Roundtable Discussion on the Financial Crisis

Asia-Europe People’s Forum (AEPF) – Philippines

11.11.11-Pilipinas Ÿ* Akbayan * Ÿ Alab Katipunan * Ÿ Alliance of Progressive Labor Ÿ * BISIG Ÿ * DAWN Ÿ* EU-ASEAN FTA Campaign *Ÿ Focus on the Global South Ÿ* Freedom from Debt Coalition Ÿ* GZO Peace Institute * Ÿ Institute for Politics and Governance * Ÿ International Gender and Trade Network * Ÿ JS – Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development * Kalayaan Ÿ* Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya Ÿ* Kilusang Mangingisda-Fisherfolk Movement Ÿ* Legal Rights Resource Center *Ÿ Manggagawa sa Komunikasyon sa Pilipinas Ÿ* Migrant Forum Asia *Ÿ Mindanao People’s Peace Movement Ÿ* National Urban Poor Coalition * Ÿ Partido Manggagawa *Ÿ Partnership for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Ÿ* Padayon Ÿ* Pandayan * Ÿ Peace Women Partners Ÿ* Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates * Ÿ Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement * RCPD * Sanlakas* Stop the War Coalition * Sulong * Task Force Food Sovereignty * Ÿ Tulong Lupa Sug/Mindanao People’s Caucus Ÿ* Welga ng Kababaihan Laban sa Kahirapan at Globalisasyon * and the Institute for Popular Democracy

November 6, 9am – 4pm

Ferzal Place, Malakas St., Brgy. Central, Quezon City

The global financial crisis is fraught with dangerous consequences for the most vulnerable sectors of our society such as the urban and rural poor, the labor sector, women and other marginalized. It can worsen poverty, now with 60 percent of Filipinos (approximately 10.6 M families) rating themselves poor, 16.3% (2.9M families) are experiencing involuntary hunger, 10.9% unemployment rate, more than 4M are living in slum areas in Metro Manila deprived of humane living condition, maternal mortality rate/birth mortality rate continues to increase, and about 212 communities in Metro Manila are still without piped water connection.

These social indicators shadow illusions that existing state policies could undermine the global crisis threatening to have adverse impact on the country. In spite of this glaring poverty, our government continues to allocate almost negligible budget for basic services while highest allocation for debt servicing remains.

With the seemingly inevitable escalation of the global financial meltdown, probably early next year, the poor is all the more in need of social protection. Indeed, there is an imperative to address the financial and banking system. But what is more important is to exact concrete actions from the government to address the basic needs of the poor, provide them protection in the midst of this crisis.

The round table discussion will look into the crisis at the macro-economic level as well as at the sectoral level. The following proposed workshop questions are hoped to be answered:

1.  What’s right, what’s wrong with the government’s new programs for protecting the vulnerable

1. • Rice Subsidy
   • Agricultural subsidy
   • Cash subsidy
   • Rice production subsidy
   • Pump-priming thru infrastructure spending

1. Employment on demand, how can we make it happen?
2. How to reform government’s major programs in health, shelter, agrarian reform, and essential services to widen the net of protection?
3. What are the political terms of reference for the unavoidable and increased role of the state in generating the public revenues for social protection programs?
4. How can financial systems be regulated to protect and safeguard life savings of Filipinos?

We also hope to come up with some plan of actions or steps to pursue the alternatives/agenda.

Programme

9:30-9:40 - Opening – Ric Reyes, IPD Fellow

9:40 – 12:00 - Roundtable Discussion on Analysis and agenda in the Philippines v.v. financial crisis

9:40 – 9:55 - Looking into the crisis at the macroeconomic level

Dr. Edsel Beja

Deputy Director of Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development

9:55 – 10:10 - Impact on the Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, and on trade re-tarrification

Dr. Rene Ofreneo

Fair Trade Alliance

10:10 – 10:25 – Impact on the Environment

Isagani Serrano

Vice-President, Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement

10:25 – 10:35 – Proposals on Fiscal and Economic Reforms

Milo Tanchuling

Secretary General, Freedom from Debt Coalition

10: 35 – 10:50 – Background on the Global Summit on Financial Crisis initiative

Lidy Nacpil

International Coordinator, JS-APMDD

10:50 – 11:05 – Social Protection for the Poor

Jude Esguerra

Executive Director, Institute for Popular Democracy

10:05 – 11:15 – Human Rights Perspective on the crisis

Max de Mesa

Executive Director, PAHRA

11:15 – 12:00 – Responses from the sectors to be initiated by:

Urban Poor –Von Francis Mesina, National Urban Poor Coalition

Agriculture/Food – Alice Raymundo, Task Force Food Sovereignty

Labor – Padjo Valdemor, SULONG- La Liga

Industries – Caspian Lao, Federation of Philippine Industries – Philippine Plastics Industries

Association

Fisherfolks – Pablo Rosales, Kilusang Mangingisda (Fisherfolk Movement)

12:00 – 1:30 – Open Forum

1:00 – 2:40 – Workshop

2:45 – 3:45 – Plenary

3:45 – 4:00 – Synthesis - Gina dela Cruz, Alab Katipunan

Call to Action - Maris dela Cruz, AEPF-IPD