Kaya Natin!

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/may/29/yehey/opinion/20090529opi6.html

Homestretch. It is usually at this time that we see acts of heroism in our athletes—their one big fight, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles would put it. While some would debate the idea of waiting till the last minute to perform crucial acts needed to win the game, still there is that final inning, those final two minutes, that final time-out. And I think, our politicians—our legislators in particular, may want to make use of these last session days to be real statesmen and women by enacting into law some of the things our country badly needs.

The deadline for the Extension and Reform of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform (CARPER) law is fast approaching. We recall that over two million of our farmers continue to be landless and in a country that prides itself in still being 70-percent to 80-percent agricultural. This figure simply cannot be taken lightly. Still flawed in several aspects, the CARP nevertheless would have provided millions of our hard working farmers an opportunity to finally have titles to their own land. Our lawmakers extended it until June 30 but haven’t passed the necessary new law that would guarantee its existence until the work of CARP is completed.

Given the current composition of our Congress, expecting the landed majority there to have the political will and self-sacrificing love of country to pass an entirely new act that will address the skewed distribution of lands in our country is perhaps unlikely. For once the extension lapses on June 30, then it will be much harder to pass a new and reformed CARPER.

The House of Representatives will adjourn on June 5 and if by that time they fail to pass CARPER, then all efforts for a genuine land reform program will be put to a halt. And given that the State of the Nation Address and Elections are right around the corner, we can pretty much assume that efforts toward this end will be forgotten forever.

Freedom of Information Act

Another piece of legislation that calls for immediate action of our Senate is the passage of the Freedom of Information Act. The bill (HB3732) passed the Lower House’s third reading last May 12, 2008 and is still pending in the Senate. Democracy cannot blossom on the soil-bed of the ignorant masses. Ours is still a young and fledgling democracy. We need to give our people the tools to properly take part and contribute to the building up our nation and in this, access to information is key. The recent controversies we have faced as a nation were, in one way or another, caused by lack of transparency and access of the people to information. It is imperative for the Senate to prioritize this bill—if the senators really want democracy to flourish in our country.

Lip-service and mere politicking are what from our public officials who do not stand up and fight for things that empower us, the citizens. Their pledges to fight for noble causes, to reduce poverty and to eradicate graft and corruption are but empty words and promises for when push comes to shove they do not deliver. Being in public service is not all sound-bites and building a good image. It is more importantly about fighting for the Filipino people and giving them the tools to help build this nation up. Fundamental to these tools are land for the farmer and information to the public. Without them, our hands will forever be tied to the feudal forces who wish only to perpetuate themselves, their families, friends and supporters and to increase their wealth and power.

Many civil society groups including Kaya Natin’s local government leaders and the Catholic Church have already expressed their support for CARPER and the passage of the Freedom of Information Act.

In this final homestretch before the final buzzer, let’s hope our other leaders in government would fight the good fight and give us, the people, One Big Fight!

We must punish those who don’t in 2010.