For all the government’s efforts in urging the public to embrace the branding “Bagong Pilipinas,” advocacy groups declared the lives of marginalized Filipinos remain unchanged. In particular, human rights issues have yet to be fully addressed and the masses still play second fiddle to the country’s elite.
Dr. Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan, University of the Philippines professor and executive director of human rights institute PhilRights, summed it up by saying, “Walang bago sa ‘Bagong Pilipinas.'”
The Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), of which PhilRights is a member, took this stand as it held the State of Human Rights Advocates forum to discuss critical issues faced by vulnerable Filipino groups a week before the third State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The event’s theme this year was: “Unahin ang Karapatan, Katarungan, at Kagalingan ng Mamamayan! Hindi Cha-Cha! Hindi Gera! Hindi Trapo at Dinastiya!”
In presenting the ‘real human rights situation’ in the country today, organizations representing the marginalized sectors criticized the Marcos administration for its attempts to hide behind the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign by prioritizing government interests over that of the masses.
They lamented the Marcos administration’s anti-poor policies and priorities which they claim only favor large corporations.
Address human rights issues
According to the Alyansa ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA), local farmers are in constant conflict with huge corporations, particularly on the issue of land-grabbing, with the government making it easier to steal land from farmers.
On the other hand, the Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML) decried the stalled National Land Use Act, which aims to provide more secured housing for the poor. If enacted into law, it would provide clear land use parameters, and prevent immediate conversion of agricultural lands to residential areas. A lawmaker, whose family is into subdivision development, is said to be blocking the measure’s passage.
Whatever assistance the government provides to vulnerable sectors are mere band-aid solutions and are often unsustainable, counterproductive, and fail to directly address the issue.
They cited the P3,000 subsidy granted by the government to farmers, that is not even 10% of the total production cost for one planting season. Worse, the high cost of production due to inflation, nets them only P10,000 per harvest.
The group also slammed the administration’s recourse to import produce, while selling them at lower prices as a means to bring down food prices.
KPML further denounced the government’s housing project 4PH (Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino), saying it did not actually help the poor because they will be required to pay for the housing units. Daily wage earners barely make enough for their needs, yet need to meet the high standards demanded by employers to qualify.
The Partido Manggagawa and Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) underscored the difficult labor and living conditions in the country, and scoffed at the recently approved P35 wage hike which barely accommodates the inflation rate nor satisfies the average living wage.
“Tayo’y naghirap, pero kumita pa ang mga bilyonaryo” decried the Alyansa ng Manggagawa Agrikultura.
All the groups present at the SOHRA called out the Marcos administration for the persistent red-tagging practice of persons fighting for a cause. Red-tagging surged during the time of former president Rodrigo Duterte, but continues under the present administration.
Regardless of any kind of rebranding the government attempts to instill among Filipinos, its constant disregard of human rights will still be deemed a failure. ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ is simply the old Philippines with its old crises under a new name.
