Aquino urged to focus on jobs creation, wage hike

MANILA, Philippines - Various groups on Wednesday urged President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III to focus on issues such as unemployment and the education budget as soon as he takes over the highest post of the land.

In a statement, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said Aquino and Vice-President-elect Jejomar Binay are now faced with the many problems left behind by the Arroyo administration, including corrupted institutions, human rights abuses, chronic unemployment, worsening poverty, landlessness, high taxes and a justice system that the people no longer trust.

"The arduous task of reversing and undoing the many failed policies of the Arroyo regime must begin as soon as possible. Many positive steps can be taken within the first 100 days of the next administration," it said in a statement.

Bayan said the two leaders should adhere to the straight path and bring closure to many outstanding issues such as the 2004 election fraud, the ZTE-NBN deal and various cases of corruption leveled against President Arroyo and other government leaders.

For its part, the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) said job generation, regularization and wage increase should be the top priorities of the incoming administration.

Carlito Badion, Kadamay vice chairman, said active support and promotion must be given local small and medium enterprises (SMEs),  while outgoing President Arroyo's "emergency employment" program should be revisited and revised into providing sustainable jobs with decent pay.

Badion also urged Aquino to certify as urgent House Bill 1722 providing for a nationwide P125 wage increase.

The Kabataan party-list, meanwhile, reminded Aquino of his promise to allot 6% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the education budget as prescribed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In a statement, Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino presented an 8-point agenda to address the education crisis in the country.

“Gloria Arroyo will leave behind the most shameful and tragic legacy for Philippine education characterized by the lowest education spending, yearly tuition hikes, the highest dropout rate, unresolved corruption, disrespect of students’ democratic rights and freedoms and a systematic neglect of the government of the education sector,” said Palatino.

“The youth is expecting much from President-elect Noynoy Aquino who, during the campaign period, avowed to include education amongst his top priorities if elected into office, and who, on the eve of his proclamation, declared that he is counting on the youth to take a more active role in society for change.”

The eight-point agenda includes: Increasing state spending on education to 6% of the GDP, implementing a 3-year moratorium on tuition and other fee increases in all levels, promote a nationalist curriculum, uphold democratic rights of students,  improve teachers’ welfare, improve science, research and technology development, promote transparency and sanction corruption cases in education programs and contracts and review existing policies and institutions of education.

Source: ABS-CBNnews