NR1116:Re: RP chairs APEC anti-terror TF

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 16 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Philippines' chairing of APEC Anti-terror task force a dubious honor and
should be refused

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today that the Philippine government
should respectfully but firmly refuse to chair the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Counter-Terrorism Task Force.
He said that the country's election to the position was not at an honor at
all. "It only re-affirms the Philippine government's shameless subservience to
US' anti-humanity and immoral campaign against other sovereign nations and their
peoples. It's a badge of dishonor, and it puts the Philippines in even greater
danger as a target of attacks from the US government's avowed enemies," he
said.

The election of the Philippines to chair the APEC's anti-terror task force was
more than likely pushed by Washington. Take it as a sign that US Pres. Bush is
giving Pres. Arroyo another chance to prove her allegiance to his government
and its agenda in the Philippines. Now, knowing Pres. Arroyo's politics, she is
certain to fall over herself t o make sure that Bush is proven correct,
nevermind going against the national interest and putting the country and the
Filipino people's security at risk," he said.

He also said that the US continues to push the Philippines into agreeing to hold
an endless series of Balikatan exercises in the country, and the actions and
movement of US troops remain unchecked. "Malacanang is no doubt eager to prove
itself an ally and will turn its head from any and all abuses of the US troops
and their violations of Philippine and international humanitarian laws," he
said.

Beltran said that chairing the committee will also mean that the Philippine
government will also be leading other Asian governments in propagating the US'
line against terror, which mostly means war against all other nations
insisting on their own sovereignty and freedom from the US' economic,
political and military domination and interference.

"The Philippines' ties with the US has not brought the Philippine economic
prosperity or political independence. Relations between the governments of
these two countries have always been biased against the Philippines, while
extremely favorable to the US' hegemonic agenda. Now, with this new position
in APE C, Pres. Arroyo will be spreading more US propaganda and acting as
spokesperson for the counter-terror campaign in other nations. This is hardly
something Filipinos can be proud of," he concluded.#

NR1115: Congress railroading lateral attrition bill

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 15 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Congress railroading approval of lateral attrition law, measure up for voting
tomorrow only after 2 plenary hearings

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that the House of
Representatives was railroading the lateral attrition bill (HB2996) despite the
countless technical and legal flaws in the proposed measure. "In exchange for
what, we don't exactly know yet. What is most definite, however, is Malacanang
is breathing down Congress' neck to approve this draconian measure," he said.

He urged fellow legislators to thumb down the bill authored mainly by
Representatives Danilo Suarez, Imee Marcos, Mauricio Domogan, Francis
Nepomuceno, Jesli Lapus, and Rolando Andaya Jr. among others. The bill is
titled "An Act Providing for Optimum Performance in Revenue Collection through
the Grant of Special Incentives and Rewards for Exemplary Service and through
Lateral Attrition in revendue generating agencies of the government and for
other purposes."

"It has no merits whatsoever. The very premise that employees are to blame for
low collections is very unjust. It's obvious that the real objective of the
bill is to overhaul the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Bureau of Custom
(BOC) and the 20 other agencies it targets and prepare them for full
privatization. The BIR and the BOC are two agencies that generate income for
the national government, but they're both being targeted for privatization
which will translate to even massive losses for the government," he said.

The proposed LAL (lateral attrition law) passed second reading last week after a
marathon session that lasted till 2:30 am. Beltran said that it was very evident
that Malacanang was pressuring congressmen and women to immediately approve the
bill. " The LAL and its twin bill on tax amnesty are among Malacanang's
eight priority measures that will provide a bandage-type cure to the fiscal
hemorrhage; but both are severely works against government employees and the
even the economy itself," he said.

Beltran said that the LAL was inherently biased against government employees,
and violates civil service regulations protecting job security and the right of
employees to due process. Ina nutshell, LAL is the transfer in post or
assignment and/or separation from government service of internal revenue or
customs officials/officers/employees and collection
officials/officers/employees of other revenue-generating units, who do not meet
their respective revenue or collection goals for the year.

"The very definition of lateral attrition reveals how anti-employee it is. It
blames and takes action against individual employees against the collective
failure of the agency to meet collection targets. How can lateral attrition be
in accordance with civil service regulations when the premise is already
established: low collections means re-assignment or lay-off? There is no rule
in the civil service code that states that the poor performance of the
government agency justifies the arbitrary lay-off of its employees," Beltran
pointed out.

Beltran said that proponents of the bill are justifying the bill as a rewards
and punishment bill, "But this carrot-and-stick tactic is mostly stick, and the
carrot is non-existent. The trend in collections in the BIR and BOC os always
low, and it is not at all the fault of the employees. Collections will always
be low so long as the BOC and the BIR are forced to work within the
government's system of allowing big tax perks and exemptions to big businesses
and investors; and so long as the internal workings of the agencies are
influenced and directed by IMF-WTO guidelines on taxations, tariffs etc," he
said.

" What Congress should do is assess the agencies' programs and policies and
collection targets, and overhaul them - get to the true root of low
collections: deep-seated corruption in the higher offices and more crucial, the
IMF and WTO imposed policies dictating the operations of the agencies."

Millions of revenues are being lost from the fiscal incentives - outright tax
exemptions, income tax holidays, tax credits and reduced taxes for firms and
industries. The national government itself says that all these incentives are
worth at least P741B in the last five years, and P175B for the year 2003 alone.
The biggest beneficiaries of these exemptions are the tax and duty exemptions
(P152B) and income tax holidays (P5B) granted to export processing zones. #

NR1110:No to Lateral attrition and government re-org

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 10 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Anakpawis Solons score proposed Lateral Attrition bill and PGMA's
Rationalization scheme; says GMA will have a crisis of governance if attacks
against employees continue

Anakpawis Representatives Crispin Beltran and Rafael Mariano today called urged
fellow solons to take a stand against the anti-labor, anti-employee measures of
Malacanang, saying that Congress should thumb down House Bill No. 2996 or the
Committees on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, Oversight, Ways &
Means and Appropriation's report no. 28 authored mainly by Representatives
Danilo Suarez, Imee Marcos, Mauricio Domogan, Francis Nepomuceno, Jesli Lapus,
and Rolando Andaya Jr. among others. The bill, titled "An Act Providing for
Optimum Performance in Revenue Collection through the Grant of Special
Incentives and Rewards for Exemplary Service and through Lateral Attrition in
revendue generating agencies of the government and for other purposes," is more
commonly known as the LAL, or the lateral attrition law.

The proposed measure was presented to the congressional body yesterday for
interpellation. Beltran and Mariano slammed the bill, saying that it was full
of holes and violative of the Bill of Rights provisions on due process. "It
attacks government employees and blames them for crisis that is the
government's own making."

The activist lawmakers said that Malacanang was posed to launch the most
comprehensive bureaucracy downsizing campaign. They said that Congress was
taking its cue from President Arroyo's Executive Order No.366 passed last
October 4, 2004 titled "Directing a Strategic Review of the Operations and
Organizations of the Executive Branch and Providing Options and Incentives for
Government Employees who may be affected by the Rationalization of the
Functions and Agencies of the Executive Branch."

Under the EO, there will be the scaling down, phasing out or abolition of
agencies that (1.) duplicate or overlap with other programs and activities of
other offices, (2) those considered redundant, outdated or no longer relevant
to the times and (3) those that directly compete with those of the private
sector.

Beltran said the EO has adverse effects on the employees such as the
contractual, casual and on a temporary basis employees that were no longer
renewed early this year. Regular employees who opt to remain in government
service shall be placed in other agencies by the Civil Service Commission but
will no longer receive the allowances and other benefits they used to receive
in the past. And those who object to new assignmente shall be deemed separated
or retired.

"The President's so-called silver parachute is nothing but an empty, worthless
metaphor. The touted Retirement pay is also alreadyprovided for by the existing
laws which an ordinary employee may avail when the right time comes. As for the
supposed additional retirement package - it's so meager, it's insulting. It's
an affront to employees who gave the best years of their lives in service - ½
mo. of present basic salary for every year of service for those who have
rendered 20 years and below, ¾ mo. for those 21-30 years and 1 month for those
who served 31 years and more."

"Pres. Arroyo and her allies in Congress are hell-bent on passing the lateral
attrition bill and implementing a comprehensive downsizing scheme of the
bureaucracy. Contrary to their assertions - these steps will not improve
efficiency much less wipe out corruption; in fact it will only worsen the
services government provides to its constituency, and cement corruption. The
higher-ups in most agencies remain in office, or at the least, made to
transfer to other agencies where they will only serve to maintain the system of
corruption," Beltran said.

They warned of a nationwide 'civilian-employee uprising' as thousands of
government employees nationwide protest government's plans to lay-off some
420,000 of the 1.5 million employees nationwide as part of its rationalization
program. They also said that the president will have a crisis of governance if
she continues to attack government employees. "She is engendering animosity and
disloyalty among the civil servants," they said.

Among the employees up in arms over the planned lay-offs are from the Department
of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Department of Tourism at
Department of Transportion and Communication, the departments targeted for
transfer of location to to Iloilo, Davao, Cebu and Clark respectively.

Employees based in Quezon City such as from the National Housing Authority,
National Food Authority, Bureau of Plants Industry, Bureau of Animals Industry,
National Irrigation Administration, National Printing Office, National
Telecommunications Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
MMDA, Department of Social Welfare and Development, PTV 4, Philippine Postal
Corporation-QC Branch also are protesting against the bureaucracy downsizing
schemes. Employees from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Customs,
Philippine Ports Authority, Department of Labor and Employment and other
offices are also affected by the downsizing.#

NR1109: Don't blame rank and file for low collections

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 9 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Rep. Beltran defends rank and file employees of Bureau of Customs against
accusations of low collections; slams IMF, WTO programs in the agency

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran once more takes up the cudgel for
government employees and their rights to security of tenure and benfits by
opposing House Bill No. 2996 or the Committees on Civil Service and
Professional Regulation, Oversight, Ways & Means and Appropriation's report
no. 28 authored mainly by Representatives Danilo Suarez, Imee Marcos, Mauricio
Domogan, Francis Nepomuceno, Jesli Lapus, and Rolando Andaya Jr. among others.
The bill, titled "An Act Providing for Optimum Performance in Revenue Collection
through the Grant of Special Incentives and Rewards for Exemplary Service and
through Lateral Attrition in revenue generating agencies of the government and
for other purposes," is more commonly known as the LAL, or the lateral
attrition law.

Beltran said that employees in the GFIs and the revenue-generating agencies
such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs were up in
arms against the LAL, saying that the proposed law was premised on unjust
grounds and biased against employees. "The proposal tries to pass itself off as
a system of reward and encouragement to generate increased collections, but in
truth it is nothing but a streamlining program that viciously does away with
due process and attacks employees' constitutionally-guaranteed rights to
security of tenure," he said.

"The national government is using government employees as its whipping boys and
sacrificial lambs in its desperate attempts to scrimp and save."

Beltran said that it was immoral, illegal and unjust that the government is
blaming rank and file employees from the low collection of taxes and other
revenues. He said that government employees in the affected agencies perform
their tasks to the best of their abilities, but they only act within the rules
and regulations governing their agencies. "The programs being implemented in
the agencies and the systemic corruption in the higher offices are the real
problems, not the employees," he said.

Beltran pointed out that in the BOC, for instance, there are there are programs
and policies that hinder the increase in agency collection: the 11-point reform
Program of International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the BOC geared towards
liberalization and biased for foreign investors; the faulty Philippine tax
Computerization Program (PTCP); the tariffication program imposed by the World
Trade Organization (WTO); gargantuan tax exemptions for big businesses; shift
of valuation system from fair market value to export value to transaction
value; the selectivity system (95% of the goods that enter the country are no
longer examined and automatically allowed entry; and direct/technical
smuggling.

"So why are the employees being blamed for low collections? It's strategically
impossible for them to be at fault for the supposed underperformance of the
BOC. The core programs and the system of checking, monitoring and
tarrification being implemented in the BOC are opposed to high revenue
collection, but biased for foreign investors and their big local business
partners," he said.

He also pointed out that the Philippine Tariff Computerization Program (PTCP)
for BIR and BOC was also implemented by the National Government. The PTCP got
$150M financial loans from the IMF-WB, but the program was a washout. The
computer hardware for the said project was provided by UNISYS, and the computer
software was provided by UNCTAD. The system uses the software ASYCUDA++
(Automated System Customs Data). Crown Agents was also hired as PTCP's project
consultant. The computers and the servers are constantly bogging down. Despite
the computerization system, the project was not successful both in increasing
revenues and ending corruption in the BIR and BOC.

Finally, Beltran scored Malacanang for its moves to reshuffle the leadership in
the BOC, justifying the reshuffle to low collections. Head collectors from
Subic, Clark, Tacloban and Batangas have been recently reshuffled.

"This is more than likely the beginning of the comprehensive reorganization in
the BOC," he pointed out. "Malacanang is already moving to put its key people in
the BOC as a prelude to the implementation of the lay-offs of the rank and
file," he said.#

NR1109: Meralco's latest rate hike

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 9 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news


Solon slams 30% electricity rate increase; challenges VP de Castro to move
against Meralco in defense of consumers

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today expressed outrage anew against
Meralco and its latest rate increase which forces households in Metro Manila
and neighboring provinces consuming 500 kilowatt-hours a month to pay an
additional P682.60. Households using 400 kWh a month will have to pay an
additional P546.08. Those consuming 300 kWh will pay P409.56 and those using
200 kWh, P273.04.

"There is no justifying these atrocious increases. Napocor and Meralco should
be crucified for once more sneaking up from behind consumers and springing this
most upsetting surprise. Neither Napocor and Meralco officials or the ERC for
that matter are fooling anyone with their explanations that a rate hike was
necessary. They are all making excuses among themselves and justifying their
collective greed. If there was any illusion that this Christmas will be a
season of bright and cheerful lights, then this latest rate increase definitely
kills that illusion," he said.

The higher costs (a total of P1.365 per kWh) are dueto a sharp increase in the
generation charges of the state-owned National Power Corp. (Napocor) and the
partial lifting of cross-subsidies.This month, Meralco's monthly charges will
increase by 30 percent, or almost P1.08 per kWh, to reflect the increase in
Napocor charges.

From the current P3.50 per kWh that Meralco charges its customers every month,
the rate will go up to P4.57 as a result of the Energy Regulatory
Commission-approved Napocor rate increase.

The other costs include the generation rate adjustment mechanism (GRAM), a
pass-through charge that Meralco collects every quarter to cover the costs of
power from Napocor and independent power producers (IPPs)First Gas Power Corp.
and Quezon Power Philippines Ltd., and the incremental currency exchange rate
adjustment, a recovery mechanism for foreign exchange fluctuations.

Beltran scored Malacanang anew for its refusal to stop Napocor and Meralco from
imposing more rate hikes. "This is total callousness. Once more, Pres. Arroyo
has shown her indifference to the plight of the working people whose economic
welfare is already under serious attack. It would not be surprising if most
households affected by this latest rate increase would be forced to forego
their electricity payments and risk having their lines cut off by Meralco," he
said.

"The calls for Pres. Arroyo's ouster are certain to gain ground in the coming
weeks and months as electricity rates continue to rise, along with the prices
of gasoline and LPG. Her inutility against the purchased power adjustment (PPA)
was what first severely attacked her popularity, and it's certain that the
electricity rate increases will once more contribute to her falling approval
ratings.

The veteran labor leader also challenged Vice-President Noli de Castro to use
his influence and clout with the Lopez group and demand that Meralco
immediately do away with the rate increase. "So far, we have seen or heard
nothing of the Vice-president. This would be a very opportune time to step in
and defend consumers, many of whom voted for him on the strength of the
pro-poor image he projected in his former show Magandang Gabi, Bayan," he said.
#

NR1108:Don't blame GEs for low collections, corruption

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 8 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Solon warns of "civil servant-uprising" against GMA govt's lateral attrition,
downsizing and reorganization plans

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that government employees
cannot be stopped for holding "civil servant uprising" in protest over
government plans to cut as many as 4200,000 jobs. He said that Malacanang's
plans to reorganize and downsize the bureaucracy to supposedly clean up
corruption and improve efficiency were being done at the expense of government
employees, and will severely affect the already poor services the government is
providing the public.

Beltran said that hundreds of thousands of government employees were already
agitated over the burgeoning attacks against their job security, their
pensions, sick pay and forced relocation as well as the cut in jobs.

"Thousands of government employees cannot be expected to stand idly by as their
rights are attacked and their jobs taken away from them. They must take a
strong and united stand against arbitrary cuts which will decimate services the
public relies on from the cradle to the grave. These government employees are
not faceless bureaucrats but actual civil servants and productive Filipinos
who pay taxes, perform necessary functions in the various government agencies
and departments that directly serve the public," he said.

Beltran urged his fellow solons to oppose the lateral attrition bill now up for
second reading after the Committee on Civil Service passed it last October. He
said that the scale of potential job losses and attacks on pensions and
retirement pay was serious, and merits the massive outrage of all government
employees, not merely those in the immediately affected agencies such as the
Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue. "It's the national
govenrment's macro-economic policies and obeisance to the policies of the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) that
guarantee that the BIR and the BOC will ALWAYS have low collections, and that
they will never ever meet the targets set by the government," he pointed out.

Beltran said that the Medium-Term Development Program (MTDP) Projections of the
National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for the BOC, of instance is not
realistic. This is primarily because of the big bulk of displaced Customs
revenue resulting from the significant decrease in the import-tariff rate since
the Philippines inclusion in the World Trade Organization in the mid-90's.

"The tax collection efficiency as computed by the government agencies is based
on the pre-globalization period. When Philippines entered the WTO and
implemented trade liberalization policies, there was a drastic change from the
country's protectionist policy to the very low (and almost 0%) tariff on
imports. In the present export-oriented-import-dependent economy, most of the
industries, i.e. electronic, garments/apparels and wiring harness, or the
manufacturing sector of the economy where the bulk of GDP came from were
already classified as tax-exempt industries," he insisted." "As a result of
the shift in economic policies, noticeable unattainments of collection targets
were experienced by the revenue-generating agencies of the country,
particularly the BIR and the BOC."

The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker said that it was unjust and immoral for
the national government to blame government employees for low tax collections,
inefficiency, or even corruption.

He pointed out that 25%-30% of the national budget allotted for personnel
services goes to the scandalous salaries and perks of high government officials
and not to the rank and file employees who are receiving a measly basic pay of
P5,082 a month (P60,744 a year) or even the average pay of P8,709 monthly
(P104,508). According to their data, a Department Secretary receives P927,900 a
year, including a basic pay of P462,000 a year and other benefits, an
Undersecretary gets P630,000 a year (including P330,000 yearly basic pay), an
Assistant Secretary P536,651 (including P289,524 yearly basic pay) and a Bureau
director P502,176 (including P278,377 yearly basic pay).

The Department of Agrarian Reform has a Secretary, 7 Undesecretaries, 7
Assistant Secretaries, 18 Director IV and 22 Director III; the Department of
Education has a Secretary, 5 Undersecretaries, 4 Assistant Secretaries and 27
Director III positions; Department of Agriculture - a Secretary, 5 Usec, 4
Assec, 2 Executive Director, 2 Deputy Exec. Directors, 23 Director IV and 7
Director III; DOLE - 4 Usec, 3 Assec; Finance - 5 Usec, 3 Assec, DENR - 3
Ussec, 3 Assec; DILG - 2 Ussec, 7 Assec. The data may still be bigger given
that a new Usec or Assec position is easily created upon Malacanang's
appointment. COURAGE is said to be still studying the number of Board of
Directors or Trustees of Government Owned and Controlled Corporations and
Financial Institutions whose pay and perks are also atrocious.

"The double-standards of Malacanang are contemptible. While it is determined to
abolish offices and terminate thousands of tenured employees, it has created
new government bodies, even super agencies which overlaps and duplicates other
offices to provide positions and accommodate those who campaigned for her
during the elections. After the elections, 6 new officies with 8 cabinet
positions were created plus 22 Presidential Advisers, 7 Presidential Assistants
and 6 Consultants," he said.#

NR1105:GMA backpedalling on fiscal crisis

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 5 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

PGMA not fooling anybody with her assertion that the worse is over - Rep.
Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's declaration that the fiscal crisis is over is a definite
sign of panic, and not one of relief or confidence.

"Now it's official - the economy is in definite trouble. The president is
desperate to backtrack on her previous statements as well as cover-up and
dispel the assertions of her own economic advisers regarding the worsening
fiscal crisis," Beltran said. He said that foreign investors and the local
business community were already seriously alarmed over the various reports and
studies exposing the extent of the fiscal crisis, and have most likely demanded
that Malacanang immediately cease and desist from issuing more statements
regarding the same.

"But President Arroyo is not fooling anybody. The most crucial economic
indicators and the visible, palpable increase in the number of jobless and
impoverished Filipinos are more than proof of the seriously deteriorating
state of the economy. She did not announce anything new when she first
admitted the existence of a fiscal crisis, but she's not convincing anyone now
when she says the worse is already over."

The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker however challenged Malacanang to scrap
its tax proposals. "Given that the president is already crowing that the
economy has already improved in the last few months, then that's added
reason why the infamous proposed tax measures she's pushing Congress to pass
should be scrapped," he said. "And in any case, these new tax measures on one
side, and the tax amnesty proposals on the other are sure to contribute to
the economic slide," he said.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
American investors demanding more perks, exploiting GMA's desperation to
improve RP-US relations

In the meantime, Beltran expressed outrage over reports that American
businessmen in the Philippines are proposing a series of drastic reform
measures for government that include legalizing jueteng and reimbursing foreign
investors of their tax credits. He said that the reelection victory of Goerge
W. Bush has made American businesses in the country more arrogant and
demanding.

"They're well aware that political relations between the RP and the US are
chilly, and that Pres. Arroyo is very inclined towards pleasing US authorities
- including business interests to mend these relations," he said. "They're
taking advantage of Pres. Arroyo's renewed groveling attitude to push for
more perks from the government."

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) has drawn up
another list demands to supposedly make the country more attractive to foreign
investments.Also in the AmCham's list of fiscal recommendations is to impose
the proposed new revenue measures such as a tax on text messaging, and increase
VAT on entertainers, lawyers and other professionals should not receive while
exempting foreign investors from the VAT.

The AmCham advocacy paper listed the factors necessary to attract more foreign
investments such as an amended Constitution to allow foreign ownership, improve
infrastructure, improved governance, slow population growth, accelerated legal
reform, improving English and improved security.

The group also urged the administration to streamline immigration procedures,
overhaul the Labor Code, agree to open skies for passengers and cargoes,
conclude free-trade agreements with major
trading partners, give no unscheduled holidays and reduce regulatory agencies.

"All of these are proposals that will further undermine the economy, attack
the rights of workers and the other laboring sectors while bringing more
superprofits for foreign businesses. These proposals are contemptible and
should be opposed by nationalist economists and local businesses who are also
victimized by the unfair competition these foreign investors bring," he
said.#

NR1030: No to lateral attrition

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release October 30 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Anakpawis solons to oppose Malacanang's lateral attrition bill in
Congress

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that Malacanang is also
leaning on Congress to immediately approve the lateral attrition bill or "AN
ACT PROVIDING FOR THE OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE IN REVENUE COLLECTION THROUGH THE
GRANT OF SPECIAL INCENTIVES AND REWARDS FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE AND THROUGH
LATERAL ATTRITION IN REVENUE GENERATING AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES" which was recently finalized by the House Committee on Civil
Service and Regulation second week of October. The bill is up for second
reading in Congress.

Beltran said that the lateral attrition bill has sparked protests and will
continue do so among thousands of government employees all over the country.
Beltran said that the bill was both callous and unjust as it attacks the
inherent right of employees to security of tenure and the right to due
process.
He said that it was unjust and immoral that the government is using its
employees as scapegoats for its own shortcomings.

"The country's revenue shortfall can be attributed to various reasons, and
certainly not the exclusive accountability of the employees of the cited
revenue generating agencies. Together with the new debts are new impositions of
the foreign multi-lateral financial institutions such as IMF, WB and ADB and
agreements under the WTO and other regional trade pacts. This means more
neo-liberal policies such as tariff reduction, removal of quantitative
restrictions, liberalization and privatization that has been bleeding the
economy further dry. "

Employees from the National Housing Authority, National Food Authority, Bureau
of Plants Industry, Bureau of Animals Industry, National Irrigation
Administration, National Printing Office, National Telecommunications Office,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, MMDA, Department of Social
Welfare and Development, PTV 4, Philippine Postal Corporation-QC Branch are up
in arms against any and all plans of lay-offs. In the immediate firing line of
the attrition bill are employees from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of
Customs, and other government finance and collection agencies.

"The bill is essentially a retrenchment bill - a plan of action on how to
streamline the bureaucracy regardless of the rights of employees and the impact
on their lives an livelihood," he said. Beltran said that over 420,000 employees
stand to be affected if the bill is passed into law.

Beltran said that the lay-offs being pushed by the attrition bill are arbitrary
because there's already a specified number of employees that are targeted for
lay-off. "Arbitrary because the reasons why they will be laid are beyond the
power or control of the employees mainly the low collections of their
respective agencies and the worsening fiscal crisis of the national government.
Most definitely, the lateral attrition bill is, anyone would surely agree,
biased against employees," he said.

Beltran said that the system of lateral attrition is tantamount to 'technical
dismissal' and 'reduction in status' as far as transfer in post or assignment
is concern.

"According to the Magna Carta of Labor- transfer should be with consent and with
basis and contested (as sustained by Supreme Court decisions); but in the
proposed meaures, transfer is being a made a form of penalty. Due process in
mandatory in transfer and lay-off, but the proponents of the bill have done
away with it, and made the general considerations of collection the over-all
factor most determinant in the transfer or outright lay-off," he said.

The veteran labor leader turned lawmaker said that it is usually expedient to
blame the the rank ad employees for the low collections due to their alleged
graft and corruption and inefficiencies.

"But as being exposed in the most shocking ways in the last few months,
corruption is systemic and systematic in all agencies of government. Selected
employees involved in petty graft were paraded as authorities' good catch and
punished, while the so-called 'big fish' - high level bureaucrats and cronies
are spared. Even the lifestyle check of the government was meant to demonize
the employees of the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue in order
to justify the passage of bills that seek to reorganize and privatized the said
agencies," he pointed out.#

NR1103:Beltran questions merger of support agencies

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 3 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Solon supports investigation into Malacanang's plans to merge profiting
livelihood fund agency with losing government corporation; questions
Malacanang's motivations

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today called for investigations onto
Malacanang's plans to merge the National Livelihood Support Fund (NLSF) and the
People's Credit and Finance Corp (PCFC). Employees of the NLSF are opposed to
the move, saying that putting their agency under the supervision of the PCFC
will mean the depletion of the NLSF funds. According to the employees, NLSF
funds are in danger of being utilized to pay off the PCFC's foreign debts, and
the merger could very well possibly result in the lay-off of NLSF employees. The
NLSF is said to h very liquid assets, earning more than a hundred million pesos
per annum.

According to reports, the NLSF's function of engaging in microfinance lending
operations has now been stopped; this at the expense of agrarian reform
beneficiaries, overseas Filipino workers, coconut farmers and youth
organizations. The merger will also result in the dissolution of the PCFC's
debts to the NLSF amounting to P1.05 billion.

"Why the merger and why now? It's highly illogical and very suspicious that an
agency's that losing money should be put in charge of another agency that's
making a profit and proving itself financially viable," Beltran pointed
out."Even from a strictly business view, the merger does not make sense.
Malacanang's approval for such a merger between these agencies exposes
questionable motives. The employees of the NLSF have reason to be suspicious
and to raise an alarm. At the least, the NLSF's function of providing funds for
projects for impoverished and marginalized sectors should be protected, subject
to possible review and assessment. But to put the NLSF's finances under the
rationalization program and of another government corporation that's been
slowly going belly-up is very questionable and should be investigated," he
added.

"It would be very interesting to hear directly from Malacanang its reasons for
authorizing the merger. This could well be yet another plot of Malacanang to
centralize all available government funds under its roof and direct supervision,
to dispose of at whim and wish," he said. He also said that assertions from
defenders the merger that the there will be no commingling of funds between the
agencies were doubtful. "Mergers are usually motivated by financial
considerations," he said

Beltran said that the employees' allegation that the involvement of the NAPC in
the formulation of the merger IRR was politically motivated should also be
investigated. According to the employees, the new NAPC chair Imelda Nicolas is
close to Malacanang and has the president's ear.

"It's evident that President Arroyo is trying to build up her image as a friend
of the urban poor, and she is focusing on building homes for the urban poor.
This would have been a good idea, except for the glaring fact that her housing
program is one that's beyond the reach of the urban poor and low-income
families. This is where the Napc comes in, and soon enough, no doubt it will be
discovered that the other agencies of government dealing with urban poor housing
and welfare are involved in these anomalous merger plans," he said.

"There's no doubt that this is the first step towards definite privatization.
There is an ongoing trend in the national government to privatize all its
financial institutions with income-generating function. This is one of
prescriptions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB)
to supposedly help the government generate finances that, in turn, will be used
to pay off foreign debt and other accountabilities," he said.

According to reports, the implementing rules and regulations are being drafted
by the Landbank of the Philippines and the National Anti-Poverty Commission
(NAPC), and are said to be biased against the interest of the NLSF. The veteran
labor leader said that the merger or at least the transfer of the NLSF's
financial operations to the PCFC was very similar to a previous move
implemented by the national government to transfer the Overseas Workers Welfare
Administration's (OWWA) Medicare funds to Philhealth. The move was questioned
by migrants organizations; they said that the fund transfer was illegal and
detrimental to the welfare of OFWs and their families, while benefiting Pres.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's then burgeoning campaign for a second term of office.
#

NR1103: Defeat for Bush

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release November 3 , 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
Visit geocities.com/ap_news

Freedom and democracy loving peoples crossing fingers for a Bush defeat;
Malacanang hoping for Bush victory out of political convenience and expediency
- Rep. Beltran

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that George W. Bush' defeat
the polls would be the victory of millions of citizens, not just Americans,
and would be hailed by all freedom and justice-loving peoples.

"Bush does not deserve a second term. What he deserves is immediate trial and
imprisonment for the countless crimes he has committed against humanity -
particularly the people of Afghanistan and Iraq," he said. "A second term for
Bush can only means greater suffering for the people of Iraq and other nations
victimized by the American government's inhumane economic and political
policies and military hegemony."

Beltran, chairman of the International League of People's Struggles (ILPS) which
has over 900 member organizations in 45 countries all over the world, said that
a Bush victory would inevitably result in intensified global political
instability, as well as worsened security problems for the US.

In the meantime, the veteran labor leader said that despite Malacanang's refusal
to admit it, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is in truth batting for Bush.
"Pres. Arroyo has benefited much from Bush' support, and she has cultivated
diplomatic ties with his administration to ensure the security and survival of
her own office. Suffice it to say, it will be beneficial for Malacanang if Bush
remains in office because a new president in the White House would mean new
dialogues, new negotiations, and new terms of agreement between the two
governments," he said.

"If Bush wins, Malacanang will be falling all over itself congratulating him.
Without a doubt, Pres. Arroyo will be heaving a sigh of relief because there
will be no need for renegotiations on bilateral trade and political agreements
with the US government."

Beltran said that the only way Bush could secure a large victory over contender
Sen. John Kerry would be through massive cheating. "He's done it before, and he
isn't above doing it again," he said. "Up to now, millions question his 2001
victory over Al Gore," he said.

Beltran said that if he wins, the challenge for Sen. Kerry would be to undo the
damage Bush has wrought in the US economy, and remedy America's destructive
foreign policy vis-à-vis Iraq and the international community regarding the
so-called war against terrorism.

"Kerry would prove to be no different from Bush if he will only continue to
implement the policies his predecessor has pushed with such vicious
determination against the will of the American people and the international
community. He will also reap the same outrage if he does not make a radical
shift from Bush' economic, political and military policies." he said. #

Palace superbody is "image reengineering" machinery - solon

Office of Representative RAFAEL V. MARIANO
South Wing - 615, House of Representatives
Constitution Hills, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. No. 931-6397& 931-5001 loc. 7314

NEWS RELEASE
October 22, 2004

References:
Rep. RAFAEL MARIANO, ANAKPAWIS Party-list (0920-4516504)
Jim Fernando, Public Information Officer (0921-3838393)

Palace superbody is “image reengineering” machinery – solon

Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano today described
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s newly created Office of External
Affairs (OEA) as an “image reengineering” machinery to save the
administration from increasing political isolation from the Filipino
people.

Reports cited that the OEA is emerging as a “superbody” and appears to
duplicate the work of regular line agencies and forms part of the
President’s policy of political accommodation.

“Aside from being a dumping ground (of presidential appointees) and
bureaucratic duplication, the OEA will serve to repackage the image of
the President,” says Mariano.

“The creation of the OEA is an open admission that the President is
suffering from increasing political isolation and that her policies and
programs does not enjoy people’s participation and support,” Mariano
stressed.

“No amount of public relations and cosmetic surgery can save the
President from increasing political isolation,” he added.

The peasant lawmaker said that “Ms Macapagal’s failure to address the
problems of landlessness, hunger and poverty coupled with the soaring
prices of oil, water and electricity rates, basic goods and services,
and the imposition of unjust taxes could hardly rebuild her worn-out
image.”

“The OEA will surely fail in its so-called job to bring the government
closer to the people and the people closer to the government,” he said.
“This so-called superbody is expected to end up a weakling.” #