Ibasura ang Sin Tax Bill - BMP-NCRR

PRESS RELEASE
NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Mga manggagawa at maralitang lungsod, muling sumugod sa Senado upang kondenahin ang kabiguan ng mga Senador na dinggin ang panawagan upang ibasura ang sin tax bill

Muling nagmartsa ang mga manggagawa at mga maralitang lungsod na kasapi ng militanteng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino - National Capital Region Rizal (BMP-NCRR) sa senado upang ipahayag ang kanilang labis na pagkasiphayo at galit sa kabiguan ng mga Senador na pakinggan ang panawagan para sa tuluyang pagbabasura sa panukala ng Malakanyang na pagpapataw ng mas mataas na buwis sa alak at sigarilyo.

Ipinarada ng mga raliyista ang tatlong (3) pulang kabaong na sumisimbulo sa lungkot at ngitngit na nararamdaman ng mga manggagawa, magsasaka at maralitang lungsod sa pagbibingi-bingihan at pagbubulag-bulagan sa sigaw na ibasura ang sin tax bill. “Ilang araw na kaming nagrarali kada may sesyon sa senado upang iparating sa mga Senador ang tinig ng mga maliliit na mamamayan, ang pagtutol sa pagpapataw ng isang kontra-mahihirap na batas. Inulan at inaraw na kami ngunit isa man sa mga Senador ay walang lakas ng loob na harapin o pakinggan man lang ang aming mga sinasabi”, ayon kay Anthony Barnedo, Secretary General ng Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod (KPML-NCRR).

Ang BMP NCRR, isa sa tagapagbuo ng alyansang Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation (PCART), ay nagsimulang maglunsad ng mga pagkilos sa harapan ng senado buhat ng magsimula ang deliberasyon para sa sin tax bill. Ayon kay Gie Relova, General Secretary ng militanteng grupo, “Klaro na sa amin kung gaano kamanhid ang mga Senador sa daing ng mga manggagawa. Klaro na sa amin na wala isa mang Senador ang titindig para interes ng masa sa kanyang kabuhayan at karapatan. Klaro na sa amin na ang gusaling ito ng Senado ay libingan at musuleyo ng mga pangarap ng mga mahihirap”.

“Napakahaba na ng listahan ng mga kontra-manggagawa at kontra-mahihirap na batas na naipasa sa bulwagang ito, mula sa ratipikasyon ng GATT WTO, Visiting Forces Agreement, JPEPA, at hindi kami magugulat na maipapasa rin ang kontra-mahihirap na Sin Tax Bill,” dagdag pa ng lider-manggagawa.

Sa pagtatapos ng programa ay sinilaban ng mga militante ang tatlong (3) kabaong bilang simbulo ng pagkatupok ng mga ilusyon ng masa sa Senado bilang institusyon at ang deklarasyon ng tuloy-tuloy at papatindi pang laban sa mga darating pang mga araw.

Buwisan ang Mayayaman, at Hindi ang mga Mahihirap!

BUWISAN ANG MAYAYAMAN
AT HINDI ANG MGA MAHIHIRAP!

Mula nung nag-break sa session ang mga Senador noong ikatlong linggo ng Oktubre may ilang mga naganap na mayor na humugis sa isyu ng Sin Tax o ang karagdagang buwis na sisingilin ng gobyerno mula sa gumagamit ng produktong tabako at alkohol. Kapag naipasa ang sin tax bill, magtataas ang presyo ng murang sigarilyo ng mahigit 1000% na ayon sa gobyerno'y mapupunta daw sa pondo ng PhilHealth at pagpapaganda ng mga pasilidad ng mga pampublikong ospital.

Unang kaganapan: Sa utos ng Malacanang, inakusahan ng Presidential Legislative Liaison officer na si Manuel Mamba ang mga Senador na tumanggap ng suhol mula sa mga kumpanya ng tabako't alak. Sinagot ni Senador Enrile ito na magpakita ng katunayan kung wala nama'y mag-issue ito ng public apology at bawiin ang lahat ng naunang pahayag nito.

Ikalawang kaganapan: Pormal nang itinalaga si Senador Franklin Drilon bilang Chairman ng Ways and Means Committee ng Senado. Ang kumiteng ito ang namamahala sa pagdi-disenyo ng pinal na bersyon ng batas bago ihapag sa pangkalahatang pulong ng mga mambabatas at isusumite sa Pangulo.

Ikatlong kaganapan: Naganap ang isang close-door meeting sa pagitan ng ilang representante ng Malacanang sa pamumuno ni Kalihim ng Department of Budget and Management at tumatayong little president sa Malacanang na si Butch Abad at ng mga senador. Naganap ito matapos pumalag ang mga senador sa akusasyong tumanggap sila ng suhol. Dahil dito'y humingi ng paumanhin ang mga tao ni P-Noy at nagkasundo sila sa isang kumpromiso na ipapasa pa rin nila ang sin tax bill at kikita pa rin ang gobyerno ng talumpu hanggang apatnapung bilyong piso kada taon.

Pang-apat na kaganapan: Sa pagbalik ng mga senador mula nung Undas, isinumite ni Senador Drilon bilang bagong Ways and Means Committee chairman ang pinakuhuling bersyon ng sin tax bill. Ayon sa panukala ni Drilon, target ng gobyernong patawan ng apatnapu hanggang apatnapu't limang bilyong piso kada taon ang kawawang mamamayan.

Ang implikasyon ng mga kaganapang ito ay ang ibayong pagkakaisa ng iba't-ibang sangay at ahensya ng gobyerno na itulak ang kanilang agenda na siyang dadagok at tuluyang papatay sa kabuhayan at hanapbuhay ng tatlong
milyong manggagawa't magsasaka at ng kanilang mga pamilya. Ayon kay Drilon, balak nilang tapusin ang debate sa Sin Tax sa ika-19 ng Nobyembre. Ibig sabihin, bibilisan ng kapal-mukhang mga senador ang kanilang moro-morong deliberasyon dahil pare-pareho naman silang nagkakasundo na kailangan pasanin ng mga manggagawa't-maralita ang lahat ng nilang kaprisyo.

Kung tayong mga ordinaryong mamamayan ang nagluklok sa mga abusadong senador na ito, natural lamang na tayo ang may karapatan at kolektibong kapangyarihan na alisin sila sa pwesto at singilin sila sa kanilang pag-abandona sa interes natin at pagtra-traydor sa tiwalang pinagkaloob natin sa kanila.

Habang dinidiinan natin ng kritisismo ang mga senador hindi dapat mawaglit kahit kailan sa ating isipan na ang mastermind ng kontra-mahirap na panukalang ito, si Noynoy Aquino. Rinereserba natin sa kanya ang ating pinakamatinding galit sa presidenteng puro publicity na siya'y ating boss pero nuknukan naman na maka-dayuhan at maka-elitista ang lahat ng ginagawa ng kanyang rehimen.

Huwag tayong magtataka kung ang resulta ng debate sa Sin Tax ay isang kumpromiso. Isang kumpromiso na ikagagalak ni P-noy, iba pang pulitiko, mga kapitalista't asendero ng mga produktong tabako't alak at iba pang negosyanteng tumutubo sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalipin sa ating manggagawa't magsasaka. Habang tayong ordinaryong masa ay ginigisa sa sarili nating mantika at tayo rin ang siyang kaisa-isang biktima sa labanan nila para sa tubo at buwis.

IBASURA ANG SIN TAX, ITAAS NA LAMANG ANG CORPORATE TAX!

ILANTAD ANG SABWATAN NG GOBYERNO AT MGA KAPITALISTA'T ASENDERO SA ANTI-MAHIHIRAP NA SIN TAX! 

Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation (PCART) ● Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-NCR-Rizal Chapter (BMP-NCRR) ● Samahan ng mga Manininda sa Komunidad (SMK) ● Samahan ng mga Takatak Boys (STB) ● Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod-NCR-Rizal Chapter (KPML-NCRR)

November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/eliminate-violence-against-women-day

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The United Nations' (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an occasion for governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to raise public awareness of violence against women. It has been observed on November 25 each year since 2000.

What do people do?

Various activities are arranged around the world to draw attention to the need for continuing action to eliminate violence against women, projects to enable women and their children to escape violence and campaigns to educate people about the consequences of violence against women. Locally, women's groups may organize rallies, communal meals, fundraising activities and present research on violence against women in their own communities.

An ongoing campaign that people are encouraged to participate in, especially around this time of the year when awareness levels for the day are high, is the “Say NO to Violence Against Women campaign”. Through the campaign, anyone can add their name to a growing movement of people who speak out to put a halt to human rights violations against women.

Public life

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is a global observance and not a public holiday.

Background

On November 25, 1960, three sisters, Patria Mercedes Mirabal, María Argentina Minerva Mirabal and Antonia María Teresa Mirabal, were assassinated in the Dominican Republic on the orders of the Dominican ruler Rafael Trujillo. The Mirabal sisters fought hard to end Trujillo's dictatorship. Activists on women's rights have observed a day against violence on the anniversary of the deaths of these three women since 1981.

On December 17, 1999, November 25 was designated as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by the UN General Assembly. Each year observances around the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women concentrate on a particular theme, such as “Demanding Implementation, Challenging Obstacles” (2008).

Symbols

Events around the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women are coordinated by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The logo of this organization consists of "UNIFEM". The letters “U” and “N” are in blue and the letters “I”, “F”, “E” and “M” are in a darker shade of this color. An image of a dove surrounded by olive branches is to the right of the word. The image of the dove incorporates the international symbol for "woman" or "women". This is based on the symbol for the planet Venus and consists of a ring on top of a “plus” sign.

http://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/sgmessages.shtml

Message of the United Nations Secretary-General for 2011

Violence against women and girls takes many forms and is widespread throughout the globe. It includes rape, domestic violence, harassment at work, abuse in school, female genital mutilation and sexual violence in armed conflicts. It is predominantly inflicted by men. Whether in developing or developed countries, the pervasiveness of this violence should shock us all. Violence – and in many cases the mere threat of it – is one of the most significant barriers to women’s full equality.

The right of women and girls to live free of violence is inalienable and fundamental. It is enshrined in international human rights and humanitarian law. And it lies at the heart of my UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign. Since its launch in 2008, the campaign has galvanized governments, civil society, the corporate sector, athletes, artists, women, men and young people around the world. The social mobilization platform “Say NO-UNiTE” has recorded more than 2 million activities worldwide – from protest marches to public awareness campaigns, from legislative advocacy to help for victims.

Many of these activities have received support from the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. Since it was founded 15 years ago, the Fund has delivered grants worth $77 million to 339 initiatives in 126 countries and territories. We would like the Fund to be able to do even more, but demand for support continues to outstrip resources. This year alone, the Fund has received more than 2,500 applications requesting nearly $1.2 billion. I appeal to all our partners to help us meet this vast unmet need. 

Our challenge is to ensure that the message of "zero tolerance" is heard far and wide. To do that, we must engage all of society – and especially young people. In particular, young men and boys must be encouraged to become the advocates we need. We need to promote healthy models of masculinity. Too many young men still grow up surrounded by outmoded male stereotypes. By talking to friends and peers about violence against women and girls, and by taking action to end it, they can help break the ingrained behaviour of generations.

On this International Day, I urge governments and partners around the world to harness the energy, ideas and leadership of young people to help us to end this pandemic of violence. Only then will we have a more just, peaceful and equitable world.

November 23 is International Day to End Impunity

http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/media/13993-november-23-is-international-day-to-end-impunity.html

November 23 is International Day to End Impunity

Free expression groups, press organizations and journalists worldwide will hold the first ever International Day to End Impunity (IDEI) on November 23, 2011 as part of a global call to demand justice for those that have been persecuted for exercising their right to freedom of expression. The date coincides with the second anniversary of the Maguindanao Massacre, the single deadliest attack on journalists in recent history.

The global activity is led by the Toronto-based International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), a network of 95 free expression and free press organizations worldwide. In the Philippines, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR), will lead the IDEI.

“Journalists, media workers, writers and others who speak truth to power continue to be murdered with impunity in countries from Mexico to Russia, Iraq to Somalia,” IFEX said about the event.

The IFEX said impunity has always been ranked as a top priority for IFEX members. “The hope is that the International Day to End Impunity will highlight the attempts to address this issue by IFEX members," the IFEX said.

“The day will be a platform... to demand that journalists’ killers do not go free, and to ensure that our colleagues working in countries with continuous and rampant impunity feel that their work is valued and their life is treasured," added the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

The creation of the day was announced during the Beirut launch of CPJ's 2011 special report on impunity around the world, “Getting Away with Murder." Countries Russia, Mexico, Bangladesh, Iraq, Somalia, Philippines, Colombia, Pakistan, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and India are on CPJ's 2011 impunity index.

The Philippines is regarded as among the deadliest places for journalists worldwide for its dismal record in solving the killing of journalists. According to CMFR, there have been 121 journalists killed in the line of duty since democracy was restored in 1986. Out of these cases, only 10 (or approximately 8 percent) have been solved.

Campaigns and activities

In the Philippines, the campaign will adopt the slogan, “Pangulong Aquino: Ilan pang mamamahayag ang kailangang mapatay? Kilos na! (President Benigno Aquino III: How many more members of media have to die? Act now to End the Killings!” This slogan will remind President Aquino of his campaign promise to address the killing of journalists (and other extrajudicial killings) in the Philippines, the media advocacy organization said.

A Blog Action Day is scheduled on November 21, 2011, bloggers and social media users are encouraged to write and discuss IDEI and issues related to the campaign.

A roundtable discussion on the assessment of the capacity of government, civil society groups, and the media to work together to end impunity will take place on November 15. The video documentary “Roadshow to End Impunity” will also be screened in various universities

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) will led a mobilization on November 23.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/98745/nov-23-is-international-day-to-end-impunity

Nov. 23 is international day to end impunity

By Ryan D. Rosauro

Inquirer Mindanao

2:32 am | Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

The International Freedom of Expression Exchange has designated November 23 as International Day to End Impunity.

Today (Wednesday) is the second anniversary of the grisly massacre in Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

Of the 57 killed, 32 were media workers, making the massacre the worst single attack on the press. (Only 57 bodies were found. The remains of journalist Reynaldo Momay have yet to be found.)

“(T)wo years later, the perpetrators have yet to be brought to justice. This is precisely why media advocates around the world have unanimously agreed to designate November 23 as the International Day to End Impunity,” said Gayathry Venkiteswaran, executive director of the Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance.

The global campaign seeks to raise public awareness of threats against journalists and human rights defenders around the world on account of the work they do.

“Impunity is a chronic failure by states, judiciary and law enforcement agencies to bring perpetrators to justice. It is perceived to be even more damaging than the deaths themselves since it encourages more killing when perpetrators are neither arrested nor prosecuted,” Venkiteswaran said.

PCART criticize Senator Recto's Committee Report, A Compromise among the Elite

Press Release

October 12, 2012

MILITANT GROUPS CRITICIZE SENATOR RECTO’S COMMITTEE REPORT, CALLS IT A COMPROMISE AMONG THE ELITE

The People’s Coalition Against Regressive Taxation (PCART) said the Senate Committee report on excise tax was a victory of the feuding factions of the elite and not the ordinary masa because it fell short of their call for the total scrapping of the anti-poor measure.

“We think that Senator Ralph Recto's Ways and Means Committee report is a clear compromise among the feuding factions of the country's elite. The report claims to be realistic and responsible because it pleases both pro-sin tax groups and tobacco and alcohol businessmen. The feuding factions have decided that instead of fighting for the spoils of war, they might as well divide it amongst themselves" the coalition said.

The group slammed both Malacanang and tobacco and alcohol magnates even if both groups were on opposite sides of the controversial issue. The committee report may have decreased the revenue squeezed out of tobacco and alcohol products but our poor countrymen still consider it an unjust and anti-poor piece of legislation.

The Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino National Capital Region-Rizal Chapter (BMP-NCRR) Secretary-General Gie Relova said that "the compromise among elites can be described as dousing cold water to the increasing clamor of the masa to totally junk the much-hated sin tax bills".

The BMP leader emphasized that it is they, the ordinary people who would be burdened by the passing of the Senate bills on sin taxes. "Kahit piso pa ang idagdag nila sa buwis ng sigarilyo't alak, nananatiling regressive ito at kontra-mahirap" Relova added.

PCART, a coalition of labor groups, farmers, small retail stores, and ambulant street vendors that came together to protest the implementation of regressive taxation of the government.

The coalition pledges to up the ante with more protest actions in the coming days in order that the Senators heed the voice of the people who placed them in power and remind them that their mandate is to protect the interests of the masa.

For more details: Contact Gie Relova - 0915-2792746

Sin Tax Bill, Kontra-Mahihirap! Tutulan!

PEOPLES COALITION AGAINST REGRESSIVE TAXATION (PCART)

PRESS STATEMENT 

Octubre 9, 2012 

ANG PANUKALANG BATAS NA “SIN TAX" AY KONTRA-MAHIHIRAP!

TUTULAN ANG PAGPAPATAW NG PANIBAGONG BUWIS!

Ang diumano’y sin tax bills na nakabinbin sa Senado ay mariing tinututulan ng mga manggagawa, magbubukid, mga maralitang lungsod na nabubuhay sa pagtitinda sa komunidad at mga cigarette vendors o takatak boys na nagsama-sama sa ilalim ng Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation o PCART. 

Ang mga panukalang ito – Senate Bills 2763 (Excise Tax on Alcohol Products) at Senate Bill 2764 (An Act Restructuring Excise Tax on Tobacco Products ayon sa gobyerno ay naglalayong mangalap ng karagdagang pondo para sa Universal Health Care Program ng pamahalaan. Sinasabi ng gobyerno na ang pagpapataw ng panibagong buwis ang kanyang direktang hakbang upang tugunan ang papalalang kalagayang pangkalusugan ng mamamayan. 

Seryoso ba ang gobyerno sa pahayag na ito? 

Hindi maiwasan ng PCART na magduda sa pahayag na ito lalo pa’t palpak ang Department of Health at ang Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH) sa pagpapatupad ng mga marapat nitong tungkulin sa mga naghihikahos na mamamayan. Ang patuloy na pagsasa-pribado ng mga pampublikong ospital, kawalan ng gamot, nars, duktor sa mga pagamutan ay mga problemang hindi nalunasan sa matagal nang panahon. 

Saan ba balak dalhin ng gobyerno ang mga pondo sa kalusugan sa pamamagitan ng PHILHEALTH na umaabot ng daang bilyong piso na hanggang sa ngayon ay hindi mapakinabangan ng mga mahihirap na mamamayan? 

Sobrang takaw ng gobyernong ito sa pondo! 

Kung ang tingin nito ay hahamig ng malaking buwis buhat sa sin tax ay nagkakamali ito dahil sa mas malala ang magiging epekto nito sa kabuhayan ng mga manggagawa, magsasaka at maralita na aalisan ng kabuhayan. Ang nakikita ng gobyerno sa pamamagitan ng Department of Finance ay ang hahamiging pera at hindi ang masamang epekto nito sa masa. 

Gobyernong tamad! 

Sa halip na asikasuhin ang paghahanap ng solusyon tulad ng industriyalisasyon na magluluwal ng maramihan at matatag na trabaho upang lunasan ang kawalan ng hanap buhay ay mas pinili nito ang short cut na daan na magpataw ng panibago at kontra mahihirap na buwis upang tustusan ang kapritso’t luho ng iilan sa pamahalaan.

Ang aming panawagan 

Naniniwala kami na ang sin tax ay kontra-mahihirap na paraan ng pagbubuwis na dapat tutulan hindi lamang ng mga sektor na kabilang sa PCART kungdi ng lahat ng masang patuloy na pinagpapasan ng mga buwis na hindi naman tumutugon sa pangangailangan ng nakararaming naghihirap na mamamayan. 

Sa Senado, kung saan ay nakatakdang pagtibayin ang mga panukalang batas ay isasagawa namin ang serye ng mga malalaking demonstrasyon upang ipanawagan sa mga kagalang-galang na mga Senador ang aming pagtutol sa pagpasa ng mga panukalang nabanggit.

Sin Taxes are Anti-Poor - PCART

PEOPLE’S COALITION AGAINST REGRESSIVE TAXATION (PCART)

PRESS STATEMENT

9 October 2012

SIN TAXES ARE ANTI-POOR!

NO TO SIN TAX!

The so-called sin tax bills pending before the Senate will affect the poor more rather than the rich. These are Senate Bills 2763 (Excise Tax on Alcohol Products) and SB 2764 (An Act Restructuring Excise Tax on Tobacco Products). According to government officials the sin tax bills aim to increase taxes on liquor and cigarettes in order to raise more funds to finance the government’s Universal Health Care program. If these bills are enacted into law, it will greatly affect the livelihood of thousands of families of tobacco farmers, cigarette workers and even small ambulant vendors and takatak (cigarette vendors). 

The government may argue that these sin tax bills are forms of its direct intervention to address the issues concerning the declining state of health of the people. Is this really about health? PCART finds this highly dubious knowing the dismal performance of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth). The recent moves of the government to privatize government hospitals and partner with the private sector to build the main office of the Philhealth is sufficient enough to claim that health services shall no longer be accessible to the poor even if all the proceeds from these sin taxes are directed to the DOH and Philhealth.

For the poor, this is not about health. More so, this is about their livelihood. For them, it is more important to earn a living even if this may only be diminutive, rather than to die of hunger. If these bills became laws, these will be considered as a form of regressive taxation because it imposes a greater burden on the poor and threaten their livelihood. Furthermore, the concerned government agencies and even the draft bills have no mention of an alternative livelihood plan for the affected farmers and workers.

We are against sin tax bills because this means loss of jobs and other means of livelihood but more importantly it will greatly contribute to the widening gap of have and have nots in our country .