From the Office of Rep. Crispin Beltran

South Wing Room 602 House of Representatives

Constitution Hills 1126 Quezon City, Philippines

Reference: Rep.Crispin Beltran (+63)9278711080

Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff  931.6615, 09195065269

 

 News Release   Monday, January 15, 2007

 

$20 million spent on ostentatious display, but the ASEAN's policies will not benefit ordinary citizens in the end

 

Anakpawis Representative and political detainee Crispin Beltran expressed doubt that the  $20 million the Macapagal-Aroyo government and the local government of Cebu spent for the preparation and conduct of the recently concluded summit of the 10-nation Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will result to more jobs, improved services, higher wages and a higher quality of life for Filipinos in the aftermath of the ASEAN meet.

 

"It was all  a show, an ostentatious display whose costs will eventually be shouldered by Filipinos. $20 million is nothing to scoff to at, and it could've been spent on more important, more urgent things that Filipinos need. The Philippines is in the midst of a debilitating economic crisis, yet for the sake of showing off, the Arroyo government spent an exorbitant and immorally large amount of money to fete and entertain foreign officials. The callousness of the Arroyo government is shocking," he said.

 

Beltran said that for all the reports that the ASEAN summit was a success, the  impact of the economic and trade agreements forged and finalized have yet to be seen. "But if the record of the ASEAN and the Philippines' involvement in it is any indication, there will be very little benefit for ordinary Filipinos. Most of the economic pacts are in line with the policies of globalization – privatization, deregulation and liberalization, all of which have already wrought untold damage on the Philippine economy and local businesses and formerly government-owned industries  that directly serve the public," he said.

 

"None of the talks in the ASEAN delved into the worsening employment situation in the member-countries, of the deteriorating quality of life of their respective marginalized sectors.  It was a meeting of technocrats and bureaucrats, and as expected, the more urgent concerns of  ordinary citizens gripped in the talons of worsening poverty and want were ignored. Malacanang has nothing to crow about," he concluded.

 

2)       Sale of more energy assets questionable and timing suspicious given closeness to elections

 

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran said that the Department of Energy's call to Congress that it allow the National Power Corporation to enter into contracts for additional capacity and allow foreign investors to build new power plants despite a prohibition under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

 

According to reports, officials of the the Germany-based STEAG State Power Inc. are complaining that there are no long-term investment opportunities in the Philippines, hence the DOE is calling on Congress to take legislative action to remedy this.

 

"Foreign investors already have it good in the Philippines and are being treated like royalty, with tax exemptions and other financial perks. The DOE, instead of being at the beck and call of foreign investors in the energy sector should instead respond to the countless complaints of ordinary consumers regarding the immoral increases in electricity rates," he said. "The DOE is acting as salesman extraordinaire, palming off the Napocor's electricity facilities to foreign-owned the independent power producers that further puts the Philippines' power supply security  in the mercy of foreign corporations."

 

"And the timing is also suspicious. With the elections around the corner, government agencies rushing the sale of more government assets is all the more questionable because the proceeds from the sale can and most likely be used for the campaign fund of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration and its candidates," he said.    #