MEDIA ADVISORY - People’s Food Summit

Urban Rural Poor in Solidarity

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

People’s Food Summit

Leaders of various industry associations, fisherfolks, labor, academe, youth, professionals, religious and civil society groups will join hands with farmer-producers and urban poor consumers in calling for action to avert the food crisis at a People’s Food Summit to be held on April 2, 2008, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the UP-SOLAIR Auditorium, University of the Philippines-Diliman, Quezon City.

The summit will present to the public a People’s Declaration on the Emerging Food Crisis. Its call is: Affordable, Accessible and Adequate Food for All!

The People’s Summit is intended to coincide with the government’s food summit to be held April 4. It represents the thinking of the groups that will be most affected by the crisis.

We hope to meet you there.

Photo ops: All present will sign a large copy of the People’s Declaration.

Date : April 2, 2008 (Wednesday) / 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Venue: UP-SOLAIR Auditorium, U.P. - Diliman, Q.C.

Co-sponsored by the Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition, Urban Poor Alliance, Pambansang Ugnayan ng mga Nagkakaisang Organisasyon sa Kanayunan, Kilusang Mangingisda, KAMMMPI, Mamamayan para sa Pagpapaunlad at Pagpapanatili ng Lawa ng Laguna, Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise Foundation, Urban Poor Associates, Community Organizers Multiversity, Zone One Tondo Organization, Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lunsod, PHILSSA, Partnership for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Services, R-10 Navotas Alliance, Ugnayang Lakas ng mga Apektadong Pamilya sa Baybaying Ilog Pasig, Kabalikat-BASECO, SAPAR-South Rail, Manila Estero Informal Settlers Alliance, Samahan ng taga Estero Pasay, Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Batilyo-Navotas, Malabon Brgy. Volunteers Assoc., Fair Trade Alliance, Women Health, Stop Laiban Dam Coalition, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Haydee Yorac Movement, PADAYON, Partido Manggagawa, Peace Foundation Inc., KABABAIHAN Pilipinas, SANLAKAS, FoodFirst Information and Action Network, MFDC,PEACE Foundation, Alliance of Rural Concerns

Pantranco compound residents pack up for demolition

03/28/2008 | 07:48 AM



32,000 shanties along Laguna de Bay shoreline to be demolished - LLDA

Media Advisory : People’s Forum on Hunger

Urban Rural Poor Solidarity

c/o Urban Poor Associates

25A Mabuhay Street, Brgy. Central, Quezon City 1100, Philippines

Tels. (+632) 426-4119 – 426-7615 Telefax (+632) 426-4118



Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY


People’s Forum on Hunger



It is our pleasure to invite you to attend the People’s Forum on Hunger to be held on March 28, 2008 (Friday), 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Conrado Benitez Hall, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM) Building. PRRM is located at 56 Mother Ignacia Avenue corner Dr. Lazcano Street, Quezon City.



The forum is a synthesis of sectoral workshops on situations and recommendations as well as policy proposals to address the emerging food crisis.



Photo ops: Provided by farmers, fisherfolk, urban poor, labor and women’s groups.



P R O G R A M



9:00am - 9:05am Welcome Remarks



9:05am - 9:10am Overview & Objective of the Forum



9:10am - 9:40am Topic: Food Security Challenge the Global Perspective



9:40am - 10:10am Topic: Political Economy of the Philippines on Food Crisis



10:10am - 10:40am Topic : Critique of the Gov’t Hunger Mitigation Program



10:40am - 11:00am Break



11:00am - 12:00nn Panel of Reactor



12:00nn - 12:30pm Open Forum



12:30pm - 1:30pm Lunch Break



1:30pm - 3:30pm Group Discussion



3:30pm - 5:00pm Plenary Report

Synthesis /Closing Remarks

Kalbaryo ng Maralita 2008 - Statement of the Poor

KALBARYO NG MARALITA 2008
March 18, 2008


STATEMENT OF THE POOR


Our Kalbaryo of the Urban and Rural Poor reminds all Filipinos that the sufferings of Jesus in His Passion and Death are repeated today in the poor. That is the message of the Kalbaryo. “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me,” Jesus tells us in Matthew’s Gospel (Mt 25), where He is speaking of the hungry, homeless and persecuted.

The sufferings of Jesus were, as we know, scourging, crucifixion, carrying of the cross, a crown of thorns and a very painful death. Along the way he was mocked and insulted. The sufferings of the poor are: evictions, homelessness, hunger, landlessness, injustice, joblessness, lack of dignity and powerlessness. In God’s eyes they are one.

The poor will join with all who are willing to struggle to end corruption. We have more reason to do so than anyone else. In our country it is possible to trace a direct connection between the sins of the powerful and the sufferings of the poor. Corruption is the cause of hunger. The $130 million said to have gone to “commissions” and kickbacks in the ZTE/NBN affair could have doubled the food budget of our 25,000 Baseco and Parola poor families for three years.

Now they have P100/a day for food for a family of five. Barely enough to survive day to day. If they had the $130 million stolen by the corrupt they would have P200/a day for three years, which is enough for some rice, meat, fish, eggs, milk and healthy children.

We will work with all who want to share the wealth of the Philippines that God has given us among all His children and not just the powerful and well off.

We hope to unite among ourselves, urban and rural, fisherfolk, indigenous persons, and in a non-violent, democratic manner build a society of justice and prosperity for all. And in this way we hope to build the Church of the poor.

We ask for the cooperation of all groups in society who are so committed. We especially want the support of the Church and its cooperation. The Church has been our most dependable ally.

We believe there can be no solution to the country’s problems unless the poor, who are at least 50% of the population, are involved in the reform process. Can a patient be cured without his or her knowledge and cooperation?

The poor must be involved in all the phases of reform – in the planning, in the implementation and in the enjoyment of the good results of reform.

We thank everyone for coming. God bless us all.


URBAN and RURAL POOR SOLIDARITY

Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition, Urban Poor Alliance, Pambansang Ugnayan ng mga Nagkakaisang Organisasyon sa Kanayunan, Sumilao Farmers, Task Force Mapalad, Kilusang Mangingisda, KAMMMPI, Mamamayan para sa Pagpapaunlad at Pagpapanatili ng Lawa ng Laguna, Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise Foundation, Urban Poor Associates, Community Organizers Multiversity, PHILSSA, PARRDS, R-10 Navotas Alliance, ULAP, Kabalikat-BASECO, SAPAR-South Rail, Manila Estero Informal Settlers Alliance, Samahan ng taga Estero Pasay, Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Batilyo-Navotas, Malabon Brgy. Volunteers Asso., NLU-KAAKBAY, NLU-FTA, AIWA/PMA, Women Health, Stop Laiban Dam Coalition, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Haydee Yorac Movement, PADAYON, Partido Manggagawa



Some Issues of the Poor:

Urban Poor

· No Eviction without decent relocation
· Upgrade all proclaimed areas
· Increase fund and improve administration of the Community Mortgage Program and the Social Housing Finance Corporation


Rural Poor

· Extend coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program for another 10 years
· Harmonize land rights of farmers and indigenous people’s rights of ancestral domain
· Protect municipal fishers from trawlers
· Protect subsistent fishers and increase their incomes
· Give justice to Sumilao and Hacienda Yulo farmers
· Oppose large scale mining that harms the environment or violate rights of indigenous communities.

MEDIA ADVISORY: KALBARYO NG MARALITA 2008

Attention: News Editor, News Desk, Reporters and Photojournalists

MEDIA ADVISORY

KALBARYO NG MARALITA 2008

KATOTOHANAN KATARUNGAN PANANAGUTAN PAGBABAGO

In observance of the Holy Week, the urban poor are celebrating their annual “Kalbaryo ng Maralita” on March 18 (Tuesday) and this year it is done in partnership with farmers, fisherfolks, indigenous people, formal and informal labor groups.

The Kalbaryo reminds Philippine society that the suffering of Jesus in His Passion and death are repeated today in the suffering imposed on the poor by forced evictions, homelessness, hunger, landlessness, injustice, joblessness, lack of dignity and powerlessness. “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me” (Mt. 25)

The Kalbaryo will begin at the Philippine National Railway (PNR) España Station (just South of España Ave.) and end with Mass at San Sebastian Church with Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez and priests at about 12:00 noon.

Over 1,200 poor people from different parts of Metro Manila and farmers, including those from Sumilao, Bukidnon and the Yulo estate in Laguna will gather at the railroad station at 8:00 AM and march towards Loreto Church, Mendiola and San Sebastian Church, following the traditional stations as they go.

The Kalbaryo will begin on the railroad tracks to remind everyone over 100,000 families have been or will be evicted from the railroad right of way from Clark Field to Calamba to prepare for the Northrail and Southrail Projects. Many have not received decent relocation.

Urban poor issues are contained in the CBCP Pastoral Statement on Homelessness of January 2007, namely, forced evictions, upgrading of urban poor areas and funding for Community Mortgage Program and other programs that help the urban poor. Farmer issues include continuation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) with reforms, and justice in special cases, for example, Sumilao and Hacienda Yulo.

Photo ops: The procession will be led by 7 men bearing the crosses of the poor families. There will be photo ops at the Stations of the Cross along the way.

Date: March 18, 2008 (Tuesday)

Time: Gather at 8:00 AM

Assembly point: Philippine National Railway (PNR) Station, España Avenue


URBAN and RURAL POOR SOLIDARITY

Task Force Anti-Illegal Demolition, Urban Poor Alliance, Pambansang Ugnayan ng mga Nagkakaisang Organisasyon sa Kanayunan, Sumilao Farmers, Task Force Mapalad, Kilusang Mangingisda, KAMMMPI, Mamamayan para sa Pagpapaunlad at Pagpapanatili ng Lawa ng Laguna, Community Organization of the Philippine Enterprise Foundation, Urban Poor Associates, Community Organizers Multiversity, PHILSSA, PARRDS, R-10 Navotas Alliance, ULAP, Kabalikat-BASECO, SAPAR-South Rail, Manila Estero Informal Settlers Alliance, Samahan ng taga Estero Pasay, Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Batilyo-Navotas, Malabon Brgy. Volunteers Asso., NLU-KAAKBAY, NLU-FTA, AIWA/PMA, Women Health, Stop Laiban Dam Coalition, Freedom from Debt Coalition, Haydee Yorac Movement, PADAYON, Partido Manggagawa

3/16/2008 03:35:00 PM

Scores hurt in Quezon City demolition

03/05/2008 | 12:02 PM



MMDA starts demolition of market near Philcoa
03/05/2008 | 10:33 AM

Demolition at market turns violent
03/05/2008 | 07:21 PM




Portion of Philcoa Market demolished Wednesday
03/05/2008 | 07:39 AM




Scores hurt in Quezon City demolition

Five hurt in violent MMDA demolition in QC

18 hurt in Quezon City market demolition