Check out our video page for tons of new videos!
1. KABATAAN Partylist TV ad for national airing. Watch out for it starting May 1 on major noontime and primetime shows!
2. New! Cebuano version of teaser video for KABATAAN Partylist.
3. New! Ciara Sotto and Marvin Agustin endorsement videos for KABATAAN Partylist!
PHOTOS AND TEXT BY KATHERINE P. TOLARBA AND GLOREI ALLELU N. LINDIO
Bulatlat
Wearing self-made clothes that portray different issues during elections, Kabataan Party-List members ramped on stage along Araneta Avenue, Tatalon, Quezon City.
The April 24 fashion show featured different election-related issues that hound the May 2007 elections and the youth’s tasks to ensure clean and honest elections.
“It is a colorful, creative, entertaining youthful kind of campaigning at the same time educational,” said Raymond Palatino, the youth party-list group’s first nominee.
Kabataan Party-List is the only accredited progressive youth party-list group participating in the 2007 elections.
With its new brand of politics — politics of hope, struggle and change — Kabataan Party-List seeks to usher in new blood into Philippine politics, away from the kind of leadership that the traditional politicians and dynasties have for the government.
“We need a change,” Palatino said. “The nation needs young, vibrant and innovative minds that will restore integrity and morality in governance and lead the nation to genuine progress and social change.”
The Kabataan Party-List fashion show portrayed the political repression in the country. Bulatlat
Check out these videos:
Our provincial chapter in Cebu made their own version of our “Kabataan: Magtanong. Maghamon. Magtangka. Makisangkot” teaser.
Featuring Pansit Veloso, our 3rd nominee; Karla Bautista;Binibining Pilipinas World 2004; and Chai Fonacier of Pinoy Dream Academy
Koko Pimentel TV ad with Angel Locsin wearing Kabataan t-shirt
http://pimentel2007.org/pimenteltv2.html
and
thank you Arkibong Bayan for creating a page for Kabataan:
http://www.arkibongbayan.org/2007-04April16-kabataan/kabataan.htm
Roberto Andres
http://www.pinoyweekly.org/pw6-15/feats/lat_2.htm
Taong 2000, Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Diliman. Kampanya para sa eleksiyong pangkonseho ng mga mag-aaral. Kakaiba ang sigla ng mga aktibista. Usap-usapan maging ng mga propesor ang suporta sa kumakandidatong tagapangulo.
kinakampanya ng mga estudyante sa mga silid-aralan ang gusto nilang ipanalo, tinawag nilang “Chairman Mong” – si Raymond Palatino.
At tulad nga ni Chairman Mao, hinahangaan si Mong ng marami. Madali niyang makabig at mahikayat ang mga kabataan at estudyante sa mga isyu at pakikibaka ng sektor. Hindi kataka-takang siya ang napiling unang nominado ng Kabataan Party-list sa halalan ngayong Mayo.
Pinanday ng pakikibaka
Si Mong, 27, ay lumaking relihiyoso. Pitong taon siyang naging sakristan na araw-araw nagsisimba. Ngayon, dala-dala pa rin niya, aniya, bilang aktibista “ang Kristiyanong aral na sikaping maging mabuti sa kapwa.”
Hayskul siya nang magsimulang mamulat. Noong 1995, lumahok siya sa piket sa Embahada ng Pransiya para tutulan ang pagsasanay ng armas-nukleyar ng gobyernong Pranses. Noon pa’y mapanuri na siya: BA Secondary Education ang kinuha niyang kurso sa kolehiyo dahil pagiging guro “ang pinakamarangal na propesyon,” aniya.
Noong 1997, sa harap ng malawak na pagtutol sa charter change ng rehimeng Ramos, sumali siya sa Center for Nationalist Studies, organisasyong aktibista sa UP Diliman. Akala niya, Foundation for Nationalist Studies iyon, organisasyong itinatag ni Renato Constantino, ang makabayang istoryador na noo’y paboritong awtor niya.
Hindi nagsisi si Mong. Dumalo siya sa mga pag-aaral at paglubog sa batayang masa. Sa proseso, natuklasan ang potensiyal niya sa pamumuno. Naging tagapangulo siya ng konseho sa kolehiyo niya bago naging tagapangulo ng sentrong konseho ng UP Diliman. Bilang tagapangulo ng konseho noong 2000-2001, pinangunahan niya ang libu-libong iskolar ng bayan para patalsikin si dating pangulong Joseph Estrada.
Tulad ni Edgar Jopson na sinasabing kamukha niya, naging presidente siya ng National Union of Students of the Philippines o NUSP, alyansa ng mga konseho ng mag-aaral.
Nagsunud-sunod na ang mga labang nilahukan niya. Pagbasura sa Reserve Officers Training Corps at Expanded Value Added Tax. Pagtutol sa giyera ng US sa Iraq at sa Balikatan Exercises. Pagpigil sa pagtaas ng matrikula at presyo ng langis. Paglaban sa pandarambong nina Estrada at Pangulong Arroyo.
Magagandang katangian
Bilang lider-kabataan, hindi kilala si Mong sa maaalab na talumpati sa ibabaw ng trak kapag may kilos-protesta. Tila mas angkop sa malumanay niyang tinig, pang-totoy na mukha, at mahinahong pananalita ang mga pag-aaral – sa mga porum man o maliit na grupo. Ang totoo, sa mga talakayang ito lumulutang ang galing niya bilang lider at guro.
Paborito niyang gawain ang “isiwalat ang maling mga patakaran” maging sa pagsusulat. Isa siya sa unang nakasapul sa bisa ng blog sa pag-abot sa mas maraming tao. Kilala siya sa sirkulo ng mga blogger, at minsan nang dumalo sa pandaigdigang pagtitipon ng mga blogger sa India. Lagusan din ito, aniya, ng napupulot niya sa hilig sa pagbabasa. Paborito niya ang blog nina Prop. Luis Teodoro at Prop. Roland Tolentino ng UP, at Gerry Albert Corpuz ng Pamalakaya, grupo ng mga mangingisda.
Matatag sa prinsipyo si Mong. “Simpleng pamumuhay at puspusang pakikibaka” ang prinsipyo niya sa buhay, maging sa pagpapalaki sa dalawang taong gulang na anak na si Renee Elle. Mapagmahal siya sa anak at “takot” sa asawang si Frances. May isa pang katangian si Mong na alam ng marami: palabiro at palatawa.
Higit pa sa pagiging opisyal sa Batasang Pambansa, pangarap niyang maging guro sa pampublikong paaralan, kasabay ng pag-oorganisa. Ang paborito niyang islogan: “Sagot sa kahirapan, rebolusyon!”
Tunay na kinatawan ng kabataan
Nanalo si Mong at mga kapartido sa kampus noong 2000. Binasag ng panalong iyon ang halos isang dekadang pagkatalo sa halalang pangkonseho ng makabayang alyansa ng mga organisasyon sa UP Diliman. Si Mong din kaya ang unang kongresistang maipapanalo ng party-list na nagsusulong sa interes ng kabataan? Siya rin kaya ang babasag sa mahabang panahong walang sariling tunay na kinatawan ang kabataan sa Kongreso?
Iisa ang sagot ng mga nakakakilala kay Mong: Sana. O mas marubdob: Dapat.
http://newsinfo. inquirer. net/breakingnews /nation/view_ article.php? article_id= 62026
By Leila Salaverria
Inquirer
Last updated 08:49pm (Mla time) 04/23/2007
MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno won praises for his fighting words in defense of human rights and the sweetest praise came from the Kabataan party-list group, which gave him a mocha cake.
Kabataan vice president Carl Ramota delivered the cake to the court but court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez said Puno was at a meeting and received it on behalf of the Chief Justice.
Marquez said Puno had been told about the cake and thanked the group for it.
The icing on the cake read: “CJ Puno Kampeon ng Karapatang Pantao. Idolo ng Kabataan (Champion of Human Rights. Idol of the Youth).”
Puno, in a commencement speech at the University of the East, warned against the “mindless” scramble to end terrorism at the expense of human rights and civil liberties.
He candidly said that a government with credibility problems could do little to solve the country’s problems of poverty and security.
“We are happy to know there are still people, like Chief Justice Puno, in government … who stand up for truth, justice and democracy,” Ramota told reporters.
He said Puno was someone the youth could emulate.
“That is what the youth are looking for, people who could inspire the youth to continue to stand up for their rights, for truth, justice and democracy,” he added.
Puno also said the anti-terror war has led to legal shortcuts that “have scarred the landscape of [human] rights in the Philippines. ”
He cited the escalation of extrajudicial killings in the country, which has earned the administration the increased scrutiny and criticism of the international community. The Chief Justice also noted that the extrajudicial killings invited retaliation from communist rebels. With Lira Dalangin-Fernandez, INQUIRER.net
Against troop deployment, electoral fraud; For youth representation in Congress
Kabataan Party-list, the leading and only youth party-list participating these elections, today called on its constituents and the public to ‘Tie a blue ribbon’ against troop deployment and electoral fraud; and for youth representation in Congress.
The youth party-list made the announcement in its weekly ‘noise barrage for clean and honest 2007 elections’ held in Philcoa, Quezon City later this afternoon.
“We are gratified by the fact that our efforts did not lead to naught. The present awareness and vigilance of the youth and public against AFP meddling and efforts by the executive branch to destroy the electoral process, particularly the party-list system, are results of our never-ending information campaign against electoral fraud and violence,” said Raymond Palatino, National President and Nominee of Kabataan Party-list.
“With only over two weeks before the elections, we are in the homestretch and it has come to a point where we are appealing to voters to really, truly look throw in their weight into the campaign against electoral fraud and violence. May 14 is not the finish line. We still have a long way ahead in ensuring a truly clean and honest 2007 elections,” Palatino said.
Kabataan Party-list also announced that it will embark on a “15-day Road Trip” starting today, April 27, for a broader, more massive campaign against electoral fraud and for youth representation in Congress.
Nominees and supporters of the youth party-list are set to tie blue ribbons along posts and establishment in Timog, Tomas Morato and Malate later tonight.
“If the AFP and PNP is launching their own so-called PR blitz, Kabataan Party-list will have its own information-dissemination campaign to unleash. Who will be more credible? Let the youth and the public decide.”
“Let’s paint the town blue,” Palatino said. ###
Here are the downloadable .PDF files of the controversial memo and partylist campaign plan from the Office of External Affairs directly under Malacanang.
Read the documents:
OEA Memorandum
Party-list campaign plan
Read the pcij report here.
Related KABATAAN statements and articles here.
The Kabataan Partylist today called on government-sponsored partylist groups Agbiag, Babae Ka, LYPAD and Kalahi to give up their electoral bid out of delicadeza.
“These groups should at least have the decency to drop out of the partylist race and let genuine and independent partylist groups contend for representation in Congress,” Kabataan Partylist President Raymond Palatino said.
“If they still have some degree of self-respect left, they should no longer wait for a disqualification from the Commission on Elections to withdraw from the elections,” he added.
Palatino said this new development in the partylist elections should compel COMELEC to seriously look into the matter and seek the immediate disqualification of these pseudo-partylist organizations.
“If COMELEC is really serious in ensuring the credibility of the upcoming polls, it should immediately declare these OEA-initiated partylist groups ineligible.”
He said COMELEC’s failure to act on this matter is tantamount to being the Arroyo government’s unwilling accomplice in bastardizing the partylist elections.
“COMELEC has not yet recovered from the serious blows on credibility that it suffered from allegations of massive electoral fraud in the last elections. This new allegation of irregularities in the partylist elections could further erode the remaining confidence of the electorate on COMELEC and on the electoral system.”
Palatino added that COMELEC should also investigate other partylist groups that are being associated with Armed Forces of the Philippines and local political dynasties that are allied with the administration.
“Malacanang apparently is not the only one fielding or funding partylist groups in this elections. Local politicians or local warlords have also established bogus partylist organizations.”
Palatino added that some established political dynasties have already penetrated the partylist system by forming partylist groups in order to get more pork barrel funds for personal enrichment.
“Instead of empowering the poor, the partylist system is now being used by traditional politicians to extend their sphere of influence.”
He added that legitimate party-list groups are “virtually defenseless” against this blatant form of intrusion on the part of the government.
“This is not just a ‘bastardization’ of the partylist system. It’s a clear case of injustice and disenfranchisement and an insult to those whose interests and voices remain unrepresented in Congress.”
“In the process, genuine partylist groups are the ones being “marginalized” in a system supposedly created to give representation to marginalized segments of our society.”
The country’s leading youth partylist group today denounced the President’s Office for External Affairs for planning to subvert the partylist elections by directly organizing and financing at least five fake partylists.
“Young Filipinos have wanted a partylist representative as early as 2004 but the Hello Garci operations favoring Mrs. Arroyo and pro-Arroyo partylist groups cheated us of victory. Now the OEA wants nine to 12 seats by hook or by crook — the administration wants to have a repeat of Hello Garci to cheat genuine partylists and favor pro-Arroyo fakes,” said Kabataan Partylist nominee Enrico Almonguerra.
In a memorandum dated Oct. 2006, the OEA’s Asst. Sec. Marcelo T. Fariñas, head of the agency’s Special Concerns Group, proposed to President Arroyo full administration support for “partylist groups ascertained to be pro-administration and ensure the winning of nine to 12 seats in the House.” The amount of P5.5-million was requested to cover the period of Oct.-Dec. 2006 for five to eight pro-Arroyo partylists.
The OEA memorandum identified the pro-Arroyo partylists as follows: Babae Ka formed by OEA Director Nerissa Garcia, Lypad Partylist organized by Director Melvin Mitra, and Kalahi initiated by Director Poe Gratela. Others named in the document were the Alliance of Neo-Conservatives, Abono, Kasangga and Aging Pinoy.
“We call on all young voters to be vigilant, shun the fakes and support Kabataan Partylist,” said Almonguerra. “These fakes will only represent GMA, not the youth who want good government and legislation for education, employment and empowerment.”
“Lypad actually stands for Liars to the Youth, Paid Arroyo Defenders. We are sure the young voters will reject them,” said Almonguerra who said that the first nominee of Lypad went to a son of Team Unity senatorial candidate Jamalul Kiram III.
Kabataan first ran for partylist representation in 2004 but fell short by 30,000 votes to obtain the two percent requirement for one seat. The Hello Garci telephone conversations included the padding of votes for pro-Arroyo partylists.
“While genuine partylists labor everyday to mount a credible nationwide campaign to get elected fair and square, President Arroyo’s favored partylists are having a fun time wasting away public funds,” said Almonguerra.
Almonguerra said President Arroyo may be impeached if her administration is proven to have meddled in the partylist system.
“Mrs. Arroyo has a reverse Midas touch. She has sabotaged many institutions like the presidency, the military and police, and the Lower House. Now, she wants to touch the partylist system and turn it into shit,” said the youth leader. “We won’t allow that to happen.”
Youth partylist seeks Recom’s disqualification
Reference: Kabataan Partylist Caloocan City Chapter
Members of Kabataan Partylist in Caloocan City today picketed outside the residence of reelectionist Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri to protest the detention and harassment of five of its members.
The youth complainants said they were subjected to verbal abuse, harassment and illegal detention and one of them even experienced physical attack from Mayor Echiverri himself.
The victim, who refused to give his name for security reasons, said they were just posting Kabataan campaign materials along Tirona St. in Bagong Barrio, Caloocan in the early hours of April 14 when several policemen apprehended them and forced them in a van.
The complainant said they were readily arrested by the police officers after being caught removing a poster of Echiverri that was covering a Kabataan streamer earlier placed in the area.
“Bumaba kaadad yung mga pulis at pilit kaming pinasakay sa van. Nung tumanggi kami, tinutukan nila kami ng .45 at baby armalite at sinabihang ‘matigas kayo, gusto n’yong palambutin naming kayo?’ (The policemen quickly alighted the vehicle and told us to enter the van. When we refused, they pointed a 45 caliber pistol and a baby armalite at us and said “matigas kayo, gusto n’yong palambutin naming kayo?”),” the complainant narrated.
Instead of bringing them to a precint, he said they were brought to the residence of Echiverri and were presented before the incumbent mayor.
“Pilit niya kaming pinapaamin na may pulitikong nasa likod numg ginawa naming pagbabaklas sa poster niya. Binatukan pa nga niya ako. (He was forcing us to admit that there was a politician behind all of these things. He even hit me in the head.”
He said the Echiverri’s interrogation lasted for an hour before he asked the policemen to imprison them.
They were only released around 9 o’clock in the morning when a parent of one of the apprehended youth appealed to Echiverri.
“Dapat yung insidente na ito ay magbukas sa mata ng mga taga-Caloocan sa klase ng mayor na mayroon tayo rito. Kung kaya niyang gawin ito sa mga kabataan, kayang-kaya rin niya itong gawin sa iba (This incident should be an eye-opener to the people of Caloocan of the kind of mayor we have right now. If he can do these things to ordinary youth, he certainly can do it to other people.)”
He said they are planning to file a formal complaint against Echiverri and seek his possible disqualification for his conduct.
“Ang mga taong katulad niya ay di na dapat mahalal muli. Di na kami papayag na magdusa na naman ang mga taga-Caloocan sa korupsyon at pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan sa susunod na tatlong taon sa ilalim ni Recom (People like him don’t deserve another term. We will not allow ourselves to suffer from corruption and abuse of power for the next three years under Recom).”
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view_article.php?article_id=61223
Bayan Muna, youth party protest detention of two members
By Jolene Bulambot
Inquirer
Last updated 11:18pm (Mla time) 04/18/2007
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Bearing placards, 20 members of two party-list groups protested the alleged abduction and detention of their two members in front of the city courthouse.
The members of the Bayan Muna and the Kabataan party-list groups held a brief silent protest in front of the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice in uptown Cebu City to call the public’s attention to the detention of Beethoven Avila, 28, Cebu City South district coordinator of the
Avila said unidentified men also took him into a waiting van upon his arrival from Cagayan City at Pier 5 at 8 a.m. on April 12.
He said he was hit several times on the thighs and the body while being interrogated.
“Still blindfolded and handcuffed, they hit me on the chest, head and thigh as they wanted to force me to admit involvement with the revolutionary armed movement which I vehemently denied,” Avila said in his affidavit. He also named Naldoza as one of his interrogators.
Both Daño and Avila said they were brought to the Toledo City hall on April 13 and were later released to the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division (RIID) of the Police Regional Office in the evening.
Senior Superintendent Augusto Marquez, the RIID chief, said the military endorsed Daño and Avila to their unit after the two were arrested based on a warrant of arrest for murder charges.
Marquez, however, said both activists were later released after the Regional Trial Court in Toledo City remanded the murder case to the city prosecutor for re-investigation and temporarily set aside the arrest warrants.
However, Marquez refused to name the military unit that endorsed Daño and Avila to his office.
Bayan Muna Cebu secretary general Armand Perez said they would pursue the filing of criminal and administrative charges against some military officials for kidnapping and electioneering before the Ombudsman this week.
Related stories:
Soldiers grab party-list staff (Sun Star Cebu)
Legitimate arrest, says police: Militant leaders claim abduction (The Freeman Cebu)
Probe on alleged abduction of 2 militant leaders urged (The Freeman Cebu)
Party-list groups ready harassment charges vs. military (The Freeman Cebu)
Garci General will taint credibility of May polls
Giving street protests a new twist, members of Kabataan Partylist together with hip-hop groups transformed campaign slogans and speeches into rap music to convey the youth’s demand for the immediate dismissal of Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon.
Wearing “bling-blings” that spell out their demands and holding placards written in graffiti style, Kabataan Partylist said the dismissal of General Esperon, who figured prominently in the Hello Garci scandal in the 2004 elections, is necessary in ensuring a clean and honest elections.
Kabataan Partylist president and first nominee Raymond Palatino said rap music has always been a music of protest which was also used during the anti-slavery movement and civil rights movement in the United States.
“Rap music shows both the youth’s creativity and innovativeness in using words and at the same time serves as an effective medium in conveying the youth’s clamor for honest and orderly elections,” Palatino explained.
Various student and youth leaders also delivered their speeches using rap to further explain General Esperon’s role in the massive electoral fraud in the last elections and his possible involvement in new efforts to rig the results of the upcoming polls.
Singing “Esperon, operator sa halalan, utak pa sa dayaan,” the group said Gen. Esperon was one of the four generals mentioned in the Hello Garci tapes which suggest their possible involvement in the alleged manipulation of election results.
Two stanzas in Kabataan’s main rap jingle spoke of the general’s role in the implementation of the Oplan Bantay Laya 2 which led to the deployment of military troops and alleged electioneering of military personnel.
“Now Bantay Laya binaba, mil. deployment sa Maynila, nananakot naninira, sa ayaw magpakatuta.”
“Harassment, abduction, killing, militarization, kahit labag sa Constitution, Army aktibo sa election.”
“It is for these reasons that we deem it improper and highly suspect that Gen. Esperon remain at the leash of the AFP during this electoral period.”
“For as long as Gen. Esperon remains the front man and the main operator of the AFP, the youth and the public cannot hope for a truly clean and honest 2007 elections.”
A Genuine Call from Youth and Students for Clean and Honest 2007 Elections
Dismiss Esperon!
Garci General will taint credibility of May polls
Kabataan Party-list, the sole youth party-list participating in the May polls, calls on the government to immediately dismiss and relieve Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon from office.
For as long as Gen. Esperon remains the front man and main operator of the AFP, the youth and the public cannot hope for a truly clean and honest 2007 elections.
It is not a secret how Gen. Esperon has managed to get himself implicated in numerous cases of electoral fraud, repression, violence and corruption.
To this date, his involvement in the Hello Garci scandal remains unresolved.
Gen. Esperon was one of the four generals mentioned in the Hello Garci tapes which suggest their possible involvement in the alleged manipulation of election results. His appointment as AFP Chief of Staff led many to believe that he was chosen for his “instrumental role” in ushering Pres. Gloria Arroyo to victory in the 2004 elections.
In fact, when Gen. Esperon who served as the AFP deputy chief of staff for operations and deputy commander of Task Force HOPE (Honest, Orderly and Peaceful Elections) in the May 2004 elections was promoted as Philippine Army Chief in 2005, critics attested that he was being ‘rewarded for services rendered.’
Consequently, these caused a controversial delay in his appointment as AFP Chief of Staff. The Commission on Appointments’ defense panel deferred Gen. Esperon’s promotion to the rank of leiutenant general. The CA said that the AFP had to “clear” Gen. Esperon first of his involvement in the Hello Garci scandal.
The fact-finding report which was kept from the public for six months cleared Gen. Esperon of the accusations but speculations and apprehensions remain as to his real involvement in the controversy. As a matter of fact, his being implicated in the Hello Garci scandal remains a big factor in the deep plunge of his trust ratings in the latest surveys.
Gen. Esperon is also the main author and operator of Oplan Bantay Laya 2, the government and military’s counter-insurgency plan.
Oplan Bantay Laya 2 is the main reason behind the unexplained and illegal deployment of military troops in schools and communities. Despite protests from students, residents, opposition candidates, progressive party-lists and concerned citizens, Gen. Esperon remains steadfast in justifying the presence of army troops in urban areas. He had even blatantly stated that the deployment is part and parcel of Oplan Bantay Laya 2 despite its clear violation of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Commission on Elections and AFP prohibiting any military involvement in the electoral process.
Gen. Esperon has also proven time and again his loyalty lies not for the Filipino public but for those responsible for his appointment.
He is one of the administration’s staunchest defenders in the issues of political repression and extra-judicial killings – both with the military as prime suspects and perpetrators.
It is for these reasons that we, youth, students and concerned young citizens, deem it improper and highly suspect that Gen. Esperon remain at the leash of the AFP during this electoral period.
We reiterate that for as long as Gen. Esperon remains AFP Chief of Staff, the youth and the general public cannot be assuaged of misgivings about massive electoral fraud and violence these coming May polls.
We call on the government to refrain from tainting the electoral process by immediately dismissing Gen. Esperon as AFP Chief of Staff.
Along with this is that demand for the immediate pull out of military troops from schools and communities.
We also call on all democracy and peace-loving youth and citizens to unite with us in this noble campaign for a fraud-free and non-violent May 2007 elections.
Malakanyang at Cocopea, nasa likod ng pagtanggal sa tuition cap
Nagbabala ang Kabataan Partylist ng higit na paglobo ng matrikula at bilang ng mga dropout sa kolehiyo bunga ng pagkakatanggal sa tuition cap sa mga pribadong paaralan.
Ani Raymond Palatino, Pangulo at Unang Nominado ng Kabataan Partylist, maanomalya ang ginawang hakbang ng Commission on Higher Education sa suspensyon ng CHED Memorandum Order No. 14 (CMO 14) o ang mga panuntunan sa mga konsultasyon hinggil sa pagtaas ng matrikula at iba pang bayarin na naglalagay sa tuition cap katumbas ng kasalukuyang tantos ng implasyon.
Kinuwestiyun din ni Palatino ang bagong pahayag ni Puno na nagsasabing maaari nang magtaas ng matrikula ang mga pribadong paaralan katumbas ng 10 porsyento para sa darating na pasukan.
Aniya, tapos na ang mga konsultasyon hinggil sa pagtaas ng matrikula at maraming mga pribadong paaralan ang nagsimula na ng kanilang enrolment.
“Magdudulot lamang ito ng kalituhan at kaguluhan sa enrolment at ginagamit na ngayon ng mga may-ari ng mga paaralan para higit pang itaas ang kanilang matrikula.”
Dagdag pa ni Palatino, wala itong pinag-iba sa maanomalya ring pagsusupindi sa tuition cap sa kalagitnaan ng mga konsultasyon para sa pagtataas ng matrikula noong Pebrero.
Nasa kalagitnaan na ng mga konsultasyon sa mga pribadong paaralan para sa mga panukalang pagtaas sa matrikula at iba pang mga bayarin nang biglaang naglabas si Commission on Higher Education (Ched) Chairman Carlito Puno ng isang memorandum na nagsususpinde sa implementasyon ng CMO 14.
Sa nasabing memorandum na inilabas noong Pebrero 20, ang ibinasura nang CMO 13, Series of 1998, ang gagamiting batayan para sa mga panukalang pagtaas sa matrikula sa susunod na school year.
“Kaduda-duda at batbat ng iregularidad ang naging hakbang ni Puno dahil lumabas ito ilang araw na lamang bago ang pagtatapos ng mga konsultasyon sa pagtaas ng matrikula noong Pebrero 28. Hindi rin ito dumaan sa konsultasyon sa mga mag-aaral.”
Ani Palatino, ginawa rin ng Ched ang nasabing hakbang sa harap ng agresibong pagla-lobby ng mga school owners sa ilalim ng Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations o Cocopea.
Aniya, isang linggo bago ang suspensyon ng CMO 14, nakipagpulong ang mga lider ng Cocopea kay Arroyo. Ito ay malinaw na nakasaad sa ipinapakalat na circular ng Cocopea sa mga miyembro nito:
“Please be advised that after a meeting Cocopea had with President Macapagal-Arroyo last week, the President took the initiative to order the creation of a review team…The review will also cover Ched Memorandum Orders No. 7, Series of 2007; No. 42, Series of 2006; and No. 14, Series of 2005. Hence, the suspension of these CMOs.”
“Ang ginawa ng Cocopea ay di naiiba sa walang hiya at harap-harapang pagla-lobby ng malalaki at dayuhang kompanya ng gamot noon para harangin ang pagpapasa ng panukala sa Kongreso para sa mas murang presyo ng gamot. Ngunit sa pagkakataong ito, lumalabas na hindi lamang kasabwat kundi pangunahing utak din si Arroyo at ang Ched sa isang “grand conspiracy” upang makahuthot ng mas malaking pera sa mga bulsa ng mga magulang at mag-aaral.”
“Isa rin itong malinaw konsesyon sa bahagi ni Arroyo upang makuha ang suportang pampulitika ng mga private school owners sa kanyang administrasyon at sa mga manok nito ngayong eleksiyon.”
“Ang malaking kabalintunaan nga lang, habang ipinangangalandakan ng mga kandidato ng administradyon sa kanilang mga TV ad na sila ay para sa edukasyon at kabataan, higit na mas marami ang hindi makakapasok sa kolehiyo sa Hunyo sa ginawang pakikipagsabwatan ni Arroyo.”
Inquirer
Last updated 01:34am (Mla time) 04/18/2007
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her minions are beginning to sound alike. Earlier, Ms Arroyo blamed the high incidence of hunger on the citizens’ penchant for “luxuries” such as texting and smoking. Now, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus is blaming the country’s high rate of birth as the cause of classroom shortage.
Let’s start with the facts. The government, according to a Unesco study, should be spending 6 percent of the GDP (gross domestic product) on education; instead it appropriates a measly 3 percent.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has admitted it lacks 45,775 classrooms, based on a ratio of 45 students to one classroom. According to the President, the budget is now ready to provide 14,000 classrooms more this year. Will that answer the lack of classrooms? No. the DepEd still needs to put up 31,775, at least.
“Every minute, four babies are born. It’s like every 10 minutes, I’m short of one classroom,” Lapus said. Why would Lapus blame the population growth rate as the cause of classroom shortage? Simple. Because he, along with other Palace lapdogs, has been tasked to cover up their boss’ inability and lack of sincerity to save this country.
The lack of classrooms did not stem from overpopulation. It started when the State misallocated the national budget (which could have paid for basic social services like education) to follow the dictates of the World Bank and other “generous” foreign lending imperialists.
Apparently, this government has no balls to repeal former President Ferdinand Marcos’ Presidential Decree 1177 which provides for the automatic appropriation of tax revenues for debt service; and former President Corazon Aquino’s Executive Order 292, which instituted Section 26 of the Revised Administrative Code of 1987 providing automatic appropriation for the payment of principal and interest on public debt.
If the government were sincere in addressing the education crisis, it could have done so by not “overfeeding” the administration-led House of Representatives with pork. It could have done so by not making it appear that the budget for state universities and colleges is P34 billion short of the budget of the Department of National Defense. It could have done so by exercising political will to impose a cap on debt servicing and start prioritizing the people’s welfare.
Unfortunately, it needs more money for its political survival.
KARLA HYASMIND APAT, vice president for Mindanao, Kabataan Party List (via e-mail)