PRESS RELEASE l 24 DECEMBER 2011
KALIPUNAN NG DAMAYANG MAHIHIRAP
Militant Center of Urban Poor in the Philippines
Reference: Gloria Arellano, Kadamay national secretary general (0921.392.7457)
QUEZON CITY, Philippines--"It will be a sad Christmas in a very sad year for some 30 million Filipino urban poor."
This is the statement of a militant group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay).
2011, according to the group, is undoubtedly among the saddest years for some millions of urban poor families in the country, and thousands of them shall face their worst Christmas ever in cities wrecked by tropical storm Sending (international name: Washi).
A Fourth Quarter 2011 Social Weather Station (SWS) survey also shows expectations of a sad Christmas for Filipinos increased by four points from 7 percent in 2010 to 11 percent in 2011, surpassing the all-time high sadness level of 10 percent posted in 2004 and 2009.
"Pessimism for 2012 is undeniably high among the urban poor Filipinos who suffered from the worst man-made and natural disaster this year, Kadamay national secretary-general Gloria Arellano says in a statement.
The group cites the notable incidents have resulted to death of thousands of urban poor, as the flash floods brought by Sendong, as well the fires that ravage urban poor communities due to a plane crash and others believed as related to demolition of homes.
"Close to 10,000 urban poor families have suffered the tragic fate," Arellano says, excluding almost the same number of urban poor whose lives has been miserable after the government relocate them to far-flung relocation sites that lack basic facilities and livelihood opportunities.
Aquino's demolition rampage
The year is marked, according to the group, by the violent demolition rampage of the Aquino regime, where residents fought head-to-head with demolition teams, noting the violent demolition in Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City, and in Laperal compound in Makati City.
"We have lost three urban poor leaders, this year, killed in defense of their communities, while hundreds were injured," Arellano says.
According to the group, a strafing incident committed by private security guard to protesting Villa Abrille residents in Davao City, is among the worst attacks to the sector.
Arellano adds, "Compared to previous years, the urban poor have been placed in a highly defensive and an over challenged situation to secure their basic rights."
Uncontrolled price hikes
The uncontrolled price hikes of basic commodities including food due to price hikes in petroleum products, and the massive unemployment and the measly wage of a few portion of the urban poor with jobs, continue to take its toll this year.
"A very high hunger rate at 23.1% of the population experiencing involuntary hunger is recorded this year, accounting to some 4.3 million families, based on a nationwide survey," Arellano says.
With a very limited source of employment and livelihood opportunities, the urban poor are forced to trim down their diet to twice a day, with some are even having a rice-less meal, according to Kadamay.
Kadamay has also recorded 75% increase in the price of rice, at P32 per kilo from its P18.25 selling price last year.
Arellano questions the sincerity of the President Aquino in addressing the widespread poverty experienced by millions of Filipino.
Lack of job opportunities
She asks, "While the government can spend some P39 billion for a dole out program for the poorest of the poor in its Condition Cash Transfer program, why can't it provide the fund to create jobs and increase the wage of the workers?"
And while hundreds of thousands of peasants go to urban centers every year, leading to a tighter competition for the job opportunities in the cities, Kadamay has questioned the 'faulty' land reform program of the Aquino administration.
Referring to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms, the group says, "the decade long land reform program of the government, first implemented during the Cory Aquino administration, should be replaced by a genuine program that will truly empowers the millions of peasants against the greed of a few landlord clans."
"The urban poor are faced by a bigger challenge next year to demand the landlord president to implement a national industrialization and a genuine agrarian reform program," Arellano says.
"These remain to be the only solutions to the chronic poverty that plagues more than 93 millions of poor Filipinos," she ends.###
No comments:
Post a Comment