Malakanyang

Kahapon, mapalad ako na makatuntong sa loob ng Malakanyang. Matagal ko nang pinangarap na makapasok rito mula nang ako ay maging aktibista dahil ito ang simbolo ng kapangyarihan sa aking mahal na bayang Pilipinas.

Sa loob ng 25 taon, ang aking / aming pagnanasang makapasok rito ay umaabot lamang hanggang sa paanan ng Mendiola bridge. Minsan basang-basa mula sa water cannon, mahapdi ang mata at lalamunan mula sa teargas, tinutugis ng mga anti riot police, pagod, bigo.

Ang pinaka di ko malilimutang karanasan ay ang pagiging bahagi ng pagkilos noong January 22, 1987– ang Mendiola Massacre. Kayag ko ang halos 40 estudyante mula sa hayskul sa Bulakan. 17 anyos ako noon. Maraming namatay. Ako, walang naramdamang takot. Makibaka! Wag Matakot!

Kasama ang mga kaibigan mula sa Sweden na nakipagpulong kay PNoy, nais kong lubos na madama kung ano ang pakiramdam sa loob ng palasyo. Inamoy, dinama, pinakiamdaman.  Nais kong magkaroon ng direktang karanasan upang higit na mabuhay ang aking pangarap na isang araw, mas mga kasama na namin ang mag oopisina doon –kung saan ang mga mamamayan na ang tunay na may hawak ng kapangyarihan.

KAPANGYARIHAN. ito ang pumapasok sa isip ko habang naghihintay sa Pangulo at habang kaharap na siya. Malakanyang. Luklukan ng kapangyarihan.

Sa loob ng mahigit ng kalahati ng buhay ko ngayon na naging involved sa kilusan para sa pagbabago, ngayon mas higit kong nadama na kailangang palakasin ang kapangyarihan ng mga mamamayan upang makamit ang ganap na kapangyarihan. (sabi nga sa diksyunaryo, ang kapangyarihan ay ang kakayanan/abilidad na gawin o makamit ang isang bagay– at para sa akin at sa aking mga kasama, ang bagay na ito ay ang ganap na demokrasya sa ating bansa.)

At alam ko, at napagtanto ko na marami pa ako/kaming kailangang gawin upang magkaroon ng tunay na kapangyarihan. Naniniwala pa rin ako na ang kapangyarihang ito ay makakamit lamang kung ang mga mamamayan ay may tunay nang kapangyarihan. may malakas na pwersa. may sapat na kakayahan. may sapat na talino at lakas ng loob na harapin at makipaglaban.

Nagiging “senti” na naman yata ako.  Delikado.

Disapproval of water rate increases a welcome relief for Metro Manila

The Freedom from Debt Coalition today hailed the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System’s recent decision to disallow any water rate increases for the entire year of 2009 as a welcome relief for Metro Manila’s 12 million residents now facing the initial tremors of a global economic crisis.

Citing statements made by MWSS Administrator Diosdado Allado, FDC characterized the decision as a long-awaited recognition by the MWSS of the “insensitivity” of any possible rate increase to “the plight of Filipinos”.

Last Wednesday, Allado announced the decision of MWSS, stating that, “We are all called upon to make sacrifices and show our patriotism in some way and we ask our concessionaires to show the same.”

FDC said that the rate hikes proposed by Manila Water and Maynilad would have been a very heavy burden to many of the Metro Manila households, had they been approved.

Word of caution

FDC, however, cautioned that the crisis should not be exploited to railroad old proposals to extend the concession contracts or to grant further allowances to the two concessionaires without closely examining other alternative solutions that may be explored.

According to FDC, current proposals and negotiations to extend the concession contracts of the two concessionaires are being held behind closed doors. They stated that details of any proposals between the concessionaires and MWSS should be revealed and that these be approached with the interests of the consumers in mind.

They stressed that MWSS should step up efforts to include civil society groups and consumers in determining the next steps to be undertaken in ensuring that the water needs of Metro Manila consumers will be adequately met.

Necessary first step

FDC Vice-President Edwin Chavez stated that the disapproval of any proposed increases in Metro Manila water rates is the necessary first step not only in mitigating the impact of the global crisis on the basic water needs of Metro Manila consumers. It is the first step as well in reviewing the actual privatization scheme implemented since 1997.

“This is an opportune time for us to look back on past rate increases and the actual performance and project expenditures of the two concessionaires which have always been used to justify the numerous rate increases implemented since 1997”, said Chavez.

“We hope that MWSS’ recent disapproval of the proposed rate increases will be but the first indicator of a renewed MWSS asserting its role and authority in protecting consumer interests.” said Chavez.