Groups warns vs manipulation by ‘elite class’

CEBU, Philippines — The Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) yesterday warned the public not to be misled by what it sees as a section of the “ruling classes” attempting to channel mass support for its own particular interests.

“We are seeing another such attempt in the Philippines. Using the people’s legitimate frustration at the failure of formal, elite-controlled democracy to deliver economic prosperity and political empowerment,” it said, in a statement.

SENTRO said that what the Philippines needs is not another constitution.

“We need a government that is truly interested in serving the Filipino people. The present, and future administrations can head in this direction without resorting to charter change,” it said.

“Rather than give everything to the private sector, the Philippine government must aggressively promote a developmental agenda. There should be serious support for our native industries, the development of manufacturing and our industrial base, all connected to the agricultural sector,” it added.

SENTRO said age-old problems like land reform, “which has long been neglected by a landlord-dominated Congress and the scourge of contractualization, which long denying millions of Filipinos security of tenure,” should be the ones addressed first.

“The government should develop policies that will consciously build our domestic market. Problems with the cost of electricity and transportation must be addressed through public investment. All of these things can be done without opening our constitution,” it said.

“This recent attempt at charter change for what it truly is as just another attempt by one section of the elite to secure their interests, all at the expense of the Filipino people,” it further said.

SENTRO called on all working people to reject the push to amend our constitution.

“Without a government that is from and for the people, we will only see more of the same:  low wages, poor jobs, and few opportunities,” it further said. — /RHM (FREEMAN)