Why the Left joined the majority–To push their people’s agenda

In a sudden reversal of fortune, the former ruling Lakas-Kampi coalition of the past decades has become the minority in the House of Representatives almost immediately upon the ascension to the presidency the Liberal Party’s President Benigno Aquino 3rd. His hold on the lower chamber of Congress is being facilitated by former Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte of Quezon City. His support of Belmonte also assures the latter of stability as the House’s top leader.

The new House majority consists mainly of a loose alliance of lawmakers under different parties who vow to remain independent.

Among these is Rep. Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna, who might be considered a veteran lawmaker in the forefront of the foray of the Left—which insists on being called “the progressive movement”—into parliamentary representation.

Critical engagement

In a privilege speech he delivered soon after the House was organized, Casiño revealed that Bayan Muna, as well as the other party-lists under the left bloc in congress such as Anakpawis, Gabriela, and Kabataan, had decided to side with the majority.

The so-called leftist bloc in the lower chamber had been traditionally consigned to the margins of the country’s legislative branch, especially since its members have been seen to be staunch critics of the past administration.

“As I mentioned in my privilege speech last week, we are siding with the majority while retaining our independence and initiative within this working relationship, taking positions on important issues and legislative measures pushed by the majority consistent with our principles,” Casiño told The Manila Times.

“We can probably describe our relationship with the leadership as one of critical engagement,” he noted.

People’s agenda

While Bayan Muna has decided to work with the majority bloc in Congress, Casiño maintains that such working relationship would still pose various challenges.

Among those challenges are pushing for a “people’s agenda” in the legislature.

“The challenge for us is to further push the people’s agenda for change in the Fifteenth Congress. One thing going for us is that the people expect change and the new government is under pressure to deliver in this regard,” Casiño said.

“However, this early, we have noticed that the Aquino government’s policies, especially on the economy, the peace process and human rights, appear to be no different from that of the previous government,” he said.

Advocacies

For the Fifteenth Congress, Casiño said Bayan Muna will be focusing on bringing the price of basic utilities and goods down in the face of impending price hikes. In particular, the party-list group will be targeting policy changes to reduce electricity and water rates, oil prices, the cost of medicines, health and telecommunications services, as well as a reduction in the rate and coverage of the value-added tax (VAT).

“Of course there are standard issues for Bayan Muna that we will continue to pursue: human rights and peace, transparency and accountability in government, an independent foreign policy, debt repudiation or condonation, the protection of Philippine industry from unfair competition, subsidies for farmers, higher wages and a host of other demands from our constituents,” Casiño said.

Clearly, the legislative agenda of Bayan Muna centers on the delivery of basic social services to the people—an agenda often in conflict with the directives of government to liberalize certain public services and deregulate the cost of various utilities. These advocacies, meanwhile, translate into Casiño’s legislative work.

“All these advocacies are reflected in the bills and resolution that we author and support, in those that we oppose, and in our interventions during the budget hearings, and the committee and plenary debates,” Casiño said.

Legislative line-up

Among the first bills that Casiño filed, for instance, was the right to information bill followed by a whistleblowers’ protection bill, both of which will strengthen efforts against graft and corruption.

For the current congress, Bayan Muna, will be refiling bills to regulate the oil and power industries, control prices of medicines, and exempt electricity, oil and water from VAT.

Also, it will be filing a bill to criminalize enforced disappearances and to hold military commanders liable for human rights violations committed by their men by virtue of command responsibility.

Meanwhile, Casiño noted, “We will most likely oppose bills that promote neoliberal globalization, increase taxes and prices, and curtail human rights. We will most likely support bills that promote economic nationalism, protect human rights, and expand social reforms.”

It is as a member of the majority coalition that gives Bayan Muna some standing in pushing its 12-point agenda for the Fifteenth Congress:

1. Panagutin at parusahan ang dating pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at mga kasabwat niya sa kanilang mga krimen sa bayan. (Hold former President Arroyo and her accomplices liable for their crimes against the nation.)
2. Bigyan ng hustisya ang mga biktima ng human rights violations, ipatupad ang mga rekomendasyon ng Alston report kaugnay ng Oplan Bantay Laya at iba pa.
3. Ipamahagi ang lupa ng Hacienda Luisita sa mga magsasaka at ipatupad ang tunay na reporma sa lupa.
4. Ipasa ang isang legislated, across the board wage hike, itigil ang kontraktwalisasyon sa paggawa.
5. Ibaba ang presyo ng mga bilihin, tanggalin ang VAT sa langis, kuryente, tubig at mga batayang serbisyo’t produkto.
6. I-repeal ang PD (Presidential Decree) 1177 at ire-channel ang badyet ng debt service patungo sa edukasyon, kalusugan, pabagay at ibang batayang serbisyo.
7. Bigyan ng subsidyo ang mga magsasaka at protektahan ang mga manggagawa at negosyong Pilipino laban sa mga dayuhang produkto at kapital.
8. Baliktarin ang liberalisasyon sa mga produktong may lokal na katumbas, i-atras ang deregulasyon at pribatisasyon sa power generation, distribusyon ng tubig, industriya ng langis at pagmimina, at paggamit ng ating likas yaman.
9. Ibasura at bumaklas sa mga kontra-mamamayang kundisyon ng mga free trade agreements at iba pang dikta ng IMF (International Monetary Fund), WB (World Bank) at WTO (World Trade Organization).
10. Paigtingin pa ang laban sa korapsyon. Lansagin ang sistema ng pork barrel, ipasa ang mga batas para sa pagpapalakas ng papel ng mamamayan sa pagsugpo ng korapsyon.
11. Ibalik ang peace talks ng walang kundisyon.
12. Itigil ang Balikatan exercises at ibasura ang MDT, VFA, MLSA at iba pang di-makatwirang kasunduang pang-militar. –FRANK LLOYD TIONGSON REPORTER, Manila Times