The KALAHI-CIDSS NTWG Approved Creation of Technical Working Group Urban CDD

          According to the presenter of The KALAHI-CIDSS (KC) is a project of the Philipine Government implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development . Using the Community-Driven Development Approach, the project aims to address poverty by a) empowering citizens to meaningfully participate in development activites, and b) enhancing the capacity of local governments to effectively respond to citizen's informed demand for development. This project begun in 2003 and has covered 184 poor rural municipalities in 42 of the poorest provinces in the country.

          This period of project implementation, (urban CDD), aims to cover poor urban areas in 75 Urban Poor Communities in Metro Manila, Cavite and Laguna.  The total project cost of $3,600,000 will be counter funded as grant in the amount of $3,000,000 by the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) and $600,000 by the Phil. Government.

          The KALAHI-CIDSS National Technical Working Group created the Technical Working Group on Urban CDD composed of government agencies and civil society. Susanita "Babes" Tesiorna, President of ALLWIE/S being an institutional partner of the Department of Labor and Employment was endorsed to participate the 1st meeting towards its creation.  The DOLE must be confident of endorsing Susanita Tesiorna because of her active engagement of the KALAHI-CIDSS being a member of its National Steering Committee from its pioneering stage (2003 to 2005) and her expertise in informal economy organizing through enterprise development, a key component in this project implementation. 

            During this meeting held at Adarna and Food Culture on May 20, 2011, Ms. Tesiorna proposed that the private sector should be included as one of the dialogue partners for marketing of product assistance and inventory bulk-buying, the group enterprise development should be encouraged as one of the prototype and DTI must have full participation to guide what kind of products and services to go into for business to avoid the wish-listing attitude of the clients.

            Usec. Jude Esquerra from the National Anti-Poverty Commission also expressed that this project must be consistent with PNoy's thrust of "Balik Probinsiya" for the informal settlers.  

Breakfast Meeting with PNoy on Labor Day 2011

Pres. Simeon Benigno Aquino III joins the Labor Leaders and Speakers
of the Program.  From PNoy to right : Ms. Esperanza Ocampo for PGEA-
TUCP, Atty Allan Montano for FFW, Victorino Balais for PTGWO-TUCP,
Susanita "Babes" Tesiorna for ALLWIE/S-TUCP, Sr. M. Bernadette C.
 Guzman, RGS for PAMWA, Vladimir Tupaz for TUPAS an Sec. Rosalinda
 Dimapilis-Baldoz of DOLE 

“ LABOR DAY 2011 “

Speech by Susanita G.  Tesiorna

                  President, ALLWIE/S

            His Excellency, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, *(the Hon. Vice-President Jejomar C.  Binay, who helped us in the implementation of the DOLE Country Program for the Informal Setor, especially in providing the food vendors “Jolly Jeeps” to avoid demolition by MMDA), Hon. Roalinda Baldoz and Sec. Butch Abad, other honorable members of the Cabinet, my fellow workers, leaders, the ILO Country Director and guests,

            “ Maalab na Pagbati Tungo sa Marangal na Trabaho at Disenteng Pamumuhay Para Sa Lahat sa pamamagitan ng Matuwid na Daan Tungo sa Kaunlaran Para Sa Lahat! ” 

            While our brothers in the formal labor, sounds loud for increased salary, the workers in the informal economy, sounds louder, for security of workplaces, and at workplaces, to preserve their only means of living. 

            Mr. President, I  bring to your attention today,  the most pressing issues of the home workers, street vendors, small transport, micro-entrepreneurs and non-corporate construction workers, to keep their only means of livelihood, preserved and protected by the government: 

1. No clear policy and institutionalized program for alternative livelihood for the displaced street vendors, kuliglig drivers and operators, and those demolished urban poor;
   
   
2. No implementation of RA 9509 which mandates establishment of livelihood centers or common work areas and skills training centers in the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th class municipalities for the home producers and micro-entrepreneurs;
   
   
3. Unsustained mechanism for consultative processes for inclusion in the national and local government development plans of issues of informal economy for the protection of workplaces and at workplaces;
   
   
4. Lack of support in the passage of the bill , the Magna Carta for the Workers in the Informal Employment which promotes for the protection and development of the workers in informal economy in the local government, most especially; and,
   
   
5. Lack of implementation of the RA 6685 which should have generated jobs in the construction industry of local infrastructure projects, or implementation of for the non-corporate construction workers; and,
   
   
6. Bureaucratic bottlenecks in the engagement of sectoral groups with the local government for all Basic Sectors.

Mr. President, ALLWIE/S  envision the workers in the informal sector/economy  who are:

>     emancipated from the bondage of poverty, inequality, vulnerability and
       disadvantage,

>     with equal access to opportunity, human rights and an environment that is
       democratic and equitable, and

>     are able to fulfill their full potentials and take control of their future.

As we celebrate today Labor Day 2011, millions of workers in the informal economy await your pronouncement, a commitment that will protect our workplaces, that will protect our only means of living.

            The 24.76 million workers in the informal economy will remain disadvantaged and will have to do their own battle for emancipation from poverty without your support, without your commitment for action.

 Mabuhay ang Manggagawang Pilipino !          

Legend:  *  Omitted since VP Binay wasn’t able to attend.