People Surge

YOLANDA REVISITED: BUILDING A PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT FROM ‘GROUND ZERO’

By People Surge Philippines

"As the Philippines suffer yet another catastrophe this 2020, we are once again challenged to rise from the tragic situation that we are in and fight for our own survival. No government, especially with Duterte as its head, will ever so eagerly give us, typhoons victims, the help we deserve....This why we must be able to grasp firmly, now more than ever, the urgent need for collective action. Faced with almost the same issues of government unpreparedness and neglect under Duterte’s leadership, it is most opportune that we take a look at the lessons we’ve learned seven years ago. We shall not shy away from demanding answers to the very questions that the government is unwilling to answer: ? (Where is the president?) Asan ang ayuda? (When will aid come?) Ano ang plano? (What is the government’s plan?).We call upon the people to rise in solidarity with all disaster victims and survivors and to take part in the struggle for justice and accountability. As we face a far greater storm born out of disaster capitalism, government criminal neglect, and the irreversible impacts of a global climate crisis, building a much resilient and stronger people’s movement on the ground is only necessary. As the tides from typhoons begin to ebb, the people’s surge for climate and social justice shall once again rise—fiercer and more resolute than ever before."

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YOLANDA, ROLLY, ULYSSES
How many lives should we lose before government learns?

Duterte administration’s highly reactive disaster response is to blame for the rising number of casualties and victims of Typhoon . The people have long been calling for an immediate and efficient government disaster response policy since the onslaught of Supertyphoon Yolanda in 2017 as well as adequate funding for disaster mitigation, response, and rehabilitation. But our demands continue to fall on deaf ears. Earlier this year, LGUs affected by and claim that relief aid is expected to become more limited due to depleting calamity funds. This is what happens when we have a government whose entire policy focuses solely on war-mongering and war funding—having billions-worth of taxpayer money wasted on fraud counterinsurgency programs instead of socioeconomic programs meant to reduce vulnerabilities to calamities such as poverty alleviation.

Today Duterte plans to create a new task force for , a day after the typhoon officially left the Philippine Area of Responsibility. What good will come out of the formation of a new task force when there is already an existing government body task to coordinate disaster response? Clearly, Duterte is foolish to think that doing so will resolve the problem. What we need is a proactive emergency response. We do not need more politicians trivializing the plight of disaster victims.

The national government should now prioritize the distribution of immediate relief and shelter aid to victims of the typhoon as well as utilize all government resources for urgent rescue operations for the thousands of families left stranded in their roofs in Cagayan. The people simply cannot wait for late government action as every minute is crucial to saving lives. Duterte’s statement telling people to wait more while knowing that these same people have been stranded since earlier this morning is not only insensitive but is also stupid. If his mercenaries in the AFP can mobilize quickly in their terror-tagging spree and communist witch-hunts, why can’t they act with the same level of urgency now when the people of Cagayan are already drowning?

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Hindi pa man lubusang nakakabangon ang ating mga kababayan mula sa hagupit at pinsalang idinulot ng , kumakaharap na naman sa napakalaking pagsubok ang mamamayan, partikular sa mga lugar sa Sentral at Timog Katagalugan ng Luzon, sa pagsalanta ng .

Sa humigit kumulang na dalawang linggo, bukod sa pinsalang dulot ng mga natural na kalamidad na ito, ay ang dagdag na pasakit sa mamamayan mula sa lantarang kapabayaan ni Duterte at ng administrasyon nito sa pagbibigay ng kagyat na ayuda, suporta sa mga lokal na pamahalaan, at epektibong pagpaplano bago at pagkatapos ng mga sakuna.

Kaya naman, walang karapatan ang gobyerno na magalit kung nakatatanggap ng matinding kritisismo mula sa mamayang Pilipino; lalo't walang karapatan ang sinuman sa gobyerno, kahit na si B**g Go o Duterte, na mainsulto sa tanong ng mamamayan kung,

"NASAAN ANG PANGULO!?"

Habang bilyon-bilyon ang pondong ibinubuhos ni Duterte sa mga tropang militar at pulis nito sa pagbili ng mga kagamitang kasangkapan lamang naman sa pamamasismo at terorismo ng estado laban sa mga ordinaryong mamamayan, sentimo o kakarampot naman ang inilalaan nito para sa ayuda at suporta sa mga lokal na pamahalaan lalo sa mga panahon ng sakuna.

Malinaw na walang hiya ang pambansang pamahalaan, sa pamumuno ni Duterte, sa pagpapasa nito ng mga responsibilidad at obligasyon sa mga lokal na pamahalaan lalo ang mga limitado ang rekurso at kagamitan para pangunahan ang pagsasaayos ng malawakang epekto ng mga sakuna.

Dagdag pa nito ay ang mga inutil na alipores ni Duterte na walang ginawa kundi bastusin ang mga Pilipino sa mga insensitibong gawain tulad ng pagse-selfie nina MMDA Spokesperson Pialago at DENR Undersecretary Antiporda sa dolomite beach habang halos walang naisalba ang mga biktima ng bagyo sa lagpas-bahay na baha; pag-abuso sa kapangyarihan ni Sinas nang i-rescue ito gamit ang mga bangka samantalang may sanggol na isinakay na lamang sa batya para maitawid sa rumasagasang baha; ang lantarang pagsisi ng isang opisyales ng gobyerno sa mga na-istranded sa kanilang mga bahay sa gitna ng baha dahil daw sa hindi paglikas nang maaga ng mga residente.

Kung matatandaan, may kaakibat na milyong halaga ang emergency powers na hiningi ni Duterte. Ngunit sa nakalipas na mga buwan, lalo sa mga pagkakataong pinakakailangan ang mahusay at epektibong pamumuno ng pinakamataas na opisyal ng bansa ay bingi at tulog si Duterte at ang iba pang opisyal ng gobyerno.

Ang lantarang pagpapamalas ng kriminal na kapabayaan ng administrasyon ni Duterte tuwing may kalamidad ay naghihikayat ng mas militanteng pagpapanawagan ng paghingi ng pananagutan mula sa inutil na gobyerno at paglaban para hustisya para sa mga biktima ng sakuna.

Panawagan ng People Surge sa lahat ng mamamayang Pilipino na patuloy na magkaisa--wala tayong maasahan sa pahirap, pabaya, at pasistang si Duterte. Tanging ang sabay-sabay at nagkakaisang pagdaluyong natin makakatulong sa ating muling pagbangon pagkatapos ng kahit anong sakuna.

MAKABAYAN Eastern Visayas condemns most recent attack against progressive partylists under the Makabayan Bloc as streamers and tarpaulins redtagging said organizations once again fill the streets of Tacloban City.

We see these attacks as rather absurd and cowardly. While Gabriela, Bayan Muna, Kabataan Partylist, and Alliance of concerned teachers are busy doing their job in Congress, the AFP, the PNP and the NTF ELCAC have done nothing but foolishly try to discredit their work. It is worthy of note that Makabayan representatives are among the Top 10 members of the House of Representatives with the highest number of bills and resolutions principally authored and filed-- a proof of their genuine commitment and hardwork in upholding the interests of the nation and the Filipino people which only a reactionary government will deem as an "eyesore".

The Philippine government knowingly spends billions on counterinsurgency efforts by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) even when a huge sum of it goes directly to the pockets of corrupt military and police officials in their fraud surrenderee programs. The well-funded task force has achieved nothing but increase the cases of human rights violations in the country including harassment intimidation, and killings of activists, dissenters, and critics of the government.

Government resources are wasted on state's scare tactics and war-mongering while little to almost nothing is pledged to basic social services. The country is now on its 8th month braving a pandemic, yet aid and services remain inaccessible to the marginalized and most vulnerable sectors amid lockdowns. Efforts in containing and resolving the COVID19 pandemic is not met with the same sense of urgency as a sound government would towards a national issue.

MAKABAYAN EV points finger to no other than the AFP and PNP as the perpetrators and masterminds of this redtagging, terror-tagging spree in the region. Flyers and streamers, of mediocre and poorly done-graphics design, red tagging and vilifying activists are scattered everwhere from cities to provinces. The recent black propaganda materials (as seen in the picture s) are well-placed in areas where police outposts and/or checkpoints are only a few meters away. No to mention that these streamers in well-constructed wooden frames were nailed on the trees which is a violation of Republic Act 3571 prohibiting the destruction and damage of trees on public roads/grounds, and of Presidential Decree 953 vs unauthorized damaging and injuring of certain trees and vegetation.

What makes this more enraging is the fact that the resources used in these unintelligent and inutile acts are government resources that could have benefitted millions of Filipino people who are left to starve due to severe poverty if not die from the admin's own anti-people policies (Terror Law, war on drugs).

The AFP and PNP may stand firm in denying the fact that they are behind these attacks but their complicity in allowing the hanging of streamers where they could have seen the culprits and their own long history of redtagging are enough proof of their involvement.

MAKABAYAN, through its National Office, is now preparing to take legal actions against these continuous attacks. At a time when the government through its mercenaries is ever more desperate and eager in invalidating our efforts by resorting to red tagging, haraasment and killings, to bring the fight against their fascist leadership to a higher level is necessary. Lest we forget that redtagging itself had been the cause of the unjust deaths of many.

AND THE PEOPLE’S LASTING CLAMOR FOR JUSTICE

The 8th of November has left a permanent scar for Taclobanons and the people of Eastern Visayas. Seven years ago, on this same day, the world stood witness to how the strongest and most devastating typhoon to ever be recorded in history claimed the lives of no less than 18,000 individuals— including beloved grandparents, caring parents, pregnant moms, and innocent children—all in a snap of a finger. While billions-worth of damages to properties and agriculture left survivors shelter-less and with nothing to eat.

For the longest time, we have been made to brave the grave impacts of disasters that are ever-worsening due to climate change—taught to be more resilient one typhoon after another. All while the root causes of our increasing vulnerabilities i.e. capitalist environmental plunder and government neglect, remain unchecked.

As we commemorate the 7th anniversary of the onslaught of ST Yolanda, we remember our families, friends, and colleagues whose lives were taken way too soon and whose claims for justice lie at the heart of the People Surge movement. We will continue to stand in solidarity with all disaster survivors in the pursuit for justice and accountability.

DOUBLE-DEAD: PH’s CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE, YOLANDA REHABILTATION AND COVID19

When we talk about natural disasters, it is important to assess vulnerabilities and how it disproportionately affects certain sections of society. Central to the issue of ST Yolanda risk-reduction and post-disaster rehabilitation efforts (or the lack thereof) is criminal negligence by the state. It is responsible for making us twice as vulnerable to disasters. From the onset of the typhoon and even years later, the government never once failed in proving its incompetence. For seven years, the people of Eastern Visayas have yet to fully recover from the impacts of Yolanda with the rehabilitation efforts still unfinished, ‘pabahays’ in resettlement areas now dilapidated due to NHA housing fraud, livelihoods affected by the non-distribution of livelihood grants and the endless anti-poor reclamation efforts and demolitions of informal settler communities, fisherfolk communities, and sidewalk vendors, and most especially widespread corruption of calamity funds.
The PH government’s response to disasters has always been insufficient and highly ineffective. While the common people amass nationwide sympathy that solicit huge sum of donations from NGOs and CSOs, corrupt politicians use these opportunities to juice profit from aid-funded projects that are supposed to cater to the needs of the victims. Government neglect and disaster capitalism are exactly the reasons why we remain in this horrible situation. The failure to release the 20B Yolanda fund meant for housing projects, the misallocation of “remaining” funds to Marawi despite still ongoing rehabilitation for Yolanda victims, the corruption within the National Housing Authority involving its twelve high-ranking officials who were handling the Yolanda Permanent Housing Project (YPHP) and the anti-poor and corporate-backed build-back better initiative of the Romualdezes in Tacloban including the demolitions of ISCs to pave way for the building of malls and commercial areas, the introduction of electronic jeepneys in replacement of traditional jeepneys and PUVs, the positioning of resettlement areas in northern barangays where there is no work and no source of livelihood.

Now with the Covid 19 pandemic and the poor handling of the government, residents in relocation sites are now having trouble looking for sources of income. Majority of them work in the downtown areas of Tacloban and with the implementation of lockdowns and strict quarantine protocols, residents are unable to work and earn. With the strict “No Work, No Pay” policy, residents are left with no choice but to either starve or succumb to the endless cycle of money-borrowing and lending without the certainty of having the means to pay.

OUR CALL FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

People Surge has never veered away from calling out the very root cause of worsening environmental conditions which is capitalist greed. More than the people’s individual responsibility to care of our environment, there lies a greater challenge for us to take part in the worldwide campaign for climate justice to truly address the problem.

We see the call for climate justice as a cry for social justice. While imperialists and capitalist states are responsible for the numerous environmental plunders that cause the state of our environment to deteriorate, it is us in poor countries, whose economies are not as resilient, who pay the price. It is in this setup that climate change becomes no longer just a natural phenomenon but a matter of pollical question.

Imperialist and capitalist states have long been the biggest contributors of harmful gas emissions such as the CO2 that results in the warming the world. 2017 data shows China and the United States are responsible for the total of 40% of CO2 or greenhouse gasses emission in the world. In 2017, China, a fast growing economy, surpassed the US as the top C02 emitter with 9.84GT(metric gigaton) while the latter ranked second with 5.27GT. In 2018, data shows China still on top with 10.06GT and the US with 5.41GT. In comparison, Philippines only contributed 1.2kilotons of CO2 in world emissions. Yet, like any other third world country, PH suffers the most with an average of at least 20 typhoons entering its area of responsibility every year and drought issues now lasting for months.

While China now has the higher index for greenhouse gasses emission, US still has to be held accountable for its aggressive CO2 emissions in the past decades. The damage US has inflicted upon the environment is irreversible and will have an enduring effect on the worsening global climate crisis.

These countries must answer to the marginalized peoples of Third World countries, including and most especially to us Filipinos, who always fall prey to disaster vulnerabilities which could have been prevented if not for countries like the US and China and their capitalist greed. It is for this reason that our call for environmental and climate justice must in itself be a call for social justice— to hold accountable local leaders for their negligence and questionable environmental policies and to militantly fight for downfall of the capitalist system.

THE PEOPLE’S SURGE

Now on our 6th year in service, People Surge vows to continue the fight for justice for all Yolanda and disaster survivors. We will continue to push the disaster survivors’ Agenda and see to it that all perpetrators, particularly those in power, will be held accountable. While the state continues to pressure and intimidate environmental activists like our very own Secretary General, Marissa Cabaljao, who was illegally arrested early this year over trumped up charges, People Surge will never succumb to the state’s fear-mongering and intimidation. The people who fight for and alongside the oppressed and marginalized are neither enemies of the state nor terrorists. Only insecure, inutile, and fascist governments are quick to use these scare tactics to manipulate the truth and evade justice.

As we call for the junking of the case filed against Marissa and an end to all illegal persecution of environmental defenders, we enjoin everyone to join the fight for justice and accountability and contribute in the worldwide movement for climate and social justice. There is no disaster far greater than the surge of a united people’s movement!

People Surge stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who became victims of the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.

Their sufferings are all too familiar to the people of Eastern Visayas who bore the brunt of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
Waves that wash out homes, strong winds that peel off roofs, typhoons that take away lives--these are risks that could've been avoided if not for the crimininal negligence off the state. We have yet to hear the final count of causalties in Luzon, especially in the Bicol region. But a single life lost to any disaster is already one too many.

In the same vein, while we humbly call upon your generous hearts to ask for donations for the victims of typhoon Rolly, we enjoin all of you as well to take part in the call for justice for all disaster victims who were deprived of their chance to survival by the same government who remains adamant and disinterested in addressing social vulnerabilities that continue to endanger its own people.

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CALL FOR DONATIONS
For monetary donations:
Thalia R. Villela
BPI Savings Account 008339 4735 53
BDO Savings Account 012220 0134 36
GCash 09152683515

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NDRRMC: (5:25AM,01Nov20) Red Rainfall sa Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Northern Samar, Camarines Norte, at Masbate. Asahan ang matinding pag-ulan, pagbaha at pagguho ng lupa.

CALL FOR DONATIONS

In preparation for the devastation of super typhoon Rolly, Tulong Kabataan would like to ask for donations to provide relief to our brothers and sisters in the Bicol Region as well as for the setting up of soup kitchens in NCR.

For cash donations:

Thalia R. Villela

BPI Savings Account
008339 4735 53

BDO Savings Account
012220 0134 36

Joshua Marcial
GCash
0915 268 3515

For In-Kind Donations:

Joshua Marcial
09152683515

Sama-sama nating patunayan na ang kabataan ay ang pag-asa ng bayan. Magtulungan tayo!

Update on the impact of to Camarines Sur.