Press Release June 20, 2000 SENSELESS MINDANAO WAR IS THE CULPRIT
FOR BURGEONING BUDGET DEFICIT "WHY pass the buck to us!" This was the reaction of the militant Confederation for Unity, Recognition & Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE), an umbrella organization of government employees’ unions nationwide, to a Malacaņang announcement that the employees’ mid-year bonus contributed to the swelling of the budget deficit. According to COURAGE, the mid-year bonus given to employees are programmed monetary benefits already appropriated for in the yearly national budget. "It’s the costly war in Mindanao that is responsible for the burgeoning government expenses. We are being used conveniently as scapegoats". Ferdinand Gaite, COURAGE National President, said that even in October last year, President Estrada called the state workers "MAGNANAKAW" (thieves) when they asked for the restoration of their amelioration pay which he scrapped via E.O. 87. The practice of giving amelioration pay started from the Ramos administration and the amount usually comes from the generated savings of each agency. "We were allegedly stealing funds which should be used for public services. But the truth is, he is just using us as an excuse to implement his foreign master’s impositions to cut on personnel services expenditures. Now, we are the one being used to cover-up the huge expenses incurred from their stupid all out war which is now exacting a heavy toll not only on the people in Mindanao but also in Luzon and Visayas. Since the amount could have been diligently spent for much-needed services". Gaite added that aside from putting the blame on them, it is also the employees that are asked to suffer and sacrifice. President Estrada just recently ordered a mandatory 5% savings per Department / government agency supposedly as a measure to save some PhP30 billion to finance rehabilitation projects in Mindanao. There are almost no more funds for public service, yet they extoll us to do austere measures! Later, they will resort to lay-off to generate the savings". "But we also have reasons to believe that they will again use the amount to finance the military offensives in Mindanao. Reports have it that some PhP20 billion is needed by the government for the war. How can there be rehabilitation when the war is still ongoing? Also, because of the budget deficit, they will expedite the privatization of other state enterprises such as the National Food Authority (NFA) in exchange for more foreign loans. Burden is really too much for the people and the public employees!" # |
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