Anak Mindanao endorses grassroots communities’ platform

The consultation among community leaders, sectoral representatives, and civil society organizations (Peoples Organization and Non Government Organizations) in Iligan City on April 28, 2013, have resulted to the creation peoples’ common agenda and platform to be campaigned not just to the candidates but also to the voters which means that the platform will guide voters whom to vote for during the election.

This also will be campaigned by the communities to the elected leaders after the election.

The platform outlined the 10 basic demands and unified stand of the communities and organizations over the issues surrounding them such as food production and agriculture, power privatization, basic commodities’ tax reduction, nationalization of oil industry, minimum wage and wage increase, sustainable livelihood, intensification of social services, implementation of law against human trafficking, peace and order comprehensive policy, implementation of community based disaster reduction and management, repeal mining act, and the promotion and respect of the tri-people  existence.

“No one who can turn down this platform that emanated from the people,” said Valtimore Fenis, Secretary General of Anak Mindanao. He added that, it is rightful and just to endorse and support this platform as it also does not contradict to the principles that AMIN is standing for.

Instead of the mudslinging, he also urged other party-list, political party and candidates to do the same if they truly represent their people.

Grassroots Communities Palform

We, the basic masses and organized groups of peoples in Iligan City, agreed to push this People’s Platform.

We urge our fellow voters to join us and endorse this Platform to and among the electoral candidates this coming May 13, 2013 election. We also encourage them to seriously consider the track record as well as the platform of the candidates.

We also urge the candidates to stop destroying each other, instead focus on campaigning with more emphasis on their platforms.

1.   Emphasis and  more support to Agriculture especially additional subsidy on the in the construction of farm to market roads and other agricultural infrastructure as well as the strict implementation of Organic Agriculture Act and the abolition unfair system of product selling.
2. To oppose the privatization of Electric Power Industry and to repeal the Electric Power Industry Reform Act and to investigate the anomalies in the electric industry and the selling and manipulation of power supply of the Iligan Power Diesel Plant (IDPP)
3.  Reduction of basic commodities’ prices and to scrap the 12% Expanded Value Added Tax through a resolution of local of local legislators
4.  To abolish the oil cartel and decrease to oil prices through scrapping the Oil Deregulation Law and instead Nationalize the oil industry to protect the rights and interest of the local drivers and transport sectors; to rid off from corruption/ “kutong” along the highway caused by the abusive traffic and police personnel; to monitor as well as to punish those who have violated the process in the approval and releasing of transport franchise; to provide support to the organizations of drivers.
5. Concrete and sustainable livelihood for the people. To invigorate local committees and agencies to conceptualize and introduce sustainable livelihood that can support the daily needs of the family. Those include Urban Container Gardening, Communal Farms and Cooperatives
6.  To legislate and pass policy or ordinance strictly implementing minimum wage and to ensure the benefits and rights of the workers found in the industry, agriculture, and services; to strictly monitor private labor agencies and businesses to follow the law and to provide benefits to the workers; to punish those who are practicing unfair labor practices.
7.  To provide enough consideration to the provision of Basic Social Services and to ensure that this are favorable and accessible to the people. This should include fair share of the people over electricity, water, hospitalization, petroleum, education and others. It is also being campaigned the implementation of the law on Human Trafficking and Violence Against Women  and Children; to give more attention to provide support services for the health of the workers; to push the participation of students and parent in the decision making process pertaining to tuition fee increase in the schools and universities; to conduct inventory of oil supply to prevent the price increase when the oil price in the international and national increases; to increase funds on healthcare in the barangay level; clean and safe water supply, and others.
8.   To implement the law or ordinance on Peace and Order and secure that peoples’ rights are not violated.
9. To implement or outline the implementation of the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction Committee and its creation in the Barangay level; to oppose the program that will destroy the environment; to punish the perpetrators who cause the massive damage and displaced peoples during of the Sendong as well as to allow the peaceful assembly without political leanings for Snedong Victims; to push the stand against Mining Act.
10. To pursue and strengthen the unity among the Tri-people (Moro, Lumad and Christians) in the City so as not to or prevent ignition of conflict among them. 

We agreed to endorse thi Platform of the Grassroots Communities in Iligan City: 

Ranao TriPeople Movement for Genuine Peace and Development (RTMGPD)

Coalition of Lanao Utility Transport for Change (CLUTCH)

Liga ng Makabagong Kabataan (LMK) - Ranao

Lig-on ug Hiniusang Kusog sa mga Kabus-Dakbayan – Iligan (LIHUK-Iligan)

Iligan Survivors Movement (ISM)

We encourage other organizations to endorse this Platform.

Thank you and let’s continue the struggle!