August 2009
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Environmental Snapshot
Economic Situation
Social Condition
Political Context
The Philippines is a “climate hotspot”
 Vulnerable to the worst manifestations of
climate change
 Close to 700 sq km of land area in the
country will gradually be submerged
 A one-meter rise in sea level may affect 64
out of 81 provinces by 2095 to 2100
 Severe crisis in fresh water supply (2013)
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Only 36% of the river systems
can be classified as possible
sources of public water supply
 50 of the 421 rivers in the
country can be considered as
biologically dead
 15 % do not have access to
safe drinking water
 28 % do not have sanitary
toilets
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Out of the 1,137 endemic animal species, 582
of these are already threatened
 227 of the 10,000 to 14,000 species of plants
are also threatened (Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau)
 90 out of the 99 watersheds of the country are
considered to be “hydrologically critical”
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 Logging (both legal and illegal)
 Uncontrolled land use for mining, overgrazing, agri
expansion, industrialization
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Growing Economy
 “Ramdam ko ang pag-
asenso” t.v. ad
 Considered to be the best
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performing middle economy
in Asia
GDP grew by 7.3% (2007)
GNP grew by 8.3% (2007)
Peso-Dollar exchange (Ph47)
Budget deficit close to a
balance (32B)
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Continuing Social Crises
 About 27.6 Million
Filipinos live below the
poverty line. (NSCB)
▪ 43.5% LUZON
▪ 32.4% MINDANAO
▪ 24.1% VISAYAS
 In Sept. ‘07, the hunger
was at its peak with 2.4
million people having to
eat nothing at all
3.7M houses needed for the poor (2006, CODE)
The average household income is Php408
while a family needs at least Php700 a day
 Non ARB farmers only make Php44 a day
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2.8 M Filipinos are unemployed
 Jobs mostly under the unskilled
category
 Contractual jobs: 33.7 M of 36.4 M
total labor force
 Greater problem of underemployment
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1 out of 4 employed Filipinos in
the country were over employed
The number of hospitals in the
country decreased by 55% over the
last 20 years (PMA)
 62% of Filipinos die without being
seen by a healthcare professional
 58.8M Filipinos have no regular
access to lifesaving drugs (NSCB 2006)
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1.7 million babies born in 2004, almost 8 percent were born to mothers aged 15-19.
The country’s population as of
midyear 2008 is 90.4 million this
year based on a population growth
rate (PGR) of 1.94%. The figure
would have been bigger if not for
the migration trend in the past
decade. Last year’s increase was
2.04% (NSCB)
1.7 million
Almost
30 percent
babies born
of Filipino
in 2004,
women
almost
become
8 percent
mothers
were before
born toreaching
motherstheir
aged21st
15-19.
birthday
Ramos (2008)
1.7 million babies born in 2004, almost 8 percent were
born to mothers aged 15-19.
Almost 1 out of 3 Filipino women become mothers
before reaching their 21st birthday
Almost 1 of every 10 babies is born to a teenage mother
Education
Out of 100 students who enter Grade 1,
15 will drop out before reaching Grade
2. Another 9 will leave before Grade 4.
Only 65 will graduate from elementary.
60 of these will begin high school, but
only about 42 will get a diploma.
27 of these will begin college, but only
about 14 will actually get a degree.
Out of these 14 graduates only
11 will get employed.
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Governed essentially according to a dysfunctional
oligarchic liberal democratic framework
dominated by traditional politicians
 Case of ERAP (conviction & granting of pardon)
 Case of CARP implementation
 Perversion of the impeachment process
 Campaign financing problem
In situation of great economic disparities and a
poorly functioning legal system, formal liberty
and equality of liberal democracy ends up
producing wanton privilege for the elite few,
and constraints and disadvantage for the poor
majority
 Philippines: “partly free country” (Freedom House)
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Natural tendency of people, especially
the youth, to disengage politically
Disenfranchised and unregistered
voters
 9Million to 14 Million FTVs
 Registered voters?
 10% of the target for FTVs(COMELEC)
 15% of the target for OFWs
How people understand elections:  “casting
of ballots” and often seen disconnected with
greater need for and deeper understanding of
democratic governance
 Significant alienation from and distrust of the
electoral process  low voter turnout rate in
most places (60%)
 But despite alienation, people still prefer
elections as the best way to choose leaders as
opposed to MIP, PP, or self-serving chacha
 Demand oriented voters  viewed elections
as both a “panacea” and an “immediate relief”
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2010 Elections
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Two elections by 2010
 Terrain will be different
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Framing of the 2010 elections
 “Gov’t vs Oppo”
 But actually its just “more of the same”
 3rd way being organized / strengthened to
respond to the clamor of the reform
constituency
▪ Caveat: choose well
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Philippines is
ranked as the most
corrupt country in
Asia (PERC, 2007)
* based on perception of 1,476 expats
* surveyed only 13 out of 54 Asian
countries
* from 7.8 rating to 9.4 ( 0 being the best
score)
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Php1.2T had been
lost due to
corruption in the
last 5 years
E.g. Computers installed in
a public school were
allegedly bought at P217,500
each
(PDAF Watch-April 2007, CODE-NGO)
2007 SONA:
Ombudsman’s
conviction rate hits
77% this year, from 6%
last 2003
(increase by more than
500%)
 2008 SONA: conviction
rate for 1Q is 14%
 Bribery is going down.
But the grand or bigger
types of corruption are
on the rise (Corruption
Prevention Action Project,
DAP)
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The giving of ‘cash gifts’ in
the palace to congressmen
and governors
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Charter Change
Automation of the Elections
Social and economic reforms
HR1109 and the Con Ass Hullabaloo
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Chacha or Charter change  process by
which we insert amendments / revision
to the provisions of the fundamental law
of the land
Constitution  basic law that defines
the other laws being implemented,
presents the framework of governance,
structures, outlines the basic rights and
responsibilities etc.
Amendment vs. Revision
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Mode of changing
Substance of the proposals
Context / timing
We will not delve into the nitty gritty of
the substance issue (parliamentarism’s
merits and demerits vis-à-vis
presidentialism etc) since there’s no
concrete proposal yet…
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Constitutional Convention (ConCon)
Constituent Assembly (ConAss)
Peoples’ Initiative & Referendum (PI)
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Delegates are selected through an election
Members may propose revision or amendments
changes being proposed are major, and call for
more extensive deliberation and consultation,
that will need more time and money; costs cut by
synchronizing voting for Con-Con delegates with
other elections
Congress has qualified members, but the body as
a whole has low credibility, and objectivity can
be compromised, as they are seen to have vested
interests in perpetuating themselves in power
Legislators working as Con-Ass will not be able
to focus on their main mandate, which is lawmaking.
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A power for the people, not government
Two steps:
 Formulation of proposed change /
amendment
 Gathering of Signature
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Requirement hard to fulfill: 3% of all
registered voters in a district and 12%
nationwide
Amendments only and not revision
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Members may propose revision or
amendment by ¾ vote of all its members
Faster and more economical
Many experienced legislators are
familiar with the defects of the
Constitution and ergo are the best to
propose changes to it
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Should the house vote jointly or separately?
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Art. XVII, Sec. 1 – Any amendment to, or revision
of the Constitution, may be proposed by (1) The
Congress, upon a vote of three-fourths of all its
Members…….
(N.B.- no requirement for joint “constituent
assembly”)
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Argument for joint vote: - the letter of the
provision does not provide for manner of voting.
Since the House and the Senate must meet in
joint session as a “constituent assembly”, the two
chambers should vote “jointly”. The three-fourths
voting requirement can be met by a vote of 194
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Arguments for separate vote – text and context:
- republican nature of legislature – check and
balance system among 3 departments but also
within legislature
- structural separation between two chambers –
each with its own rules, prerogatives,
responsibilities
- superiority in the hierarchy of laws – constitutional
change must be treated at least the same as
ordinary laws – reflected in present House rules
Latest attempt by admin to test the boundaries of law and
public opinion with the intention of staying in power
 To provoke extreme action by those who oppose any
constitutional amendment/revision at this time to excuse
extreme counter-measures “in the interest of national
stability”;
 To test the solidarity and loyalty of its political machinery
for the coming presidential elections or any other political
exercise;
 Because a deal has already been struck with enough
members of the Supreme Court to give due course to any
petition that raises the issue of justiciable controversy so
that a ruling of a “joint vote” can be rendered
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We are told by chacha advocates –
 Philippines has not progressed in last 60 years and
repeatedly undergo political instability. We have
had presidential-bicameral system for same period.
Therefore, presidential-bicameral system is main
cause for our predicament. (“Let’s try something
else even if we are not sure it will work and ‘other
conditions” needed”)
 Change in form of govt will change behavior of
politicians
 With shift to parliamentary-unicameral system
- “modernization”
- political stability and efficient governance
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Current achievements (fiscal improvement,
economic growth, improved credit rating, etc.) did
not require charter change
Urgent concerns can all be addressed under
present Constitution, i.e. health care, housing,
education, peace and order, criminality, etc.
Preconditions for successful parliament (per study
of DILG Foundation) i.e. strong political parties,
strong bureaucracy and credible electoral process Are these present in our country today?
The wrong diagnosis of chacha advocates that
present Constitution is obstacle to
modernization, political stability and economic
growth - leads to wrong solutions, i.e. if
Constitution (presidential-bicameral and
economic provisions) is not the problem, why
the rush to change it?
 Rather, urgent needs of people can all be
addressed under present Constitution.
Implement provisions FULLY, especially social
justice provisions and electoral reform
 Political instability and divisiveness is
exacerbated by push for charter change;
relative calm with decision of SC
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“ Changing the Constitution involving
major shifts in the form of government,
requires widespread participation, total
transparency, and relative serenity that
allows for rational discussion and
debate. This is best done through a
constitutional convention."
- CBCP 2006
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“… charter change can only be morally
justifiable if the revisions being proposed will
lead to authentic reforms and development for
the nation. Changes must assure shifts
towards: principled politics, transparency and
accountability, electoral and institutional
reform, and more efficient delivery of services
to the people, especially the poorest.”
- CBCP April 2006
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Supporting peaceful protest and mass action
against ConAss
Any attempt that will postpone, cancel or change the
nature of the 2010 Presidential
 “The road back to that promise and vision require that the
2010 elections must be held, that voters must register to
exercise their right to vote, that the elections must be free,
fair and credible and that the Arroyo administration must
step down by June 30, 2010. The road back requires that
we choose new leaders with a total commitment to social
reform, who have proven competence in governance and
have the political will to do what is right by the people,
regardless of the consequences to their interests.
Otherwise, it would be more of the same thing with
different faces, and the people cannot wait much longer “
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Tapping the potential of the youth and the vulnerable
sectors in 2010 and the years to come
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Youth
OFWs
Detainees
IDPs
PWDs
Elderly
IPs
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11 Million
8 Million
55,000 (in Jails under BJMPs alone)
600,000
943,000
4.6 Million
14 Million
Since the restoration of formal democracy in the country,
there has been no effort in terms of the rights-based
approach to electoral participation of the vulnerable
sectors
Initial Survey of Current initiatives for the 2010 Elections
(Non-Partisan and Partisan Efforts)
Voters
Registration
Voters
Education
Election
Monitoring
TASK FORCE 2010
YouthVote Philippines
Candidates
Profiling
Transpartisan
Projects
Partisan
CENPEG
BANTAY
PANGAKO
KAMPI
YPS
LDP
Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting
ASIN
CEAP - COCOPEA
Cebu – Citizens Involvement and Maturation for
People’s Empowerment and Liberation
PDP LABAN
DILAAB
LAKAS CMD
Citizens’ Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reform
LIBERAL
TAN
NP
CBCP- NASSA
LIBERSTAS
VOTERIGHT
AKBAYAN
PDSP
BAYAN
Voters
Registration
Voters
Education
Election
Monitoring
FIRST TIME VOTERS’ PROJECT
Candidates
Profiling
ATIN /
PERA’T
PULITIKA
LENTE
Transpartisan
Projects
Silingan Ka
Partisan
KAYA NATIN
CHANGE
POLITICS
NPC
Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan
ANG
KAPATIRAN
VOTE-NET Philippines
AKBAYAN
ACDA
CMFR
AMIN
Bantay
Eleksyon
CODE - NGO
PPP Movement
GABRIELA
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Seeing the Electoral Spectrum as a continuum
Voters
Registration
Voters
Education
Election
Monitoring
Candidates
Profiling
Transpartisa
n Projects
Partisan
Urgent concern: ensuring the maximum electoral
participation of all sectors
 Challenges are still staggering:
 1660 DCMs nationwide
 Can optimally accommodate 250 – 350 registrants daily
 1,032,562 delisted in NCR alone
 821,029 registrants as of April 22, 2009
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Baseline Data that will aid us strategize
for 2010
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General Political education for the youth and
communities aimed to address the issue of
cynicism and disengagement
Massive information dissemination
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 Registration
 PCOS System and Automation
 Election related issues
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Volunteer and resource Mobilization
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We all do have our own advocacies, all urgent and with
long-term implications
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Everything that is encapsulated in one phrase about social
justice in Art XIII of the Constitution – equitably
diffusing wealth and political power for the common
good
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I hope that many of you will choose and be committed to
electoral reform and engagement because, very simply,
there can be no real democracy without real elections
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We know that reform and change take time and require
both resolve and endurance. We are here for the long-run
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Elections 2010 is not the end
Certain local government units seem to excel
in public administration despite limitations
 Many despair, grow cynical and become
distrustful but not everyone has given up
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Moved by those who suffer…
Moved by those who struggle…
Moved by the Spirit…
Loyola House of Studies
Ateneo de Manila University
Mobile:
SUN-8600-SLB
(0922-8600-752)
Landline:
426.6101 locs. 3440-41
Telefax:
426.5968
Email:
slb@admu.edu.ph
Web:
www.slb.ph
http://simbahanglingkod.multiply.com
CGE
(Citizenship by Good Example)
SLB-Radyo Veritas 846
Sundays
(3:00PM – 4:00PM)