By
Liling Magtolis Briones
From ABS-CBN Interactive
October 15, 2007
Bonn, Germany. I am writing this
by hand in the land of efficiency and advanced technology: Germany
. Internet here costs the earth. I am drafting this column by
hand before typing it into a computer and emailing it. I didn’t
bring my laptop. Since I am deathly afraid of the cold, I opted
to handcarry a heavy overcoat instead of a laptop.
Bonn, Germany. I am writing this by hand in the
land of efficiency and advanced technology: Germany . Internet
here costs the earth. I am drafting this column by hand before
typing it into a computer and emailing it. I didn’t bring
my laptop. Since I am deathly afraid of the cold, I opted to handcarry
a heavy overcoat instead of a laptop.
I am getting back my knack for writing by hand again. Caesar Agnir,
president of Northern Christian Colleges in Laoag and faithful
reader of this column, swears by it.
The Return of the Debt Jedi. Every literate person
knows about the immortal Starwars series which enraptured movie
audiences more than twenty years ago. The last film, “The
Return of the Jedi” is the most exciting of all. This is
when the Jedi returned after a bitter defeat to smash the evil
Empire which had the entire galaxy in its grip.
More than twenty years ago, Rep. Edcel Lagman teamed up with Freedom
from Debt Coalition in a massive campaign to repeal automatic
appropriation of the debt service, and cancel payments of illegitimate
debt. The FDC president was a professor named Leonor Magtolis
Briones.
During the Cory Aquino Administration, Edcel successfully led
Congress in reducing the debt service several times and allocating
the reduced amount to social development. President Aquino immediately
vetoed these congressional initiatives.
When President Ramos came into power, Edcel Lagman succeeded in
convincing his colleagues in Congress to create a Committee of
the Whole just to discuss the matter of debt. In an unprecedented
move, Professor Briones and Professor Winnie Monsod addressed
the entire Congress and explained why it was necessary to repeal
automatic appropriation of the debt service. There were no questions
asked.
Freedom from Debt Coalition lobbied with individual congressmen
and conducted briefings and dialogues. The latter promised support.
The day before the voting, Speaker de Venecia called for a caucus
of administration Congressmen. The next day, Congress was filled
to the rafters with students, peasants and labor union members.
Thousands more waited outside. One by one Congressmen cast their
vote. Those who rejected the Lagman bill far outnumbered those
who favored it. Many supporters disappeared for one lame reason
or another.
The Empire had won.
Now, Edcel is himself Chair of the Appropriations Committee. With
full support of his colleagues in Congress particularly the Minority
Group, the Liberal Party, Freedom from Debt Coalition, and Social
Watch which called for suspension of debt payments in its alternative
budget , the national budget was passed on October 12, 2007.
According to the Inquirer the debt service was reduced by P17.3
billion.
Yes, the Debt Jedi have returned. This time, they are stronger
and have much broader support. They have the support even of administration
representatives.
Kudos to the 48 civil society organizations who joined forces
with Social Watch Philippines and Freedom from Debt Coalition!
Thank you to the champion of alternative budgeting, Teofisto “TG”
Guingona III, Minority Group led by Reps. Ronaldo Zamora, and
Darlene Antonino-Custodio, Rufus Rodriguez, as well as the Liberal
Party group led by Reps. Lorenzo Tanada III, Hermilando Mandanas,
Joseph Emilio Abaya and Liwayway Vinzons-Chato. A round of applause
for the Appropriations Committee headed by Rep. Edcel Lagman and
members like Cong. Eduardo Gullas, Carmencita Reyes and Thelma
Almario.
For the first time in a long, long while, Congress is asserting
its power over the purse. Even as it is dominated by the majority,
it has refused to be a stamping pad of the Executive and has signaled
that it intends to maintain the balance of power between the Executive
and the Legislative. This is as it should be in a democracy.
Now, the debt issue is laid at the door of the Senate who can
either stand by the original debt service or support the initiative
of Congress. Eventually this issue will land with the Executive.
Will history repeat itself? Abangan!
From a distance. Being away is an excellent opportunity to view
the Philippines from a distance. I am here to attend the meeting
of the Coordinating Committee of Social Watch which is composed
of individuals from fifteen different countries. A global viewpoint
certainly helps in analyzing Philippine developments from a larger
perspective.
For example, the Alternative Budget Initiative organized by Social
Watch Philippines is considered very significant in terms of the
global movement for participatory budgeting. The united action
of Congress on the debt service which was initiated by civil society,
is a source of inspiration to other countries who are still struggling
with heavy debt burdens.
Truly, the Philippines is a trailblazer in effective civil society
action.
(Ms.
Leonor Briones is a former National Treasurer of the Philippines.
She is currently teaching public administration at the National
College of Public Administration and Governance, University of
the Philippines. She is also a Co-Convenor of Social Watch Philippines
. She also writes a column for the Business Mirror)
Other
Feature articles:
-Of
Command and commandeered votes
-Coming
soon: young bureaucracy?
-What
to do the morning after the night before
-Out
Where the Country Begins
-Questions
Begging for Answers
-Attaining
the MDGS: Are We Really On Track?
-The
sky is not falling?
-The
Governance of Fraternities
-Bribery,
Debt and Borrowing
-In
Praise of the Senate
-Recapturing
the Power of the Purse
-Making
History Softly
