MinDA Asks IATF for Suspension of Motorcycle Barrier Rule

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Acting on the appeal of poor families in Mindanao who depend on motorcycles for their livelihood, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) yesterday asked the Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 to reconsider and suspend its policy requiring barriers for people riding tandem.

In an official memorandum forwarded to the IATF yesterday, MinDA, a field agency directly under the Office of the President, cited that the new policy set to be implemented Monday will be an added financial burden on poor families whose only means of movement is the motorcycle.

Based on the feedback gathered by MinDA from the field, three reasons were cited by those who appeal for a reconsideration on this new IATF Policy.

1. Impractical since the barrier makes riding tandem dangerous because a strong gust of wind caused by huge vehicles coming from the opposite direction could throw the motorcycle off-balance and may lead to accidents;

2. Expensive and oppressive. The barrier will be an added financial burden on poor families who use motorcyles for livelihood and transport and the excessive fines on violators of the policy could open a new window for corruption.

3. The policy is also viewed as discriminatory because the concern on the possible transmission of COVID 19 virus between two people traveling together is only focused on motorcycle riding but it ignores the fact that those traveling inside air-conditioned private cars face greater risks.

As Chairman of MinDA, I personally directed the preparation and transmission of the Memorandum to the IATF to give them a clearer understanding of the reaction of the common Filipino on the ground.

I consider myself a field operative heading an agency which is well-grounded thus it is my duty to provide feedbacks to our policy makers.

The Motorcycle Barrier Policy is an added financial burden which will affect efforts to restart the economy in Mindanao, as well as in other rural areas of the country where the motorcycle is the main vehicle for transport and livelihood.

We support the IATF's effort to control the spread of the COVID 19 virus but surely, there are other ways of doing it other than implementing measures which would make life more difficult for our people.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!
#touchgroundfeelthepulse!

(Photos were downloaded from public websites. Attached to this post is the image of the memorandum forwarded by MinDA to the IATF.)

Before SONA, nationwide youth groups want China to pay up

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Akbayan Youth and Youth Resist drummed up demands against China with youth groups all over the country before the President Duterte's State of the Nation Address on Monday.

"Kung hindi kaya ng ating presidente, tayo na bilang mamamayan ang maningil," Akbayan Youth chairperson Dr. RJ Naguit said whose group, in an online petition, demanded for China to pay up P200 billion for West Philippine Sea damages.
The youth groups gave the administration a grade of BAGSAK in asserting sovereignty against China, among other national issues.

"Let us make China accountable by cutting its sources of leverage. Kailangang bantayan kung saan nangagaling ang pondo para sa Build Build Build para di tayo matali sa mga Chinese debt traps. Kailangan nating ipaglaban ang implementasyon ng Hague ruling," Dr. Naguit said.

"Sasayangin ba natin ang dugo at buhay ng ating mga bayani dahil lamang tayo ay duwag na kalabanin ang Tsina? This is the Republic of the Philippines -a sovereign Filipino state, not a province of China." Jamal Pandapatan from Marawi-based Movement for Progressive Young Leaders.

"Nakakapanlumo ang sitwasyong ng bansa natin ngayon. Bilang parte ng kabataan, nakakapagod po na halos linggo-linggo, araw-araw ay may paniagong pasabog na naman ang adminsitrasyon.," Anthony Jacob of Youth Resist said.

Civic leader Samira Gutoc pleaded for young people to break the culture of silence in the country.

"Our country is a young population but we are not cherishing the youth, we are punishing the youth!" Samira Gutoc said. "Instead of prevention of terrorism, this government is terrorizing those who are already terrrorized."

"Sa mga kababayan kong takot pa rin magsalita at nagsasabing kasalanan pa rin ng ABS-CBN, tignan nyo din ang kasalanan ng inyong administrasyon. Huwag pikit mata. The young people will stand against authoritarianism, young people will fight those who stand against democracy," Samira Gutoc said.

The participating youth organizations are as listed: Movement of Progressive Young Leaders Marawi, Youth for Sustainable Change Laguna , Milktea Alliance PH Bacolod, Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY), Movement to Advance Democracy (MAD), The Scarecrow PH, PNU Social Science Clubs, College of St Benilde Central Student Government, Innovative Youth Movement Olongapo, DLSU TAPAT, UP ALYANSA, The Bedan, Kalikha UPD, and Project Arte.

SONA 2020: Towards a Green Recovery for the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!

We live in unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic is an existential threat to human life, and has revealed to us the effects of our negative relationship with nature. There is opportunity for us to change, however. We must build a better, healthier, and greener normal, where we put science at the forefront of decision making, policy development, and infrastructure planning.

We urge the government, and all Filipinos, to protect our natural resources, to pursue sustainability in our food, water, and energy systems, and to promote local, indigenous production to reduce our reliance on external sources. We must work together to #ChangeTheEnding on this and future crises. Our Green New Recovery must start today.

As we all strive to address the immediate needs of this pandemic, we should not lose focus of the long-term needs of a sustainable Philippines. We need proper integration, implementation, consultation, and engagement in bringing economic, health, and environmental plans to fruition. Robust financing from local implementers and the banking sector can push positive environmental impacts even further. Transparency and alignment between national and local policies is needed to assist cities and municipalities in developing plans that protect their people. Through nationwide alignment, we can address our health and economic needs with nature-based solutions amidst this pandemic.

We need policies that integrate sustainability practices in the systems that provide our basic needs. National agencies must engage LGUs and the private sector for solutions that ensure resources are sustainably-managed and accessible to all, especially during these challenging times. Communal farms, watershed management activities, and distributed renewable energy solutions can ensure resource security. Filipinos have a right to nutritious food, clean water, and sustainable energy. It is imperative that we begin developing better resource systems.

We must create platforms and programs that will enable the youth to participate in governance and develop them as sustainability champions. We recommend the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into our curriculum. We can train more future leaders by instilling sustainability principles in educational materials and making them accessible. Teachers and community leaders are allies in advocating for the environment, and we must train them to educate students, families, and communities on sustainable development.

We urge the government to promote low-carbon living and the establishment of safe, inclusive, and sustainable mobility solutions that are accessible to all. We need to pursue the development of bike lanes and pedestrian areas, to reduce our carbon footprint while allowing Filipinos to travel freely. We ask that the government ensure the protection and rehabilitation of our country’s carbon sinks. Safeguarding our forests and reefs and promoting circular solutions to address plastic pollution can pave a way toward a low-carbon future for the Philippines.

We ask the government to engage in efforts to improve societal health and resiliency. We need more public spaces that can adapt to the needs of communities, especially those that are marginalized. Long-term societal health must be explored as well - the development of green spaces and infrastructure can make our cities healthier and more livable.

Finally, our relationship with wildlife must change if we are to prevent future pandemics. Studies show that closeness to and consumption of wild animals leads to global pandemics such as the current one. Through stricter penalties on illegal wildlife trade and by educating communities on the dangers of wildlife consumption, we can better safeguard endangered species and our own health. Meanwhile, strong policies that combat environmental degradation can protect our ecosystems. Multi-stakeholder approaches are vital to ensure our health, and the health of our environment.

This pandemic will not be the last if we do not take serious action now. We need to build resilient post-pandemic communities to combat resource overconsumption and wildlife exploitation as we pave the way toward a green and just recovery. We recognize the impact COVID-19 has had on our country, and only through nature-based solutions can we start down the road of green recovery. We urge the government, and all Filipinos, to protect the environment today, so that we and future generations may enjoy a healthy tomorrow. Together responsible, together possible.