Wednesday, November 15, 2006 P2B spent for summit, say cause-oriented groups
CAUSE-ORIENTED groups are raising questions on the financial and social costs of the preparations for next month’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit.
In a forum yesterday, Mark Alabastro of Bukluran sa Ikauunlad ng Sosyalistang Isip at Gawa (BISIG) asked why the National Government spends over P2 billion for the summit preparations when there is a need to build 74,115 more classrooms, upgrade hospital and health care benefits and address the rising unemployment rate.
Alabastro also found it ironic that the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Cebu set aside a total of P200 million for the Asean preparations when they have debts to pay.
He added that Cebu City has about P6 billion debt incurred because of the South Road Properties (SRP) while Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu are borrowing money from the.
Alabastro also questioned other major financial costs, including the P450-million Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
Aside from that, he mentioned the P5 million for the training of taxi drivers, P7 million for the expansion of the airport ramp, and P105 million for the construction of a VIP Lounge at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).
The social costs of the Asean preparations also caught the attention of the group, as families in the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-lapu and Cebu are “deprived of their shelter in exchange for nice surroundings for the visitors to see.”
Alabastro’s group is set to conduct series of protest actions during the summit alongside other nongovernment organizations. They also expressed dismay over the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA).
They demanded that the Senate takes the “side of precaution and uphold the people’s interest” by rejecting the JPEPA, and called on local legislators to pass resolutions against the agreement.
Josua Mata, secretary-general of the Alliance for Progressive Labor (APL), said JPEPA will affect the country’s commitments relating to the protection of public health and the environment.
It is a treaty between Japan and the Philippines to remove barriers on trade of goods and services and investments.
Provincial Board Member Juan Bolo had also expressed apprehension that the Philippines might become Japan’s “dumping ground” for chemical wastes because of the treaty. (Katrina Nolasco-Tabanao. Correspondent)
