“In honor of Women’s Month, we came up with a list of women who have changed or are working to change the way things are done or perceived. They have shown us that one does not necessarily need to do things in a grand fashion in order to make a big difference. The women on our list range from a young survivor of tragedy to literary stalwarts who may have passed away but whose works will live on to inspire future generations.” – SPOT.ph

read more…

Published in May 8, 2012 issue of BusinessWorld, the media partner of SWS.

HUNGER CLAIMS HAVE RISEN in tandem with poverty, with a record-high number of Filipino families saying they experienced having nothing to eat based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The nationwide poll, fielded over March 10-13, found the proportion of respondents who experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months at 23.8%, equivalent to an estimated 4.8 million families and up from the 22.5% (4.5 million families) recorded last December.

While hunger incidence has been over 20% in the past three quarters, the SWS said the latest count surpassed the previous 23.7% peak recorded in December 2008.

Cabinet officials attributed the increase to recent calamities, among them tropical storm Sendong that devastated parts of Mindanao and the Visayas last December. They said the government would continue ramping up its anti-poverty and nutrition programs, and is continuing its conditional cash transfer (CCT) program to reach the poorest households.

The hunger findings follow the SWS’ release last week of its self-rated poverty survey where 55% of the respondents — equivalent to an estimated 11.1 million families — claimed to be poor, a 10-point jump to the highest result so far for the Aquino administration.

The latest measure of hunger, which refers to involuntary suffering due to the lack of anything to eat, was due to slight increases in “moderate” as well as “severe hunger.”

Those who experienced hunger “only once” or “a few times”, including the few who did not state their frequency of hunger, are categorized under moderate hunger. Severe hunger, meanwhile, refers to those who experienced hunger “often” or “always.”

Moderate hunger saw a 0.3-point increase to 18.0% (estimated 3.7 million families) from 17.7% (est. 3.6 million families) last December.

Severe hunger, meanwhile, saw a 1.1-point increase to a near record-high 5.8% (1.2 million families) from 4.7% (est. 955,000 families). The new count is just below the 6.0% peak hit in March 2001.

The SWS said household heads’ claims about poverty in general, being poor in terms of food and going hungry were “internally consistent.”

It said hunger was at 32.4% among the self-rated poor, more than double the 13.5% for those who said they were not poor. This compares to December’s 33.6% hunger rate among the self-rated poor and the 13.3% among the not poor/borderline.

Similarly, 37.3% among the self-rated food poor claimed to have experienced hunger in the first quarter, almost three times the 13.0% among the not food-poor/food-borderline. Last December, the hunger rate was 38.1% among the self-rated food poor and 13.7% among the not food-poor/food-borderline.

Severe hunger incidence, the SWS said, increased to 9.2% from 8.0% among the self-rated poor but fell to 1.7% from 2.1% for the not poor/borderline families. Among the self-rated food poor, severe hunger rose to 10.5% from 9.1%, whereas it went down to 2.0% from 2.3% among the not food-poor/food-borderline.

Moderate hunger among self-rated poor families, meanwhile, dropped to 23.2% from 25.6%. Among not poor/borderline families, it went to 11.8% from 11.2%. The figure went to 26.8% from 29.0% among the self-rated food poor, and dipped to 11.0% from 11.4% among the not food-poor/food-borderline.

Across geographical areas, overall hunger increased everywhere but the Visayas, where it fell 14.7 points to 10.3% (est. 399,500 families) from 25.0% (957,000 families).

It rose by seven points in Mindanao, to 26.7% (1.3 million families); five points in Balance Luzon, to 28.0% (est. 2.5 million families) — just 0.3 point shy of last September’s record-high; and by 2.3 points in Metro Manila to 24.3% (est. 691,000 families).

Moderate hunger fell by 14.3 points in the Visayas to 7.7%, dipped by 0.7 point in Metro Manila to 16.3%, but rose by five points to 22.0% in Balance Luzon and by four points to 20.0% in Mindanao. The SWS said these were still higher than the 13-year averages for all areas, except in the Visayas where it was 2.8 points below its 13-year average of 10.5%.

Severe hunger, meanwhile, fell slightly in the Visayas to 2.7% from 3.0% and stayed at 6.0% in Balance Luzon. However, it rose by three points in both Metro Manila, to 8.0%, and in Mindanao, to 6.7%. The latest rates are higher than their 13-year averages in all areas except in the Visayas where it was just below the 13-year average of 3.2%, the SWS said.

Sought for comment, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Aquino administration was continuing to address the issues of poverty and hunger but noted that calamities had dealt setbacks to programs.

“The ill effects are still being felt of the calamities last year” Mr. Lacierda yesterday said.

“CCT is there, but CCT will not be able to help at once because there is displacement and dislocation. It’s understandable that they would rate themselves as poor or hungry…,” he added.

“We are directly addressing this, otherwise we won’t be pushing for a greater number of CCT beneficiaries … we believe that our programs are taking effect.”

For her part, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon J. Soliman noted that the areas where hunger incidence was highest coincided with last year’s typhoon damage.

She said a total of 3,029,374 households — mostly in Mindanao — were enrolled in the CCT program as of March 21. Through the program, poor households receive as much as P1,400 per month provided that children are sent to school and expectant mother gets check-ups.

The latest SWS poll involved face-to-face interviews of 1,200 respondents. The error margins used were ±3% anfor national and ±6% for area percentages. – Johanna Paola D. Poblete

Following Gonzales’ statement, Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) said that if the House leadership wants to already terminate the debates on the RH bill, it can very well do so under its rules without going to a vote. The “test vote” as explained, is unnecessary.

“After all, the bill has been under deliberation for more than 12 years and everything that can be discussed has already been exhausted,” Angsioco stressed.  “Insisting on more debates is really about further delaying the vote on the RH bill,” she added.

According to Angsioco DSWP members face the sad realities experienced by women in poor communities’ and are disheartened by the Department of Health report that in January alone, 50 maternal deaths have been recorded in Metro Manila.  “We deeply sympathize with the families left by these women but at same time frustrated knowing that those deaths could have been prevented if the RH law is already in place,” she said.

Moreover, Angsioco cited news report that said 10 girls were found pregnant in only one high school in Ilocos Norte. “This could have been averted if our young people have an age-appropriate RH education which is an important provision of the RH bill,” she explained.

Angioso asserted that the public has seen how powerful the House leadership is. “We know how fast the House can work on matters it deems important, just like on the ongoing impeachment cases.  We have also seen how a single text message from the office of the Speaker can magically make absent Representatives appear in Plenary when they want to have a quorum,” she said.

Unfortunately, the Filipino masses have yet to see the same political will on bills that will benefit ordinary people, most especially poor women, Angsioco emphasized.  “A test vote on the RH bill is unnecessary. What women need is the REAL vote that the HOR leadership can actually immediately do,” she continued.

“March 8 is International Women’s Day and March is women’s month here. Let the lawmakers be reminded that they owe women this – the vote on the RH bill,” Angsioco ended.xxx

For more information please contact Ms. Rhoda Avila at Mobile No. 09178855782.

According to Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), the Department of Health report is quite alarming and should wake up  sleeping representatives in Congress.

“These deaths are caused by inadequate reproductive health services needed in preventing and responding to such complications and therefore, saving mothers’ lives,” lamented Angsioco.

Angsioco stressed that these services are contained in the RH bill that has been continuously delayed for more than 12 years by Philippine Congress.

“It is frustrating that Congress is quick to act on political issues like impeachment but very slow when it comes to legislation that will address ordinary people’s needs, especially those of poor women,” said Angsioco.

Angsioco added, “It is detestable that the House of Representatives (HOR) in particular, has been almost paralyzed because of the ongoing impeachment trial despite the fact that only a handful of them are directly involved in it. The HOR knows very well that its legislative functions should not be neglected.

DSWP head extends blame to President Aquino, who has been too preoccupied with removing the chief Justice who heads a supposedly co-equal branch of government, and in the process seems to have set aside his promises to the Filipino people, especially to those that will redound to their well-being like the RH bill.

“Two years in office is more than enough for him to achieve this as shown by the other issues where he got what he wanted from Congress,” asserted Angsioco. “The President needs to be sternly reminded that many voted for him because of his promise to push for the RH bill passage.”

Moreover, “the deaths of these mothers are on the heads of these government officials. How many more mothers need to die before those who are mandated to save them begin to act?” Angsioco asked.

Urging government officials to end the political intramurals, Angsioco said, “the executive should fulfill its promises and mandate, especially those contained in P-Noy’s Social Contract with the Filipino people.”

Lastly, Angsioco urgently called on Congress to put RH bill into vote.  “For once, our political leaders should do something for mothers, especially poor mothers who are dying every day due to pregnancy and childbirth-related complications,” she ended. XXX

“Women from different sectors all over the country have clamoured for the passage of the RH bill,” said Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP).

This has been shown in various surveys conducted by prestigious organizations since the bill was first filed more than ten years ago.  The results in recent years has not changed – women, and men for that matter, wants a law on RH, explains Angsioco.

“Seventy three (73%) of Filipinos believe that family planning is a personal choice and a right, and that government should provide Filipinos with information and services – that is according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey,” said Angsioco.

Still, and despite all these, Congress remains evasive, laments Angsioco.  “Congress leaders still do not listen to the voice of the majority of the Filipino people,” she said.  “And while the delays on the RH debate continues, women, especially poor women, suffer from pregnancy and childbirth complications.”

“Sad reality is that women continue to die of deaths that could have been prevented,” Angsioco stressed.

According to Angsioco, the lack of access to RH education and services have victimized thousands of women, some are even relatives of the members of their organization.   In our sympathy to these women and their families, DSWP with its partner organizations have launched a nationwide signature campaign for the RH bill.

“On Valentine ’s Day and in behalf of the women in the grassroots communities, DSWP is handing over some of these signatories to our Congress representatives.  We hope that this simple act will awaken the Congress leadership and that finally they listen to us – women who are the victims of the delays on the enactment of the RH bill,” Angsioco ended. XX

For more information please contact Ms. Rhoda Avila at Mobile No. 09178855782

Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) argued that Father Melvin Castro, Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, is again propagating misinformation and disinformation on the RH bill by insinuating that the said bill has not been subjected to due process in Congress.

“Is this a case of selective amnesia?” Angsioco asks.  “Fr. Castro knows well that the RH Bill has been pending in Congress for more than a decade and that it has been the subject of discussion from the Committee level up to plenary sessions in both chambers of Congress,” she explains.

Angsioco said, “all arguments, for and against have been exhausted; that many times, anti-RH lawmakers resort to repetitive, sometimes absurd ‘arguments’ against the RH bill.”

Angsioco asserts that the anti-RH lawmakers have failed to come-up with new arguments.  What they do is use technicalities as delaying tactics to prevent the bill from being voted on. Thus, the RH bill cannot and should not be unfairly compared with Chief Justice Corona’s impeachment by the House of Representatives.

Fr. Castro’s statements only revealed that the anti-RH camp does not have the numbers in Congress and that they are scared to put the bill to a vote because they know they will lose, said Angsioco.  “Why else do they continuously oppose the voting? Clearly the delaying tactics are meant to prevent Congress from taking the vote on the measure,” she added.

Meanwhile, Angsioco calls on Congress leadership to already close the period of interpellation and move on to the period of amendments then vote.  “After more than a decade, legislators by now surely have their positions even if some choose to remain quiet on the issue,” she said.

“There is no more reason not to call for a vote.  The Filipino people have been patiently waiting, mothers, particularly poor mothers, continuously die because of CBCP’s opposition and Congress’ turtle-like pace in processing the much needed bill, Angsioco ended. XXX

For more information please contact Ms. Roda Avila at Mobile No. 09178855782.

Elizabeth Angsioco, DSWP National Chairperson, is confident that the RH issue will not be sidetracked with the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“What this political issue showed us is the fact that Congress can act swiftly on any issue if it so desires. There can no longer be any acceptable justification to further delay the measure since the HOR has shown the country that time is not a problem,” she said. “The decisiveness should also happen to the more than a decade-old RH bill,” she added.

DSWP hopes to hand over copies of more than 100,000 signatures endorsing the immediate passage of the RH bill to President Aquino during the “Occupy for RH goes to Malacanang” today. The event themed “P-Noy, Walisin ang Hadlang sa Matuwid na Daan, RH Bill Pagbotohan Na!” organized by RH Occupy campaign is joined by more than a thousand advocates coming from various sectors.

According to Angsioco, the signatures were gathered by various organizations and community volunteers all over the country and from DSWP online petition. “These signatures prove that ordinary Filipinos, especially those in poverty, see the urgent need for the passage of the RH bill,” Angsioco stressed.

She added that more signatures are yet to be submitted and that the signature campaign will continue until the RH bill is voted on by both Houses of Congress.

Angsioco said that their group will also be furnishing RH champions in the Senate their own set of the signatures once the Session reconvenes next year.

“Let these be a call to Congress that the Filipino people want their representatives to act as swiftly on the RH bill issue as they do on other political issues like the impeachment of Chief Justice Corona,” said Angsioco. “Congress should realize that bills directly dealing with people’s lives are as, if not more critical than political issues.”

Moreover, Angsioco added that advocates are also hoping that President Aquino will act as decisively on RH as he does on others issues. She said, “like corruption, RH is also among the Chief Executive’s priorities and part of his contract with the Filipino people. It’s high time for the President to give RH more attention. The Filipino people are waiting,” she ended.

Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) added that in doing so, the CBCP wants to impose its dogma by dictating how citizens should live their lives and how Congress should work.

“The RH bill has been pending in Congress for more than 10 years,” Angsioco said. “How can more than 10 years of never ending debates be labeled as rushing?” she commented. Angsioco emphasized that the RH bill is perhaps the most debated bill in our country’s legislative history.

Angsioco added, “in fact, because anti-RH legislators like Sen. Sotto have run out of arguments, they now resort to witch hunting of the bill’s advocates and insist on the existence of an imaginary international conspiracy that will legalize abortion in the country through the RH bill.”

The CBCP’s call on the President only proves the contrary of what they say: they do not have the numbers in Congress. “The claim that anti-RH will win if the RH goes to a vote is just one of the manufactured lies to mislead the public, especially the lawmakers who are still quiet about their position”, explained Angioco.

“Why else would the bishops block the voting if indeed, they have the numbers?” she said. “If the antis really have what it takes to defeat the bill, they should push for its voting, and not derail the democratic legislative process,” she added.

According to Angsioco, history proves that bishops are not undefeatable as regards democratic lawmaking is concerned. Angioco recalls that decades ago, the bishops also staunchly opposed the inclusion of the Rizal course in school curricula. She explained that the bishops did not want the life and works of Rizal to be studied by the Filipino youth in school perhaps because of the national hero’s critical writings against the Roman Catholic Church. “But the bishops lost the battle in the legislative process,” she said.

The patriots in Congress rose to the occasion and voted in favor of the Rizal course. “As they will again, in the RH Bill,” Angsioco said. “The bishops are threatened because they know that once again, they will lose,” she stressed.

Like in the Rizal Course issue, again, the Filipino people need the patriots in Congress to heed their call – pass a law that will enable the government to provide the people with access to comprehensive RH education and services. “Enough of the debates, vote on the RH bill now! Even President Aquino wants this to happen,” Angsioco ended.

Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), one of the groups that Sotto hit said that the Senate Majority Floor Leader uses his power to pick on RH bill advocates instead of doing his job which is to schedule the voting for the measure.

According to Angsioco, Sotto’s arguments that organizations do not exist because they are not registered with the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) only revealed the Senators’ lack of understanding about how most organizations work. “Sotto should know that a big number of organizations, especially those composed of marginalized sectors are not SEC-registered but are actively working for social transformation. It is a pity that the Senator hits organizations that are actually helping the government and politicians like him, do their work,” she added.

“It looks like that in his effort to look for ‘ammunitions’ against RH groups such as international connections and funding, he hit all organizations, whether he found something or nothing. It’s funny that those he hit including the ones he accused of being ‘foreign agents’ are actually some of the most recognized organizations in the country,” Angsioco said.

As the national chairperson of DSWP Angsioco takes offense, she said that DSWP has been working with grassroots women for almost two and a half decades. “We are present in 14 regions of the country and have been instrumental in the passage of several laws including the Anti-Rape, Anti-Violence against Women and their Children and the Magna Carta of Women. We have, for years been working with both Houses of Congress and other government institutions like the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE),” she stressed.

Unfortunately for Sotto, Angsioco explained, there is nothing new in his arguments against the bill. They are basically the same ones that he has been mouthing since the start of his never ending interpellation. Sotto desperately attempts to veer the discussion toward an imaginary international conspiracy to bring abortion to the country. “This argument is absurd. No pro-abortion law can be passed in this country because of the Constitutional prohibition against it,” Angsioco asserted.

Angsioco emphasized that if Sotto is true to his word that he is not delaying the bill, then he should yield the floor to other Senators who might want to interpellate. “It is him always interpellating. What he is doing is tantamount to filibustering so the bill doesn’t get voted on,” she said.

“If indeed, Sotto is not blocking the RH bill, then he should do his responsibility and put the bill to a vote. It is time, as what Senators Defensor-Santiago and Cayetano say, vote on the RH bill now!” Angsioco ended.

During the ceremonial opening of the photo exhibit dubbed “Sa Ngalan ng Ina at ng Anak” at the O4RH camp site in SB Bayan Park, Batasan Quezon City, Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP), criticized the lack of sincerity of some lawmakers to respond to the call of the majority of the Filipino people to pass the RH bill as repeatedly shown by various credible surveys.

Angsioco argued that the whole nation, except for a few groups, favors the RH bill. She added that beyond the surveys, the bill is also endorsed by virtually all civil society organizations, other religious groups including Iglesia ni Cristo, relevant government agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Philippine Commission on Women (PCW). Even the President wants the bill to pass as evidenced by its inclusion in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Angsioco stressed, “the only remaining link to finally institutionalize comprehensive RH services is the Congress’ vote. All the bill’s opponents do is delay the vote. At the House of Representatives, we expect the Speaker to fulfill his promise that the bill will be voted on this December. ”

“Also,” Angsioco comments, “since the RH bill is a priority measure of the Palace, advocates believe that it is also high time for P-Noy to exert the same political will he has shown in other issues such as the one of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the bill’s passage.

“The Palace has demonstrated in a number of cases what it can do when it exerts political will. The people need the same for the RH bill,” she said. “After all, RH bill has languished in Congress under various administrations. P-Noy can be different if he chooses to side with the people. If he can make the RH bill a law under his administration, it will be his administration’s best legacy” she ended.