CONTINUING OUR LEGACY, INTENSIFYING OUR FIGHT

The Aquino government proposes a national budget of Php2.286-trillion for 2014- 13% higher than last years. Figures might be different, but the envisioned budget is no different from its predecessor. The same tales of misappropriation constitute its essence and core. The point of discussion is not the value of increase, but its direction. More than how much was added is where will the addition go. Same, wrong priorities The bulk is for kano, kaklase, kabarilan and kamag-anak; the less is for the Filipino people. More than 35% of the budget will be allocated to debt servicing. A staggering Php 92.5B is dedicated to the military and police, not to mention additional discretionary funds from the Office of the President and Php 2B intelligence funds. As if the peoples outrage is a joke, PDAF shot up by Php 50M. Presidential pork barrel amounting to Php 1.34T is 100% higher than the GMA regime. Illusion of service Increases in social services are nothing but intensified support for short term dole-outs. Under public- private partnership, Php 400B is being invested for infrastructure projects. Peoples money is used to initiate construction of public facilities and provision of public goods but returns of investment go directly to private corporations. As such, public utilities such as water and electricity, which are now owned by private corporations, incessantly increase prices. Conditional cash transfer, on the other hand, is the governments flagship poverty alleviation program. Four years after its implementation, as well as Php52B expansion, poverty levels remain unchanged. 28 out of 100 Filipino families are considered poor. Playing deaf on youths call Education and health are still Aquinos least priorities. There is money for corruption, but none for basic social services. The UN requires the allotment of 6% of the GDP for education. The government, on the other hand, plans to spend only Php 6 a day for every elementary or high school student. Such is far insufficient to address the lack of teachers, classrooms, textbooks, and other needs for basic education. The same scene awaits higher education as dramatic budget slashes loom on 79 out of 110 state universities and colleges (SUCs). UP tops the rank with a whopping Php1.43B, the biggest budget cut in history. Such measures are done in compliance with the Roadmap to Public Higher Education Reform (RPHER), as admitted by CHED Chair Patricia Licuanan and DBM Secretary Butch Abad. RPHER is a World Bank policy which pushes educational institutions to be self- sufficient and state independent through income generating schemes such as tuition increases and selling of lands to private corporations. Meanwhile, the Php 32B increase in health budget will solely go to PhilHealth which only covers select procedures and does not remove out of pocket expenses from patients. In fact, it is useless amidst the context of hospital shortages and worsening healthcare system. Lack of state funding for PGH forces it to charge laboratory fees and other payments which should have been free. Throwback, strike back The mask of the Aquino administration has fallen. Exposed is the rotting system of patronage politics and its allegiance to foreign business, private interests, and the elite few that was long hidden under sugarcoated propaganda. Two things have been proven: We are not Aquinos bosses. Likewise, he is not directing us to the right path- unless its vision is poverty, joblessness, hunger, and homelessness. It has been tradition to Iskolars ng Bayan to resist deception and deconstruct illusion. A century is witness to the militant history of the university and its legacies: generations of Iskolars ng Bayan answering to the call of the Oblation, fighting for the peoples welfare, outrightly protesting against repressive policies, and returning victories such as additional funding for basic social services to the masses. Today is no different, we will continue this legacy. With stronger unities and greater resolve, we will collectively fight for our rights, and demand change from this government. Let this serve as our collective warning to the Aquino administration that we, as the youth, will not hinder to oppose his intensified plan to abandon social services, privatize schools and hospitals, and wallow in corruption. In times of injustice, fighting back is a responsibility. We claim this responsibility as Iskolars ng Bayan in the service of the Filipino people.

Education is a right, stop SUCs budget cut! Stop privatization of hospitals! Strike against Aquinos pork barrel and budget cuts! ASAP KATIPUNAN/ Aug 2013