Wielding my thoughts for 2022 with deep resolve

 

Dear friends, You all have made my 2021 bearable in many ways.

The past two years have been dystopic for most of us.

Covid 19 altered many ways of doing things: ways of formal learning, conduct of careers, livelihood, travel & leisure took a backseat.

Many of us are into a work from home set- up which is mostly done digitally.

Group meetings & conferences are being done online;

food & basic necessities are being ordered online, too.

But, there are really many things like services which cannot be downloaded online.

To keep our sanity, we planted greens & flowers, watched films & shared notes on what K dramas to watch on Netflix;

reading or entertainment is the escape mode.

Covid 19 is forever mutating & as I write this, new variants are emerging, along with Omicron.

It seems that we will have to live with this virus & mutants for a long time.

As determined by Charles Darwin, ages ago, adaptation to these changes (& of course preparation) are the ways to go to survive.

We had worst moments, too: not only that our homes were destroyed by changing climates & human folly but lives were lost, too, in the name of laws & enforcement that are unjust and inhuman.

My wishes for 2022 are focused on the May elections & electoral - agenda - compliance - monitoring after the elections which should be part of our duties as citizens towards our common causes.

I hope that from here-on, we think seriously of the May 2022 elections & choose well our next leaders.

Surveys in the run up to elections, which are pictures at points in time, can still change. There is plenty of time.

The campaign period still has to start in February 8, 2022, for national candidates.

Messages can be manipulated in a way that the masses of voters who are earning less than the minimum wage can believe in some fake “golden” promises.

Machinery, money, & mind manipulation in media & even in academia can make an incompetent win.

For now, each voter thinks that her/his vote cannot win a candidate. Or that whether or not, s/he condones vote buying will not matter as governance will go on, whoever wins.

Which is why, it is important to look at the background & track record & competencies of candidates.

Let us choose the best candidate who can represent us & who can deliver what we hold dear in our hearts: our children’s future, employment & livelihood for all, policies & programs which will ensure the enforcement of our basic social & economic rights.

The good governance narratives are well known to the literati in academia & in the world of social development.

I hope that these narratives are translated to policies that will have impact at village levels. Cheers, I. B. Solamo

Isabelita Solamo: The Philssa project* on Women's Access to Justice: The Message on Women In Conflict With The Law (WICL) & Evolving Interventions In The Time of The Pandemic

Introduction 

How does PHILSSA and the partners ensure a consistent message on Women in Conflict with the Law (WICL)?

There are constant messages which pertain to fundamental human rights but our interventions will have to adapt to the onerous conditions experienced by women in conflict with law in the time of this COVID 19 pandemic.

On Nov 20, 2020, there was a whole team workshop which initially discussed the meaning of WICL & which was pursued by sharing the project documents to the whole team such as the call for proposal by UN Women & other documents. PILIPINA, an implementing partner of this project shared to us that there is a provision in the Magna Carta of Women that includes women in detention under the section on Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances.

Community profiles on WICL in target communities were empirically obtained through a study led by JJCICSI, the project’s partner on Research, Advocacy & Monitoring. PILIPINA, the project’s local implementing partner in Metro Manila & Tambayan, the local implementing partner in Davao City mobilized the target communities for data collection.

These community profiles enriched the meaning of WICL, which became the project’s empirically verifiable message on WICL and which was shared to stakeholders & appropriate government agencies.

The project’s template for gathering data on the community profiles pertaining to women in conflict with the law (WICL) was designed to provide a picture of the actual conditions of WICL in nine (9) communities in two metropolitan Ph cities.

These community profiles were some of the major messages communicated during the March 10, 2021 national project launch as well as our March 23 local launch.

As well, in that forum on WICL, SALIGAN, the project’s implementing partner for Legal Literacy & Legal Services shared both the content & method of training women as paralegals, which will be the community advocates for WICL.

All the above implementing partner organizations have activity plans which outline expected output, methods & messaging which are discussed with the whole project team. 

Initial Conversations about WICL

The messages below were sent to the whole team of Philssa – UN Women A2J Project on Nov 26, 2020, after the Nov 20 whole team workshop, which saw the need to clarify the meaning of WICL as a project team.

The meaning of Women in Conflict with the Law, (WICL) as currently used in development circles is that it is a concept used in in relation to women's - access -  to justice, as a right itself & access to justice programs are some of the development interventions. 

The right of access to justice as based in UN CEDAW is a fundamental component of the rule of law, good governance, & human rights guarantees.

From the UN Call for our current A2J proj (CFP No. CFP-PHL-2020-001)
we found the following: 

 

Activity 1: Increase awareness of women’s rights among women and communities

This activity will focus on supporting women to navigate the formal and informal justice systems available to them in the context of women in conflict with the law. (underscoring mine) 

The project is underpinned by empowerment objectives which mean that approaches will not be prescribed for the women and there will be no control over how women choose to use the information received.
Instead, tools and activities to support women’s legal literacy will be developed.
These may include awareness raising tools to support women’s understanding of their formal and informal justice options after being charged with a drug crime from interactions with law enforcement and preliminary hearings through to plea-bargaining and post-custodial rehabilitation options.
(underscoring mine)

▪ Provide high-quality legal literacy and access to justice services to women in conflict with the law including in the context of drug crimes. The legal literacy services should bridge formal and informal justice sectors and incorporate psychosocial support for women. 
Source: https://www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20eseasia/docs/tor/2020/01/20200110_phl_cfp_a2j.pdf?la=en&vs=3309

Another conceptual & contextual meaning comes from oh.chr.org: 

"....the standards and norms that are applicable to ensuring that women in conflict with the law are not denied justice services at any stage of the justice chain.

"Using the three programming entry points outlined in the Introduction and Module 1
(creating an enabling environment for women’s access to justice; creating effective, accountable and gender-responsive justice institutions; and legally empowering women), it highlights how these standards and norms can be applied in practice through crime prevention, protection while in detention or prison...." 

Source: Women in Conflict with the Law


The Project Method

The ff. common strategy  as written in the Philssa project design submitted to UN Women was cascaded to communities in both Quezon City & Davao City in implementing an access to justice project as an intervention to address the fundamental rights of women in conflict with the law: 

1. To empower whole communities thru paralegal training, legal clinics, & connecting communities with a pool of advocates & service providers such as health services, i.e women on probation report to health centers, economic opportunities, & their reintegration to community life. 

2. To engage with justice actors (formal & informal) & legislators at local & national levels for changes in the policy arena for wide impact that will cascade thru line agencies at village/barangay levels &

3. To demonstrates how women, WICL & communities can access justice, engage with justice actors for empowerment through policy advocacy & community based strategies -  in the time of the pandemic ( an added strategy in the time of the pandemic) 

The Community Profile: Data on WICL shared by Isabelita Solamo during the March 23 Davao City Local Launch
Source: The DATA on WICL comes from the PHILSSA - UNW Project.  
JJCICSI, an implementing partner of the project, developed the research design. PILIPINA & Tambayan helped develop the template & mobilized data collection in the communities of both Davao City & Quezon City.

a) Common Offenses as gathered by the project partners & shared during the
    national WICL Forum in March 10 & during the Davao City launch on March 23, 2021

1. Among the 5 barangays in Quezon City and the two barangays in Davao, the most number of women reported to have committed an offense or violated a law were involved in quarantine violations.  

2. With a total of 772 cases in only 4 out of the 7 barangays, this suggests that the way the government has responded to the pandemic has put many women at risk of getting in conflict with the law.   

3. A far second was physical injury

4. The third most common offense was drug use or possession, theft and swindling (or estafa).  A few cases of child abuse, rioting, vagrancy and adultery were reported

b) Offenses Settled in Barangay

Alleged offenses committed by women which have been settled by the barangay are: physical injury, theft, swindling, collection of debt, rent or money, cyberbullying, harassment, or practically all forms of offenses with the EXCEPTION of drug abuse or possession, and child abuse. 

c) Drug Watch List Women comprise a significant proportion, or 11%, of persons in the barangay drug watch list since 2016. 

In a barangay in Quezon City as much as 50% or half of those on the barangay drug watch list are women.  This suggests that the anti-illegal drug campaign of the government has also put many women at risk of coming into conflict with the law. d) Government Programs

Government programs that aim to assist families and children of women who either get detained or killed due to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign include: financial assistance, provision of food support, livelihood training and, in one instance, educational scholarship through the city’s partnership with a private educational institution.

e) Women in Detention The number of women who had been in detention for at least a day during the past 12 months ranged from a low of 4 (in 2 barangays) to a high of 14 (also in 2 barangays).  

In Maa City Jail, a total of 259 women are detained in the facility, 8 of whom have received a conviction and are awaiting transfer to the BJMP.  This suggests a big number of women who are detained as their cases are still undergoing trial. The youngest detainee is 20 and the oldest 71.

In a meeting with the Ph representative to the Asean Commission for the Protection of Women & Children (ACWC), Undersecretary of DSWD, PCW, et al., the following was the tenor of the messaging by Isabelita Solamo, representing Philssa as Project Team Leader:

Women in Detention is mentioned in the Magna Carta of Women under Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances.

The data pertaining to congestion at the Correctional Institute of Women (CIW), which is under Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) & Dept of Justice (DOJ) were presented.

Women in CIW are serving their sentence. 

As well, women undergoing trial & waiting for the court decision are detained in jails such as the Ray of Hope Village Jail for women in Davao City, which is under BJMP & DILG.

PCW was exhorted that it is best to engage with both the DOJ & DILG on these concerns of congestion.

After the 2 min video presentation about the Ray of Hope Village, it was  mentioned that:

a) this jail was made possible in implementation of the Davao City Women & Development Code &
b) that the jail is also a project of women’s groups, particularly, WomeNet & the Transformative Justice Institute (TJI) & the City Government of Davao.

The policy proposal is that sensitizing the bureaucracy through PCW towards humane conditions of women in detention is in line towards the full implementation of the Magna Carta of Women.

And one way to do this is mainstreaming into local policy through LGUs the provision on Women in Especially Difficult Circumstances found in the Magna Carta of Women.

Part of the message was that Davao City has legislated “Support to Women in Detention” as a provision in the Women & Development Code of Davao City with Implementing Rules. (Section 68, Article 1X, City ordinance #5004 & EO #24. 
Therefore, other LGUs may also have the above provision in their GAD Code/Ordinance.

An inquiry was forwarded on what support systems are ready & enforceable at the DSWD for women in detention. USEC Luz Ilagan said that, yes, there are support systems but these benefits must be demanded/requested by women in detention.
And for this, USEC Luz Ilagan offered to discuss this in another meeting.

The Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Response

1) The Ray of Hope Village Jail in Davao City has already been chosen by PCW as one of PCW’s Local Learning Hubs & that some PCW staff have visited this women’s jail.

2) Anette Estrera-Baleda, Chief of PCW’s Policy Development, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PDPMED) shared that PCW has recently made initial initiatives in addressing issues of women in detention.

PCW has coordinated with appropriate agencies to promote observance of the UN Bangkok Rules for the treatment of prisoners & non - custodial measures for women offenders.

PCW has also recommended to the Working Group Finalizing the UN Joint Programme with the Philippines, the inclusion of the BJMP and other law enforcers in capacity development to enable them to address with gender-responsiveness the needs and concerns of women deprived of liberty.

The policy formulation was drafted by Philssa & based on the UN Rules for the treatment of women prisoners & non - custodial measures for women offenders.
(Bangkok Rules)

Likewise, formulation was also vetted by PCW through Ms Anette Baleda, head of PMED, PCW.  

The proposed policy recommendation was sent to the Ph representative to the Asean Commission for the Protection of Women & Children:

1)The Ray of Hope Village Jail in Davao City has been chosen by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) as one of PCW’s Local Learning Hubs, but to date, the jail needs improvement & attention by both BJMP & DILG.

2) For PCW to coordinate with both DOJ & DILG  to promote observance of the UN Bangkok Rules for the treatment of prisoners & non - custodial measures for women offenders.

3.) For the Philippine government to pursue the PCW recommendation to the Working Group Finalizing the UN Joint Program with the  Philippines, the inclusion of the BJMP and other law enforcers in capacity development to enable them to address the needs and concerns of women deprived of liberty
   with gender – responsiveness.

The above results of the meeting with ACWC, PCW, DSWD & Philssa were shared to the project whole team & to Ms Jona Ang of UN Women Update as of July 24, 2022: Women in Detention is now a project of the Asean Commission for the Protection of Women & Children (ACWC) which was promoted by Dr Lourdesita Chan, the PH Rep to the ACWC as a result of the sharing of this our UN Women - Philssa project on Access to Justice for Women.

A local advocacy pitch in Davao city through PILIPINA- Davao

At the level of Davao City, Isabelita Solamo, as Philssa's Project Team Leader & as Chair of PILIPINA Davao, convened a meeting with our group & Davao City Councilor Pilar Braga last Friday to among others discuss about the deteriorating condition of the Ray Of Hope Village jail since 2016 & as per the research of Dra Jean Lindo's Community Medicine class.

There was a positive response from Councilor Pilar who said that she will meet with Davao City Mayor Sara  & she will mention this concern. 

Tambayan Center was mentioned as the project’s local implementer in Davao City.

The PILIPINA Davao members, & particularly an Execom member who was active with Tambayan then & one of the founders of the Child Rights Network, are keen to pursue this with Tambayan.

The office of Davao City Councilor Pilar Braga who said that Davao City has funds for this, is also recommending that the project get data from the warden of the Ray of Hope Village Jail on what needs to be fixed particularly on how to address the current congestion, health & sanitation problems at the city jail as determined by the research of the Community Medicine class of Dr Jean Lindo.  Local & Executive Policy Advocacy: Protecting the Rights of Women In Conflict With The Law & Women Deprived of Liberty Through the Implementing Rules & Regulations (IRR) of a local ordinance (The 1997 Women’s Development Code of Davao City as amended in 2022) 

There was a July 23, 2021 Consultation Meeting Convened by the Davao City Integrated Gender & Development Division (IGDD) & the Chair of the City Legislative Committee on Women & Children

Our A2J project proposed formulation for the section on Women Deprived of Liberty were presented &  ‘screen shared’ today during the consultation on the
Implementing Rules & Regulation (IRR) of the Amended Women's Development Code of Davao City.

Our language map on the issue of Women in Conflict with the Law (WICL) will still have to be approved by the Davao City Legal Team since, this is an IRR and WICL as a term is not yet found in the amended Women's Development Code.

But, the lawyers of the teams today (IGDD & Legislative Committee on Women & Children) say that if WICL is part of the definition of terms then it is one way of introducing WICL as part of the IRR on Women Deprived of Liberty.

Another track offered by Councilor Richlyn Justol (Chair of Davao City Legislative Committee on Women & Children) is a separate ordinance on WICL.
This is a welcome move. Still, since ‘Women Deprived of Liberty’ is already in the provision of the main women’s code/ordinance, an IRR on it is already a must.

In one of the concluding remarks at the end, our proposed formulation was officially commended by Dr. Lourdesita Chan, Phil. Representative to the Asean Committee on the Protection of Women & Children (ACWC) who said that our proposal on women in detention & incarceration (her words) has undergone a process among local women leaders & has been elevated to higher government institutions already. (cf. Phil. Commission on Women (PCW) & Bureau of Jail & Penal Management/ BJMP)

The Proposed Formulation: *

Protecting the Rights of Women In Conflict With The Law & Women Deprived of Liberty

a) The rights of all women in conflict with the law (WICL) shall be protected throughout the justice continuum, including the pre-trial stage, arrest, detention or imprisonment, and re-integration in the community and society.

b) Speedy trial   of   their   cases   shall   be   ensured   by   all concerned. To
    ensure speedy trial of their cases, free legal  
   and adequate services, if opted by the detainee, shall be
   given to her by the local government.

 Alternatives to pre-trial detention shall be employed at an early stage as possible.

c) To adequately address the needs of WICL, especially those
    deprived of liberty, an appropriate program shall be
    designed to respond to their   specific   needs   and   
    issues.

This program for women deprived of liberty shall be guided  by international human rights standards such as the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (“Bangkok Rules” & the “Nelson Mandela Rules”)
 
Specifically, the program shall address the following concerns: * 

(1) admission requirements  

Prior to or on admission, women with caretaking responsibilities for children shall be permitted to make arrangements for those children, including the possibility of a reasonable suspension of detention, taking into account the best interests of the children.
Pregnant women shall also be afforded the same option for suspension of detention.
If upon medical examination the woman is found to have a health condition, she shall be provided the necessary medical services and facilities for treatment and/or rehabilitation.

(2) Health, sexual and reproductive health (SRHR) services

Women deprived of liberty shall be provided access to services and facilities that respond to their gender-based SRHR needs. These include provision of adequate underwear and sanitary pads, hygiene items, gynecological exams, prenatal and perinatal care and treatment, as well as nurseries and breastfeeding facilities for mothers.

(3) living space

     Women and men shall be detained in separate structures and spaces.

(4) Issues of congestion & situation of vulnerable populations (including pregnant women, women with comorbidities, women with disability, and elderly women) within detention facilities

(5) food
This includes proper diet for pregnant or breastfeeding women prisoners under a qualified health practitioner’s program.

(6) water and sanitation

(7) safety and security
 a) In a prison for both men and women, the part of the prison set aside for
     women shall be under the authority of a responsible woman staff member who
     shall have the custody of the keys of all that part of the prison.

 b) No male staff member shall enter the part of the prison set aside for women unless accompanied by a woman staff member.

 c)  Women prisoners shall be attended and supervised only by women staff

       members. (except for male staff members, particularly male doctors and male
                            teachers)

(8) Reintegration

This includes education, skills training, and other similar services given to women deprived of liberty while they’re waiting for or serving their sentence, as well as facilitation or provision of employment or livelihood opportunities while in the facility, & continuing with community-based support for reintegration after detention or imprisonment. 

* with inputs from Ms Jona Marie Ang & Luz Canave

Concluding Remarks

Women leaders in the communities which will be trained as paralegals will be the front liners in the defense of women in conflict with the law.

Empirically verifiable data from the communities are crucial in appropriate messaging & promoting policy recommendations to the Philippine bureaucracy.

The project’s study indicated that the majority of the women in the target communities who were reported to have violated a law were about quarantine violations. A simple analysis will point to the reality that women need to work & being locked in quarantine facilities denies them their daily subsistence.

There is a need to conflate socio – economic variables to the plight of women in conflict with the law.

The messaging about WICL based on realities on the ground will be an important ingredient in engaging with government agencies: DSWD for support services as one of the desired interventions for WICL & for the PCW to exhort CHR, DOJ & DILG in charge of jails & detention centers to observe the Bangkok Rules in the treatment of prisoners & for developing mechanisms for non – custodial measures for women.
* This PHILSSA project is supported with funds from UN Women

Development Tourism: Island Garden City of Samal, Davao

There are many nooks and corners to see in the Island Garden City of Samal, Davao, aside from its pristine beaches.

The Penaplata cove & Davao City on the horizon; ctto:Daphne Marante

Kaye at Isla Reta, Talicud Island, Samal, Davao 

          Babu Santa Beach, Samal, Davao;  Models: RN, Princess Urduja, Sheryl Love & moi 

There is a botanical garden in Bandera, one of the highest points of the island which is still unseen by many tourists. Barangay Bandera is literally cool and can potentially be made the vegetable and fruit capital of the island city. And as well, there are bat caves in these parts, aside from the famous Monfort Bat Cave Sanctuary. 

Botanical garden in Barangay Bandera; ctto: Jennifer Cariaga

Samal Island as seen from Lanang, Davao City
There is a beautiful rice valley in Barangay Aumbay which could use proper irrigation especially during dry spells. 

                                          View as seen from our farm in Barangay Bandera 
There is much to say about the political economy of vegetable growing in the island, but for now, let me just say that it is a pity that most vegetables for the island are still being sourced from Davao City.

Based on the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) maps, Samal island has no significant forest cover left. The forest cover in Samal City is down to 2,212 hectares out of a total land area of 30,130 has. The island’s slopeland areas, officially classified as those of a slope between 18% and 40% contain most of all farmers in the island. Based on Samal LGU data: the island is 34 kms long and 15 kms wide & characterized by mountain ranges at the east which is about 532 meters above sea level; the slopeland is about 116 kilometers and next in level from the seashore; forest constitutes only 8.55 % of total land use while agriculture constitutes 82.58 % of total land use.

Most of the people living in the island city are peasants and are mainly dependent on agriculture & fishing.

Because of obvious denudation, the siltation and flood which flows through its riverways to the sea will destroy the marine coral reefs and various marine fishes, if not addressed soon.
Current total population is about 95,874 (NCSB: 2010). Most farmers now cultivating on the slopelands of Samal Island are very poor; also the copra current price has gone to the floor. Farmers who are into grain farms use very few purchased inputs and adopt cultivation techniques which maximize current incomes but destructive in the long term. Which is why agro reforestation is really indicated in the slopelands & watersheds to conserve water and prevent siltation that ultimately drain to the beaches which are important for the island’s tourism industry and for the people’s livelihood.

It is good news that Talicud Islet (an island to watch) which abut the Celebes sea in the Samal group of islands is being developed as an open beach line islet with no barriers between beaches along its circumferential coastal perimeter. A direct sea route using fast boats can be had from Davao City and there will be no need to spend millions for horizontal highways. What the island needs are sea worthy boats and qualified boat crew who will pass the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) requirements, especially that the seas are rough during Southwest monsoons (Habagat).

               Talikud islet overlooking Samal Island headland; ctto:Jun Kong
                                         

To The Graduates

IT IS TRUE that life is about nature & nurture. As we like to say, biology is the cupcake while culture is the icing. Finding meaning in our lives is a lifelong affair. Believe in the meme that everything is learned & unlearned.
It is true that we are a people who believe in the value of a college education. But, life is also about options. And education is not the monopoly of academia. One of the messages of the K+12 government educational program is the option to find employment after spending more than a decade in school. Even if it is true that skills after high school is favorable to the capitalist labor market, the senior years in high school are not only about honing skills in trade, industry, entrepreneurship but also about science, the arts & humanities, too, which are all needed in life.

My niece, Zoe Solamo. Picture credit: Vanessa Solamo Merida

Data from the internet need to be analyzed as it may not be the truth. There is no one way of looking at the truth. The truth of the majority is oftentimes overrated; and as a tool in democracy or for crystallizing consensus, it can be challenged always. New normals are sprouting everyday in the name of political correctness. All time passions include multiculturalism, self determination, non discrimination based on sexual orientation/ gender identity, inclusion, equality, security, development, & human rights.
As you will find out, it matters if we look at life positively. I was reading again the 2008 speech of the Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, before the Harvard graduates and she talks about the benefits of failure and imagination. How she took refuge in reading and writing when life was at its ebb. She also talks about lifelong friendships built with fellow graduates who became godparents of her children. I resonate with this as I have also nurtured friendships with classmates and workmates. They are friendships which have paced not only across the years and across oceans but also in the choice of causes & community activism.

My sorority in college was founded by feminists & thus promoted principles of equality & development. Given the kind of fraternities we see around now, there is a need to revisit not only the violence that have visited these so called sisterhood/brotherhood enclaves but also the kind of exclusions all these have promoted. These enclaves whose admissions are based on archaic concepts of seniority & violence are anathema to solidarity & sharing. We can only rest assured if academia & our community will help ensure the enforcement of laws & policy instruments to regulate these fraternities which have been allowed in the name of the right to association.
Life is planned in cycles: 12 + 1 years of basic education, college & education all the way, work, love & marriage or having children, & retirement. It is ideal that your work is influenced by your passions. But, with poverty all around, it will be an insult to those who do not have options like yours to say that our life work should be something that we want and love. Many toil in less than ideal material conditions. And so, contributing your bit to make this world a better place is a cliché worth believing as an ideology.

This is also the part where we say that riches & fame are not the sole yardsticks of success. You will have to determine what is important to you. It must be said, too, that politics within your spheres of influence are powerful tools for forging all that is good for your community at large.

There are narratives to your life. It has a past, a present and a future. Imagine them well. The narratives can be reviewed, rewritten and "rebranded" for as long as you find them to be true and they are you.

My father, Inigo Solamo & I

Poverty Reduction: BARMM, NAPC, 4Ps

One of the reasons many of us in civil society say that we feel responsible for the problem of poverty in the country is that we have been engaging our government in writing into a law the policy for poverty reduction. The reason why the NGO movement regard the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act ( R.A. 8425) which created the National Anti- Poverty Commission (NAPC) as one of its gains is because, as NGOs, we participated in writing the narrative of this social reform agenda during the Ramos Administration.

We know that NAPC continues to engage fourteen (14) basic sectors in particular and the big civil society collective in general. This engagement is towards uniting the fourteen basic sectors in development sites and geographic areas. NAPC has been into policies which “correlates poverty programs with programs for promoting economic growth (and) dividing the country into three economic zones: 1) rural and peri-urban areas….(2) areas further away from urban growth centers but with good resource endowments and ; (3) areas with neither good resource nor logistical connections to urban areas.”

The one thing that must be understood up front is that this engagement is towards influencing policy as the NAPC is not a line agency implementing particular programs. The engagement of basic sectors is through partnership with government agencies because after all it is not the duty of NGOs to implement government programs. So, for example, the NAPC women sectoral council of the basic sector works in partnership with the Philippine Commission on Women, the urban poor sector works with the Phil Commission on the Urban Poor (PCUP).

What is the poverty picture of the Philippines? According to NAPC and the 2011 census: “more than one fourth are poor and ; we have been the only country in Asia where the absolute number of poor have increased ( over the years) from 1990 to 2005.”

Two key components of the NAPC anti poverty strategy which have always been challenges since time immemorial are the strategy for asset reform and employment.

Asset reform is about agrarian reform and the issue of ancestral domain.

Critics of the conditional cash transfer program (4Ps) say that providing employment is more crucial to poverty reduction. Of course, 4Ps or the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program which has been successful in other parts of the world such as in Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Africa is designed to address inter generational poverty by making sure that children have nutrition and are able go to school and the mothers’ health are taken care of. So, even if the 4Ps may not provide jobs now, at least, there is food on the table and the children are able to finish basic education and hopefully find jobs later thus breaking the cycle of poverty. This is what social protection is all about. This way also, we are able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs) as agreed by a community of nations.

Some members of the basic sectors want to participate in the identification of beneficiaries of this Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program. My sense is that such participation should only be in the area of policy or in setting the criteria for the process of selection of beneficiaries. Civil society or the basic sectors are advocacy partners but are not implementing partners of government programs.

In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), where majority of the country’s poor provinces are found, poverty reduction program is a crucial track to the peace process by addressing the roots of the armed conflict. Already, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has identified three (3) policy priorities:

a) transitional justice;

b) agrarian economy; &

c) electoral system

This will be a crucial track in the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) because aside from the issue of identity politics and feudal wars, one of the main reasons for the struggle with peace in most areas is poverty and hunger. In 2005, the Human Development Network in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), etc said “that deprivation and injustice rather than hardship alone, lie at the heart of armed conflict which can be empirically validated and demonstrated (and that) “measures of deprivation do predict the occurrence of armed encounters. Relative deprivation becomes more acute with minoritization.”