
0235 – 0300 Plenary
Walang Himala! ChaCha at Kahirapan
Resource Persons:
Dr. Segundo Romero (former DAP Director)
Ed Garcia (surviving framer of the 1987 Constitution)
Facilitators: Maxine Tanya Hamada, ILEAD and Atty. Darwin Mariano
0300 – 0315 Coffee/Tea Break
0315 – 0400 Plenary: Reports of 2nd Break-out Session
0400 –0415 Tinig ng Taumbayan
Conference Synthesis by Dr. Ramirez, President, ASI
Master of Ceremony: Fr. Ed, NASSA
0415 – 0420 Introduction of Keynote Address Speaker by Senator Francis Pangilinan
0420 – 0440 Keynote Address: Hon. Leni Robredo, Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines
0440 – 0500 Conference Closing
0500 – 0600 Mass to be officiated by Bishop Pabillo
