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 CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
Abominable contrasts ... ........................................ 27
COVER STORY
The Second National Rural Congress ............... 16
Towards a preferential listening for the poor
ARTICLES
The Specific Character of Food Insecurity in the
Philippines Today .................................................. 4
WE have reprinted liberally in this issue the Editorial
of Impact of March 1967—which was especially is-
sued for the First National Rural Congress, Impact
being its official organ; not for a comparative note or
nostalgia, but simply to establish cursory point of
departure.
Like in the movies, sequels or recalls are seldom any
better than the original. The old editorial describes the
first: “In terms of impact on the public consciousness,
the recent Rural Development Congress, sponsored
by the Catholic Hierarchy, was undoubtedly one of
the most successful held in the Philippines in recent
years.”
Impact has captured all the preparations, consulta-
tions, programs and speeches, but most specially the
mind and the perspective of the times—enthusiastic as
the Church was about social activism which was a
happy departure from a baroque ecclesiology that was
“aggiornamentoed” by the Second Vatican Council.
“The Church goes to the barrio” was not only a theme
of the National Congress for Rural Development—its
was a new ecclesiology flowering from a very potent
document of Vatican II, “Pastoral Constitution on the
Church in the Modern World” (Gaudium et Spes) which
was promulgated in December of 1965 by Pope Paul
VI, upon whose prodding and initiative the first Rural
Congress was held in the Philippines in February of
1967.
There was some urgency as maybe gleaned from the
message of Rufino Cardinal Santos, then Archbishop
of Manila: “For time is of the essence. We must mediate
between the rich and the poor and, with God’s unfail-
ing grace, let us go hand in hand toward the Kingdom
of heaven. But meanwhile let charity and justice pre-
vol42_no07.pmd 3 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
IMPAC T July 2008 / Vol 42 • No 7
Agrarian Reform and Economic Development ... 8
The shameful history of population control ...... 12
‘The Church goes to the barrio’ ............................ 20
Is the Church interested in rural progress? ....... 21
DEPARTMENTS
Quote in the Act ....................................................... 2
News Features .......................................................... 22
Statements ................................................................ 25
From the Blogs ......................................................... 26
From the Inbox ........................................................ 28
Book Reviews .......................................................... 29
CINEMA Review .................................................... 30
News Briefs .............................................................. 31
vails—for this is the way to earthly peace first and
foremost with God in the hereafter.”
The rural congress “marks a beginning of a consoli-
dated response of the Church in the Philippines to the
needs, the anxieties, the difficulties of the people living
in our rural areas,” wrote Zamboanga Archbishop
Lino Gonzaga, then President of Catholic Welfare
Organization (the forerunner of CBCP).
In his message, Gonzaga said: “May God bless this
Congress with a realization by our people that if we
hope to find sound solutions to our social problems,
we must rouse ourselves to action and build without
delay an unshakable national and social structure set
firmly on justice as a foundation and brought to perfec-
tion by charity.”
But how about the Second National Rural Congress?
The blueprint is beautifully enshrined in a Pastoral
Statement “The Dignity of the Rural Poor—A Gospel
Concern.” The overarching thought is: “But this time
our farmers must do that speaking by themselves, the
discerning, the proposing of their own ideas, the plan-
ning of how we must as a people come together to work
for the common good of the country and ourselves.”
Sister Pinky Barrientos, FSP, asks in our cover story,
“Is the Church really listening to the cry of the poor?”
Whether by rhyme or reason, the poor of today have
learned to express themselves in a wide spectrum of
perspectives. Is the Church willing to accept plurality
as it does in initiatives of inter-religious dialogue?
Read on.
Volume 42 • Number 7 3
 ARTICLES

T
heworld converged in Rome early
June for an international summit on
food security. In that summit, the
message from churches and faith commu-
nities was unequivocal: feed the hungry.
‘Give food to those who are dying of
hunger because if you do not, you shall
have killed them,’ warned Pope Benedict

The Specific
XVI in his message read by Tarcisio Car-
dinal Bertone.
Ten million hunger-related deaths
every year, half of them children, testify to

Character of
our failure to achieve global food security,
defined as “the condition in which every-
one has access to sufficient and afford-

Food Insecurity
able food.”
In a briefing paper produced by the
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace,
the Vatican said that the current food crisis

in the Philippines
began in 2005, and is extraordinary be-
cause the price increases have affected
almost all agricultural products, hitting

many countries and enduring over a long
stretch of time. It identified circumstantial
causes of the food crisis: bad weather in
many cereal-producing countries, the rise
in energy prices that make production and
transportation more costly, and specula-
tion by commodity investors who have
bought low and sold high. It did not regard
population increase as central because it
is a fact, for instance, that while overall
population growth creates pressure on
food security, it is a relatively minor factor.
Since 1961 world production of food has
trebled whilst the population has doubled.
The Philippine situation
But in the case of the Philippines,
what is the real situation? Well, for starters
let us underscore the obvious: the Philip-
pines has no comprehensive food master
plan, certainly no comprehensive rice
master plan despite all the talk to the con-
trary in all the instant food summits con-
vened every time there is a temporary
shortage in rice supply or an unpredicted
surge in fuel-fueled rice prices. So, let’s
take a good look, get on an imaginary
flying vehicle and, as Catholic Social
Teaching (CST) always advised: “see,
judge, and act.”
From an imaginary standpoint, let us
take a good look at the islands (yes, is-
lands, we are not a land mass, unlike Thai-
land or China, and our population-to-ar-
able land ratio is much lower) and some 90
million people hoping to be regularly fed
from some 12 million hectares of arable
land. The people are increasing in num-
bers rather persuasively–at 2.5 percent
Today
By Charles R. Avila
per annum. God is allowing the making of
more people. But he is not making new
lands.
More significant, however, is the fact
that we hardly use the lands he has given
us. We are bad stewards. We abuse those
lands, we misuse them, we destroy them;
we divide them up in the name of agrarian
justice and we hardly use them properly.
After harvesting one crop, do we plant
another one?
It is still not common practice to multi-
crop, or to crop-rotate. After one use, we
are done. In that one use, which maybe
more accurately termed “abuse,” we pour
in the synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesti-
cides and other toxin-generating chemi-
cals made from scarce, non-renewable,
and increasingly expensive fossil fuel. We
reject the native, renewable, less-expen-
sive-to-produce and healthful humus-en-
hancing organic type because there is
little government subsidy there. Year in
and year out we have done this, until there
is very little humus left in many of our
lands. We are, indeed, a funny lot.
Going back to our imaginary observa-
tion post, let’s look again at the lands and
people. They are throwing away fruits and
fish and vegetables. Why? The harvest
has been so good that the producers can’t
get good enough prices for their products.
From Trinidad Valley in Benguet to the
fertile lands of typhoon-free Mindanao
there is so much abundance and the result
is big losses for the producer. That’s why
he will not plant in the next round. What
for? He just lost! And the consumer will be
forced to import again, in a country that
should logically be No.1 exporter of all
kinds of agricultural goods.
This is the specific character of food
insecurity in the Philippines today. We
sure know how to produce—there’s no
question about that. It is settled doctrine
that we have taught Southeast Asia and
many other countries to produce. Interna-
tional agencies are over-populated with
Filipino experts from Los Baños who have
organized the food technology systems of
many nations. Production know-how is
not our problem. When you talk of sys-
tems of rice intensification, and miracle
seeds and wonderful hybrids, why, our
scientists and technologists always take
the gold medal. Our problem is not produc-
tion but, rather, it is our almost complete
ignorance or neglect of pre- and post-
production actions and structures – our
failure to install a food-security system.

4 IMPACT • July 2008

vol42_no07.pmd 4 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM

 The Specific Character of Food Insecurity in the Philippines Today
Our post-harvest losses in food are a
whopping 35 percent, much more than
what we end up importing.
Time to go back to the basics
It is time now—no one can disagree—
that we start going back to basics and
focus on the whole process from A to Z, to
include not only production but also post-
production stages. Of course, with the
current “crisis” there will be again a super-
abundance of talk along these lines, as
already happened many times in the past,
but there seems to be no power existing to
really walk the talk.
In this age of information, govern-
ments endeavor to keep their farmers well
informed in real time. Ours does not. We
passed a law a decade ago called AFMA—
the Agriculture and Fisheries Moderniza-
vol42_no07.pmd 5 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
tion Act—because we all agreed that the
Filipino farmer has to know what to plant,
when to plant, how much to plant, where or
on what soil, with what, what prices to
expect for his produce, where to bring the
product to in the immediate—in sum, to
feel and act like a part of a real food system
that goes beyond the agriculture sector to
other sectors of the economy like trans-
portation and construction and communi-
cation—with the goal of producing at lower
costs and therefore selling at lower prices
for consumers. Food, then, produced in
that context anywhere in this country can
be made available everywhere at almost
the same prices, or with minimum vari-
ance—simply because information can
lead to appropriate actions.
Information can lead to timely orders,
timely preparations for storage and trans-
portation—the works. Information can
prevent so much unnecessary importa-
tions. In fact, with the correct and timely
information on soil and seed and market
outlets the Filipino farmer can produce up
to 6 tons of rice per hectare rather than the
2.8 average that he does today. And that
is just for starters. Hundreds of master
farmers are already doing this with very
little external support.
The need for an agricultural mar-
keting service
The information system that has still to be
put in place is oftencalled elsewhere the
Agricultural Marketing Service or AMS.
This is the secret of countries like capital-
ist America, or communist China, or mixed
economy Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, Ma-
laysia, India, and even Indonesia—an
open secret hitherto hardly understood
Volume 42 • Number 7 5
 The Specific Character of Food Insecurity in the Philippines Today

by Filipinos and known in those countries

by almost the same name: the Agricultural
Marketing Service. It is really—and
should be—an agricultural and food intel-
ligence agency: something our text-ad-
dicted population could really get into.
India has done so with lots of success.
For our part, however, we are only
always beginning to organize this service
in our country: to look at the supply-
demand situation in the Philippines as a
whole and in the context of the world we
live in; to value and seek and disseminate
market information in a way that makes
possible rational production; to construct
cold chains of freezers and chillers in key
localities so that our fish can be fresh-
frozen and made available for consump-
tion even months after they are caught; to
establish a grain highway of silos and
warehouses and dryers and to establish a
nautical highway of ro-ro friendly ports in
a country that is not a land mass but an
archipelago—in sum, to have a national
post-production system that liberates
agriculture from a merely subsistence mode
to one that is integrated with the larger
economy and serves as the solid founda-
tion of industrialization, itself the founda-
tion of a strong republic. In all these mat-
ters we are perpetually inchoate. Follow
through that is a mark of enlightened and
© Rolex de la Pena / Corbis

strong governance hardly exists.

In rice and white corn, our staples, the
government idea of food security is theo-
retically quite clear and correct: it is the
attainment of self-sufficiency. But that is
pure paper theory. Time was when we were
all scandalized with the importation of a
hundred metric tons of rice. When we
reached 300 thousand in the mid-nineties,
the Secretary of Agriculture and the Ad-
ministrator of the NFA lost their jobs. Now
we import more than two million metric
tons and we only recently began to panic
over such an anomalous situation when
we should have always known that when
it comes to rice there is very little tradable
surplus internationally. Well, we have
achieved No. 1 status again: we are the
biggest rice importer on planet Earth. And
every importation deal is announced with
glee like it were a glorious achievement,
including the possibility of importing rice
from industrial Japan!
After CARP, rice became a small farmer
industry, for better or for worse. Timely
and low-interest credit, mechanization,
drying and warehousing and, before all
that, irrigation—where would the “newly
emancipated” farmer turn to now that his
former landlord is gone? To the govern-
ment, of course, and, ah, there is the rub.
The results speak louder than words.
And not quite underscored enough, too,
is the fact that more than 80 percent of cash
costs incurred by the small rice farmer go
to chemical fertilizers that deplete the or-
ganic matter of his soil and make him more
dependent, in a manner worse than drug
addiction, on more and more of the same
chemical fertilizers that cause a little in-
crease in production and much greater
increases in production costs making
many of such farmers conclude how all-
too-often working so hard and spending
so much may not be worth it at all. And are
we still surprised with our massive impor-
tations and food insecurity?
Non-maximized irrigable lands
Only about twenty-nine percent of all
actually irrigable rice lands are effectively
irrigated. This is about 1.34 million hect-
ares in all. Thailand’s 7-million hectares
are. And yet our limited irrigated lands
already produce 60 percent of all the rice
produced in the country. So, with a little
focus on the matter of irrigation, we should
be looking to exporting rather than import-
ing rice in no time at all, rice being a short-
term crop. But do we even have that focus
now? No?
Then we should wonder: there must
be something quite profitable in import-
ing rice or how explain the phenomenon of
increased importation from 150 metric tons
in 1995 to 620 metric tons in 2000 to 2.2-
million metric tons (required) in 2008. Can
we believe the former Speaker (Congress-
man Jose de Venecia) when he alleges that
there is an automatic $50/ton commission
for the powers-that-be in buying rice
abroad?
Many people say the former Speaker
should know—from experience. In that
case, who is getting a bonus of at least a
hundred million dollars this year? Not Mang
Ando, not Aling Sion, not me—you?

6 IMPACT • July 2008

vol42_no07.pmd 6 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM


Funny—when you look outside your
territorial boundaries: you notice it is the
industrial countries that register the big-
gest growth in agriculture. They subsidize
their agriculture because they know the
latter subsidizes industry as the very foun-
dation thereof. Weaken the foundation
that is agriculture and the building of in-
dustry collapses.
In the aftermath of the Second World
War they called it the European Common
Agricultural Policy and the US Farm Bill
that combined subsidies and tariffs to
support the pattern of small family farms
which were dominant at that time. These
policies proved successful, generating co-
lossal internal food surpluses. And they
are still intact. Of course, neither Europe
nor America would want countries like the
Philippines to follow in their footsteps.
Thus, all reports of economic growth
in the Philippines lately frankly admit that
the increase of activity is not in agriculture
nor in industry but in the service sector,
vol42_no07.pmd 7 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
In theory, all our food and agriculture-
related laws talk about this necessary nexus
making rural development and
industrialization the very purpose, say, of
agrarian reforms. In practice, however, there
has been very little understanding and
therefore very little effort systematically to
bring that nexus about. Until we have
achieved this quite sorry to say, chronic
food insecurity will be our lot.
and more particularly in the globalized
service sector better known as the world of
overseas workers. We call this the heroic
zone, the area for our “new heroes”. The
world needs and welcomes us in this re-
gard—to be their professional servants
and maids, but for how long? How long
can the world absorb the Filipino unem-
ployed and at what social costs for Filipi-
nos themselves?
Development of people
The goal of our country is develop-
ment—”populorum progressio,” to quote
the famous encyclical of 40 years ago. Devel-
opment is development of people: our in-
creased living standards and improved qual-
ity of life—”to have more and be more”.
Admittedly, as the history of civiliza-
tions has shown, it is industry that pro-
vides goods, services and material com-
forts to improve living standards. And it is
the complex of social values such as hu-
man dignity, self-reliance and gainful em-
ployment for every person that sets the
quality of life. But this kind of develop-
ment can only come by generating, mobi-
lizing and optimally utilizing natural and
human resources, natural genius and skills
and maximizing their returns.
The majority of people in our country
are, even now, still in rural areas. The
question then arises as to how to maxi-
mize the returns, let us say, for a hectare
of land. On land, we have soil, water,
forest or agricultural crop, animals and
people—under a given climate. How to
maximize the returns for these resources
is an issue.
ARTICLES
Rural industrialization
How to grow more crops and get
better yields is one thing: soil-water man-
agement, better seeds, fertilizers, pesti-
cides and farming techniques have in-
creased production. But these often in-
volved high-energy inputs and great
costs to environmental integrity and the
integrity of creation. The emerging tech-
nologies like tissue culture, genetic engi-
neering etc. likewise, offer great promise.
Nonetheless, the perception re-
mains regarding the predicament of di-
minishing returns to labor in agriculture
on one hand and low employment elas-
ticity in large-scale manufacturing on
the other hand. It is rural industrializa-
tion that will provide an escape from this
predicament—and, again, our laws, like
the CARL, provide this in pure theory—
something never meant to be put into
practice.
Rural people live on land and agri-
cultural development should have a
nexus with industry and transform the
industrial mode of production to one
that is friendly with Earth.
In theory, all our food and agricul-
ture-related laws talk about this neces-
sary nexus making rural development
and industrialization the very purpose,
say, of agrarian reforms. In practice,
however, there has been very little un-
derstanding and therefore very little ef-
fort systematically to bring that nexus
about. Until we have achieved this quite
sorry to say, chronic food insecurity will
be our lot. And with food insecurity, can
national insecurity be far behind? I
Volume 42 • Number 7 7
 ARTICLES
Agrarian Reform and Economic
Development
By Christian S. Monsod
Why Agrarian Reform?
T
he Philippines, dating back to the Span-
ish regime, has one of the worst in
equalities in the East Asian Region
with the richest 10 percent capturing 36
percent of total income and the richest 20
percent capturing 52 percent of total income.
The Philippines is comparable to Latin Ameri-
can countries. But within the Philippines
there are big disparities among provinces,
with Ilocos Sur being similar to East Asian
countries and Negros Occidental and Davao
more similar to the Latin American countries.
Poverty in the Philippines is largely
rural and agricultural; 70 percent of the
poor live in rural areas; 66 percent of the
poor have household heads engaged in
agriculture.
It is no longer debatable that eco-
nomic growth is required to reduce pov-
erty. Countries doing well in poverty re-
duction have also done well in economic
growth. And those who do well in eco-
8 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 8 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
nomic growth have a dynamic, equitable
and progressive agricultural sector. Agrar-
ian reform is a necessary, but is not a
sufficient condition, for agricultural de-
velopment. Thus, the factors for agricul-
tural development are:
(1) land redistribution (CARP) – leads
to better rural land and income distribution
which directly addresses poverty, and
stronger economic incentives for the farmer
beneficiaries as owner-cultivators to in-
vest in and improve productivity in their
landholdings. But, there are other equally
important factors:
(2) support services (credit and mar-
keting, skills development, technical as-
sistance and technology transfer);
( 3) infrastructure development
(4) appropriate agricultural and rural
development policies such as pricing of
agricultural output (i.e. low price of palay)
(5) measures to address demographic
(like migration) and climate (environmen-
tal and natural disaster) factors
In turn, agricultural development is a
necessary, but is not a sufficient condi-
tion, to address the poverty problem.
Agricultural development should be
complemented by measures on education,
health, industrial development, political
empowerment.
In other words, agrarian reform is not
part of the problem, it is part of the solution.
How does agrarian reform impact on
growth and the reduction of poverty?
(1) Early empirical work using cross-
section national data shows that an initial
high inequality in income distribution tends
to slow down subsequent growth;
(2) Later work using more comprehen-
sive data, suggests that it is not the in-
equality in income distribution per se
that is systematically related with growth,
but rather the inequality in the distribu-
tion of physical assets, particularly land.
In fact the studies by the Asia-Pacific

Policy Center demonstrates that 82 per-
cent of the provinces could attain higher
economic growth with lesser inequality.
(3) Political economy considerations:
(a) Concentration of assets may lead
to concentration of power and ability to
produce political outcomes reflective of
sectoral or personal preferences.
(b) High inequality breeds social dis-
content, leading to political instability,
reducing investment and therefore growth.
(4) Credit market imperfections – “To
the extent that physical assets are com-
monly accepted as collateral, the poor,
who do not have these assets, may be
unable to access credit and hence take
advantage of income-enhancing technolo-
gies and production processes. They may
also not have the means to smooth house-
hold consumption ¯ especially food and
health and education services for children
— in the event of downside risks, effec-
tively preventing them from escaping the
poverty trap from one generation to the
next. Investment in human capital forma-
tion and economically profitable opportu-
nities may thus be confined to owners of
land assets.”
Thus, the objectives of agrarian re-
form are: (1) equity – as mandated by the
Constitution; (2) economic efficiency/
growth – “improvement in land inequality
is not just about advancing equity goals;
it is also about raising the trajectory of
income growth by improving overall eco-
nomic efficiency.”
Equity Objective
• Social Justice is the heart of the new
Constitution
• Art. XIII – Sec. 1 “Congress shall
give the highest priority to the enactment
of measures that:
•• Protect and enhance the right of all
the people to human dignity
•• Reduce social, economic and politi-
cal inequality
••Remove cultural inequities
•• By equitably diffusing wealth and
political power for the common good.
• Kenneth Arrow (Nobel Peace Prize
economics) – “…who wrestled with the
tension between the unerring efficiency of
the free market and the imperative that
some kind of fairness should prevail. His
solution was brilliant, twisting the tradi-
tional thinking about competitive markets
and efficiency on its head. He proved that
not only are all markets efficient, all effi-
cient outcomes can be achieved using a
competitive market, by adjusting starting
vol42_no07.pmd 9 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
Agrarian Reform and Economic Development
positions.” (Tim Harford – The Under-
cover Economist)
Adjusting starting positions is ad-
dressing structural problems in the politi-
cal arena, mainly through electoral reform
and other measures such as the anti-dy-
nasty provision, term limits, universal suf-
frage through absentee voting, and social
structural problems through, among oth-
ers, agrarian reform, urban land reform and
housing, education and health.
The constitutional agenda = agrarian
reform, agriculture, industrialization:
• Art XII, Sec. 1, second par. “The
State shall promote industrialization and
full employment based on sound agricul-
tural development and agrarian reform,
through industries that make full and effi-
cient use of human and natural resources,
and which are competitive in both domes-
tic and foreign markets….”
• “Sec. 15. The State shall, by law,
undertake an agrarian reform program
founded on the right of farmers and regular
farmworkers, who are landless, to own
“Land reform is not a panacea for
poverty reduction. No land reform
program can be effective in achieving its
goals unless the economic and political
environment is conducive to sustained
economic growth and development.”
directly or collectively the land they till or,
in the case of other farmworkers, to receive
a just share of the fruits thereof. To this
end, the State encourages and undertakes
the just distribution of all agricultural lands,
subject to such priorities and reasonable
retention limits as the Congress may pre-
scribe, taking into account ecological,
developmental or equity considerations
and subject to the payment of just
compensatio…”
It was going to be probably the first
time that such a revolutionary program
would be tried under a democratic setting.
Has agrarian reform contributed sig-
nificantly to the twin objectives of
equity and economic efficiency?
There have been three main studies
on CARP. One in 2000, sponsored by
DAR and the Foreign Donor Community
and undertaken by UPLB, was an impact
assessment of CARP and concluded that
CARP in general was beneficial to agrar-
ian reform beneficiaries. Furthermore, the
studies showed that the Agrarian Reform
Community (ARC) approach of integrat-
ing agrarian reform with support services
in partnership with other agencies and
LGUs significantly increased the eco-
nomic and social welfare of the beneficia-
ries (micro) and communities (meso).
Another study, Phase II, in 2007 under-
taken by the Asia-Pacific Policy Center
(APPC) for DAR was done to determine if
the benefits found in the earlier impact
analyses are sustained and validated and
what things should be considered in the
extension of CARP. (Lim, Ateneo U.).
Another study by DAR and the German
Technical Assistance (GTZ) evaluated
the performance of CARP and the options
for the future of CARP. It was a positive
assessment, and not as others imply
through selective quotes, an indictment
of CARP.
Findings–Phase I Study:
1. Tenurial status . Between 1990 and
2006 (incl. Phase II), there has been a
significant increase in the share of respon-
dents that are owner-cultivators (more than
60 percent) compared to 30.5 percent in
1990. (Lim, Ateneo). Census of Agricul-
ture and Fisheries 1990 and 2002 show (a)
more farmers owning and operating the
lands they till; (b) improved tenure secu-
rity through leasehold, and (c) reduction
in share tenancy among farmers.
2. Social Capital. In 1993, average
membership in cooperatives or organiza-
tions in Agrarian Reform Community (ARC)
barangays was 54. As of 2006, the average
increased to 78 farmer-members per
barangay, even when the number of
barangays covered also increased.
3. Higher investment. ARBs with firm
titles invest more on farm assets com-
Volume 42 • Number 7 9
 ARTICLES

pared with non-ARBs or beneficiaries

with pending LADS
4. Non-monetary welfare. House-
holds in the ARC barangays are slightly
better off than those in the non-ARC
barangays, as demonstrated by the higher
proportion of better houses, such as
strong roofs
5. Education. Higher educational at-
tainment of ARC household members
aged 6 to 24 years.
6. Monetary welfare. (a) Estimates
indicate that in 1990, the per capita expen-
diture in ARC barangays was slightly
lower than in non-ARC barangays. By
2000, both figures have increased, with
ARC barangays having a per capita ex-
penditure higher than non-ARCs; (b)
Poverty incidence in ARCs decreased
from 40 to 25 percent over the period 1990
and 2000. This reduction is slightly higher
than that experienced by those in the
non-ARC areas.
7. Better perceptions of the future.
ARBs have better perceptions of their
economic and social conditions and are
more optimistic about their future than
ARBs. Both are, however, optimistic about
the future of CARP
8. Benefit-Cost Analysis of ARC vs.
non-ARC areas. While both yield posi-
tive net present values (NPV), the ARC
strategy yielded benefits of P5.41 for every
peso invested while benefits in non-ARC
areas yielded P3.41 per every peso in-
vested.
9. It is not just being an ARB that
reduces the chances of being poor (com-
pared with an non-ARB) but the length of
time being an ARB, and being in an ARC
reduces the chances of being poor from ARBs (validates previous invest- population growth and/or conversion of
10. Ownership of land matters. Ef- ments and expenditure findings). In both agricultural lands may be mitigating the
fect of Land Ownership and the ARC the 2000 and 2006 studies, ARBs used positive results.
strategy (controlling for other factors): more four-wheeled tractors, chemical fer- 5. Productivity. The macro study also
(a) Per capita expenditure, per capita tilizers, chemical pest controls, certified gathered data on yields on the three main
income, and per capita net farm incomes seeds, labor and crop rotation. Owner- crops – rice, corn and coconut using data
of farmers with no lands (whether in cultivator status appears to be an effective from BARBD and BAS. The data showed
ARCs or non-ARCs) are significantly incentive for more intensive agriculture. that average yields for rice and corn are
lower than their counterparts owning 2. Poverty incidence from 2000-2006, much higher in ARCs, but not for coconut
land; (b) ownership of land implies that poverty incidence among ARB declined and sugarcane. The yields particularly of
the odds that you are non-poor are at slightly from 45.8 to 44.8 percent ARBs sugarcane lagged because these are areas
least 1.76 to as much as 2.6 times that of remained the same (53.1 percent). where land distribution through compul-
being poor. 3. Real Income per capita – ARB sory acquisition is low. It may be that the
11. In addition: with irrigation, the households = P 4,776 (1990), P 16,008 (2000) more fertile coconut and sugar lands still
probability of being non-poor increases and P18,852 (2006) compared to non-ARB have to be distributed.
by 24 percent; with credit, the probability households of P3,544 (1990), P11,257 (2000) What about the low productivity of
of being non-poor increases by 15 per- and P 15,594 (2006). Philippine farms, i.e. rice? The Philippines’
cent. 4. The macro study shows that aver- 3.5 tons/ha is lower than the yields in
age farm size is declining. But ARBs are Japan, Korea, PRC, Taiwan, Vietnam and
Findings–Phase II Study maintaining their landholdings shares since Indonesia although higher than Malaysia,
1990. CARP may be delivering its land India and Thailand.
1. More intensive agricultural inputs transfer mandate but external factors like It is no coincidence that Japan, Korea,

10 IMPACT • July 2008

vol42_no07.pmd 10 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM

 Agrarian Reform and Economic Development
rice, corn, coconut and sugar have higher
yields. And contract growers in pineapple/
bananas are not inferior to corporate farms
supplying Dole and MNCs.
Conclusions of Phases I and II - It is
(a) possessing land, (b) being located in an
ARC and (c) being an ARB in an ARC that
increases farmer household income, ex-
penditures, welfare and being less likely to
be poor. With land transfer, the ARC ap-
proach, according to these studies, ap-
pears to be working. With concentrated
inter-agency and LCU support services,
the ARCs should perform better.
BUT, ARCs cover only about 47 per-
cent of the LAD (Land Acquisition and
Distribution) program and 42 percent of
beneficiaries. One of the main problems
according to the farmers themselves is
the low pricing of agricultural products.
Another is the lack of irrigation. In effect,
successive governments have placed
more priority on the urban poor rather
than the rural poor. And have followed
policies that have a bias against agricul-
ture.
On the problem of poverty – “It is
paradoxical that despite the very signifi-
cant impact of agrarian reform as estab-
lished in various studies and reports the
country still remains in a state of distress.
The assessment at the micro levels indi-
cated that CARP has made positive con-
tributions to the over-all social and eco-
nomic welfare of the ARBs. However, at
the macro level, the social and economic
conditions are no better than they were at
least ten years ago.” (GTZ study)
Taiwan, China and Vietnam have under-
gone agrarian reform, either through dis-
tribution or socialization of farms (China
and Vietnam). In both cases, there was an
abolition of large landholdings, even if
meant shooting the landowners. China’s
yield took a dramatic increase from 1978
when farmers were given the attributes of
owner-cultivators by allowing them to keep
the increased productivity above state
quotas.
The productivity of Philippine farms
can be significantly increased by the same
owner-cultivator approach plus irrigation,
credit, market-oriented pricing, and with
the ARC approach.
1. Small-scale farming. – There is no
contradiction between large-scale produc-
tion and small-scale ownership of land, i.e.
contract growers, joint ventures, coopera-
tives. Example of Thailand. Previous stud-
ies have also shown that smaller farms in
vol42_no07.pmd 11 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
“The agricultural trade balance has
been deteriorating since the enactment of
CARP … but this development is not nec-
essarily the result of CARP, but comes
from a confluence of more open trade re-
gime, inherent inefficiencies resulting from
historical protectionism, rigid institutional
guidelines in commodity trading and even
weather disturbances….”
“Global framework conditions have
had an important impact on CARP and on
the agricultural sector in general and will
play an even larger role in the future. So far,
negative influences have been the pre-
dominant effect of globalization and many
of its inherent advantages have not been
realized.” (GTZ study)
Balisacan: “The fact that over-all rural
poverty and income inequality have per-
sisted although at a declining rate, is not by
itself, evidence that CARP is a failure. Stud-
ies have revealed the contribution of CARP
in the observed changes in rural welfare in
ARCs and amongst landowning farmers.”
“Land reform is not a panacea for
poverty reduction. No land reform pro-
gram can be effective in achieving its goals
unless the economic and political environ-
ment is conducive to sustained economic
growth and development.”
In other words, a correct policy envi-
ronment can turn agriculture around and
enhance the benefits of agrarian reform.
Terminating CARP is not the solution to
the lack of that policy environment. It
would be punishing the poor for the mis-
takes and inaction of government and the
leadership elite of the country. I
Volume 42 • Number 7 11
 ARTICLES
The shameful
history of
population
control
By Rosa Linda Valenzona
T
he tragedy of population control,
the fatal misconception, was to think
that one could know other people’s
interests better than they knew it them-
selves,” says Matthew Connelly, sum-
ming up one of the major global forces of
the last 50 years. Although that assess-
ment comes nowhere near my own sense
of outrage at the movement that has filled
the world with aborted fetuses and steril-
ized men and women, Connelly’s book as
a whole is an unprecedented admission,
from a supporter of what is now known as
“reproductive rights”, that the movement,
historically at least, has trampled whole-
sale on the rights of Third World people.
As a citizen of a developing country I can
breathe a sigh of relief: finally, the truth is
coming out.
12 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 12
Connelly, an associate professor of
history at Columbia University in the United
States, set himself a task that has been
avoided by mainstream academics; the
result is what his publishers call “a wither-
ing critique [that] uncovers the cost in-
flicted by a humanitarian movement gone
terribly awry”.
In spite of my familiarity with human
rights violations committed in the name of
population control in the Philippines, I am
still appalled by what this movement has
done in India, China, Bangladesh and other
Third World countries. try to adopt a population control policy—
1952—with more than a little encourage-
India first ment by the US and other world powers. In
the 1960s US President Lyndon Johnson
Many people are probably unaware leveraged food aid for the family planning
that India was the first Third World coun- cause during crop failures in India, thus
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM

creating an incentive for the sterilization
program. Incentives are subtly coercive
even in the best of times; but when Indians
were subsisting on less than 900 calories
a day, and accepting IUDs or sterilization
meant the difference between starving and
vol42_no07.pmd 13
The shameful history of population control
as bicycles, transistor radios were used to
bribe rural people to accept sterilization.
Under Indira Gandhi in the mid-1970s
sterilization became a condition not just
for land allotments, but for irrigation water,
electricity, ration cards, rickshaw licenses,
medical care, pay raises and promotions.
Everyone, from government officials to
train conductors and policemen, was given
a sterilization quota. The oppressive na-
ture of the program is described in one
report: “Obviously, the stories ... on how
young and unmarried men more or less are
dragged to sterilization premises are true
in far too many cases.” In the course of one
year, eight million sterilizations were re-
corded: 6.2 million vasectomies and 2.05
million tubectomies.
In India the Dalits (untouchable caste)
were ignominiously targeted for family
planning. They were entitled to scholar-
ships and other assistance as minorities
who needed to integrate into Indian soci-
ety, but Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh
states stripped Dalits with more than three
children of these entitlements. At the
grassroots level in Uttar Pradesh, where
Dalits made up 29 per cent of the popula-
tion, they constituted 41 per cent of those
vasectomized. In some states in the US the
eugenics movement successfully targeted
“degenerative” segments of the popula-
tion for sterilization, but never at the scale
that the International Planned Parenthood
Federation achieved in India.
Human rights violations in
Bangladesh make another shameful chap-
ter of coerced birth control. During a fam-
ine, field workers fearing loss of salary or
dismissal would deny food to destitute
women who did not help them meet steril-
ization targets. The Bangladesh army
would round up hundreds of people for
forcible sterilization. Emergency aid from
© http://www.flickr.com/photos/azlijamil01/1558668456/
the World Food Program meant to feed
people made destitute from floods was
denied to those who would not agree to
sterilization.
The Dalkon Shield scandal
When the manufacturer of the Dalkon
Shield (A H Robbins Corporation) was hit
with lawsuits in the First World it sold its
entire inventory to USAID at half price;
440,000 women in 42 countries had used
not starving, they were blatantly so. India’s them before the recall order was issued in
Ministry of Health and Family Planning 1975. The Dalkon IUD involved a painful
would admit: “The large number of steril- insertion and high risk of scratching or
izations and IUD insertions during 1967- piercing the interuterine walls; of pelvic
68 was due to drought conditions.” Even- inflammatory disease, of ectopic preg-
tually more sophisticated incentives such nancy and host of infections. In the Phil-
Volume 42 • Number 7 13
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
 ARTICLES
ippines there are countless stories of the
suffering of women who had trouble with
the IUDs and were refused any assistance
by family planning workers who feared
having to report them as drop-outs from
their acceptor rates.
Just a few years ago, health authori-
ties in the Philippines promoted an anti-
tentanus vaccination drive that was curi-
ously only for women from ages 15-45; the
vaccine turned out to contain an anti-
pregnancy vaccine. But in the broader
14 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 14
context this is hardly anything compared
to what the Indians and Chinese suffered
through forceful and often violent steril-
izations.
Poor women, especially vulnerable in
the twilight of recovery from a painful deliv-
ery are often coerced to accepting tubal
ligation. In the sorry saga of Third World
“family planning”, non-medical personnel
were often permitted to dispense pills with-
out prescription; illiterate midwives were
taught to insert IUDs; and doctors learned
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
how to further simplify and speed up ster-
ilization procedures. It was argued that
considering the high rate of maternal mor-
tality in most developing countries, even
risky contraceptive methods imperfectly
administered would save lives.
China: forced sterilizations and
abortions by the million
Knowledge of how coercive China’s
population control program was did not
prevent IPPF and the United Nations Popu-
lation Fund (UNFPA) supporting it—after
all, both had had previous involvement in
coercive programs in India. Connelly states
that as the two super-agencies stepped up
support, China’s program became ever
more coercive. Vehicles transporting
Cantonese women to hospitals for abor-
tions were “filled with wailing noises”.
Some pregnant women were reportedly
handcuffed, tied with ropes or placed in
pig’s baskets. This type of news caused
IPPF donors to be uneasy; but their wor-
ries were easily placated by repeated reas-
surance of Chinese officials.
In its most coercive phase the China
program required all women with one child
to have a stainless steel, tamper resistant
IUD inserted; parents with more than two
children were sterilized and all unautho-
rized pregnancies were aborted. In 1983,
16 million women and more than 4 million
men were sterilized, 18 million women had
IUDs inserted and over 14 million under-
went abortion. Well aware of what was
going on, UNFPA that year bestowed its
Population Award gold medal on Qian
Xinzhong, head of China’s military-style
campaign.
Humanitarianism gone wrong–or
plain racism?
In the forefront of this movement were
the most prominent industrialists of mid-
twentieth century America: the likes of
Rockefeller, Ford, Gamble, Packard and
McCormick–”well meaning people” who,
decades before governments of affluent
countries began giving development aid,
gave huge amounts of money to “preserve
the quality of life” that could be endan-
gered by overpopulation. It was not the
baby boom in America and other parts of
the West that worried them but “the rising
tide of color” in the rest of the world.
Despite avowals to the contrary,
Connelly’s book provides proof beyond

doubt of the racist roots of population
control.
Connelly’s thorough documentation
of these and other leading promoters of
population control is particularly interest-
ing, although it strains the evidence to
claim that they were basically well-mean-
ing. The book is replete with documenta-
tion of instances where major protago-
nists of the movement admitted to harbor-
ing one agenda while pretending to be
dedicated to another. But in spite of this,
the author concludes that unfettered ac-
cess to archives (including both Interna-
tional Planned Parenthood and newly
opened Vatican archives) belies accusa-
tions of conspiracy. Well, conspirators
they may not have been, but there was a
convenient convergence that united many
forces—racists, eugenicists, feminists,
colonial imperialists—in a common en-
deavor. Strange bedfellows considering
how family planning victimized so many
women in the Third World but ultimately
the demographic implications of the femi-
nist agenda made this coalition acceptable
for the latter.
Surprisingly, Connelly does not make
any mention of NSSM 200—the popula-
tion policy paper authored by Henry
Kissinger that marked the US
government’s official debut on the popu-
vol42_no07.pmd 15
The shameful history of population control
lation control front. Eventually countless
millions of dollars were lost—and con-
tinue to be lost to development aid, swal-
lowed by birth control programmes.
And yet, says Connelly, family plan-
ning efforts explain “less than five per
cent of fertility levels in developing coun-
tries”—a reference to the 1994 analysis of
World Bank economist Lant Pritchett.
Pritchett argued that fertility levels are
related to demand factors the fact that
people in developing countries typically
want many children—and not to the sup-
ply of contraceptives. This realization
was behind the rebirth of the population
control movement as the “holistic” repro-
ductive health movement at the world
population conference in Cairo in 1994.
Where bullying could no longer be coun-
tenanced, persuasion in the form of edu-
cating and looking after women might
succeed.
Thus the language of the movement
changed but the goal remained, and re-
mains, the same: to persuade entire na-
tions and non-white nations at that—to
commit demographic suicide. Whether it
is called eugenics, or birth control as Mar-
garet Sanger first named it, or family plan-
ning, or maternal and child care, or, as now,
Population, Health and Environment, an
element of deceptive imperialism remains.
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
Connelly has done well to expose the
failure of the population control move-
ment to get the consent of its victims, but
to see this alone as its “fatal misconcep-
tion” is to fail to get to the heart of the
matter. The historian does not see, or at
least acknowledge, that the “reproductive
rights” he champions involves the sys-
tematic violation of the rights of the un-
born child through abortion, the unbreak-
able link between abortion and contracep-
tion, and the disastrous personal and de-
mographic effects of the culture of birth
control.
And all for what? The population
control/reproductive rights movement has
never produced one single piece of evi-
dence showing the direct connection be-
tween family planning and economic de-
velopment. But if Connelly is neither an
economist nor a moral philosopher we
must be grateful that at least he has used
his historical skills to salutary effect. As
the saying goes, those who do not ac-
knowledge their history are condemned to
repeat it. I
Rosa Linda Valenzona is currently General Manager
of the Ayala Multi-purpose Cooperative in Manila. She
is a former lecturer in economics at the University of
the Philippines and a former Assistant Secretary for
Legislative Affairs, Department of Social Welfare and
Development. She is also a consultant to Pontifical
Council on the Family.
Volume 42 • Number 7 15
 C O V E R
S T O R Y

The Second National

Rural Congress
Towards a preferential listening for the poor
By Pinky Barrientos, FSP

16 IMPACT • July 2008

vol42_no07.pmd 16 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM


T
he Second National Rural Congress
set to convene on July 7-8, 2008 at
the San Carlos Seminary in
Guadalupe, Makati opens a door for the
rural poor to speak out and bring their
concerns to the national consciousness
of the Filipino people.
In a January 2007 Pastoral Statement
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the
Philippines, the bishops called for a hold-
ing of a Second National Rural Congress
(NRC-II) to commemorate the 40th anniver-
sary of the First Rural Congress of 1967.
That same statement pointed out the “in-
equitable distribution of the nation’s
wealth and the endemic social injustices”
as the root cause of the prevalent evil of
poverty that stalks majority of Filipinos,
particularly those in the rural areas.
NRC-II will mostly comprise the rural
poor who will do the talking themselves, as
the pastoral statement avers—a stark de-
parture from the 1967 Rural Congress com-
posed mostly of intellectuals who deliber-
vol42_no07.pmd 17
The Second National Rural Congress
ated on the concerns of the poor.
Rightly so, this attempt of the Church
to give voice to the poor bolsters her
desire to live out the call of the Second
Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP-II)
held in 1991 to become the “Church of the
Poor.”
PCP-II described the poor sectors
(peasant farmers, fisherfolks, indigenous
people, elderly, women, youth, disabled,
urban poor) as the “minorities” because of
the scant attention given to their plight by
the government and the Church to some
extent. The same Council document noted
that the imbalance in the distribution of the
country’s resources contributes in making
the countryside remain mired in poverty.
Meanwhile, that same January 2007
CBCP statement cited the comprehensive
land reform program as a means to alleviate
rural poverty—an effort which the gov-
ernment pursued only half-heartedly to
the consternation of poor farmers.
The problem of landlessness adds to
a host of other factors that define rural
poverty.
Will the farmers, the poor, really do the
speaking by themselves, the discerning,
the proposing of their own ideas, the
planning of how we must as a people
come together to work for the common
good of the country and of ourselves?
Landlessness – a continuing prob-
lem
Land problem in the country traces its
roots as early as the Spanish era. Then the
political elite comprising a tiny percentage
of population owned large tracts of agri-
cultural lands tilled by paid laborers who
work either as tenants or sharecroppers.
Philippine society has long been char-
acterized by a glaring divide between the
haves and the have-nots. The poor ten-
ants who have no resources of their own
rely heavily on the landlord’s magnanim-
ity to provide for their needs, thus forever
keeping them indebted and unable to break
the cycle of dependency and poverty.
During the presidency of Ferdinand
Marcos in the 1970’s, land reform was
instituted to address the problem of pov-
erty and inequality. The program how-
ever, was regarded as a total failure. It
eventually spawned a Maoist-style rebel-
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
lion that until now has not been fully
quashed although has lessened its
strength in terms of ideology and man-
power.
When Corazon Aquino became presi-
dent, she signed the Comprehensive
Agrarian Reform Law paving for millions
of hectares of arable lands to become eli-
gible for Agrarian Reform Program. But a
landlord dominated Congress had totally
emasculated the law and an indifferent
government bureaucracy failed to push
the proper implementation of the program.
Considered the centerpiece of Aquino
administration, the comprehensive agrar-
ian reform program was touted to be the
solution that would bring peace and de-
velopment in the countryside that had
long been overdue. However, twenty years
after the law was signed, still millions of
hectares of lands remain undistributed,
mostly haciendas owned by rich landown-
ers, including those owned by the families
of former President Aquino and husband
of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Meanwhile, the peasants have found
their voice and become active advocates
of land reform programs with the support
of non-government organizations and
people’s organizations who have taken up
their cause and advocacy.
The Agrarian Reform Program
(CARP)
The Agrarian Reform Program was
mandated by the Comprehensive Agrar-
ian Reform Law issued on June 10, 1988
with the goal to distribute lands to land-
less peasants in 10 years. But due to vari-
ous constraints, lack of budget alloca-
tions for one, the full implementation was
extended for another 10 years.
The agrarian reform program aimed
for a more equitable distribution and own-
ership of land with a provision of just
compensation for landowners. Thus un-
dertaken, it was seen as a better way “to
provide farmers and farmworkers with the
Volume 42 • Number 7 17
 The Second National Rural Congress
opportunity to enhance their dignity and
improve the quality of their lives through
greater productivity of agricultural lands.”
During the Plenary Assembly of the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-
ippines last January 2007, the CBCP is-
sued a call for the extension of CARP with
necessary reforms to ultimately meet its
objectives. The same Pastoral Statement
also called for the convening of a Second
National Rural Congress (NRC-II) in time
for its 40th anniversary to address the
prevailing problem of landless peasants.
Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma,
chairperson of NRC-II, together with other
bishops met with legislators in three sepa-
rate caucuses to discuss the extension of
the CARP with necessary reforms.
“As Catholic bishops, pastors, and
teachers, we listened to the voices of the
rural poor and civil society organizations
(CSOs) working with them and, as we sat
in dialogue with legislators, we sought to
address CARP and Agrarian Reform
through the lens of our faith, because so
much is at stake in moral and human terms,”
Ledesma said in a reflection delivered at a
mass during the 20thanniversary of CARL
at the National Shrine of St. Michael and
Archangels in Malacañang last June 10.
On June 10, the 20 years of CARP
reached its end with Congress failing to
act on its extension, this despite the com-
bined efforts of the Catholic Church, NGOs
and people’s organization in lobbying for
the extension of CARP with Reforms bill.
18 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 18
The First Rural Congress
When the National Congress for Ru-
ral Development was conceived in 1967,
the Philippines was chosen as a venue
because of the social problems existing at
that time. As Pope Paul VI suggested
then, the Philippines being the only Chris-
tian nation in Asia, it may, “more consci-
entiously bear witness to Christ in the
midst of Non-Christian and predominantly
Rural Asia.” The late Pope also under-
scored the fact that being a Christian
nation, the Philippines becomes an ideal
catalyst for deliberations and generation
of ideas that could help in finding an-
swers to solve the problems that over-
whelm the rural and agricultural commu-
nities.
The Rural Congress whose theme
“Man and the land in the Philippines in the
Light of Vatican II” drew heavily from the
teachings of the Church as a guide in its
reflections and discussions. The congress
also adopted the slogan “The Church goes
to the barrio”, a call on the Church to a
deeper involvement into the plight of the
poor. Then as it is still now to some extent,
the rural areas were the spots often over-
looked by the government’s development
programs and services and Church’s pas-
toral concern. The call for the Church’s
involvement in rural issues spawned the
formation of diocesan social action cen-
ters, rural cooperatives, advocacy groups
for agrarian reforms, and others.
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
But has the Church’s “going to the
barrio” done enough to help alleviate the
plight of the rural poor? Forty years since
the first rural congress, the situation of the
rural poor remains in its pitiful state and
begs to be addressed. Still the same chal-
lenges confront us: injustices, landless-
ness, environmental destruction, lack of
decent housing, exploitation and extra-
judicial killings.
This reality was well summed up in a
message delivered by Pope Paul VI on the
occasion of the first rural congress which
still rings true even up today. “In many
underdeveloped regions there are large or
even extensive rural estates which are only
slightly cultivated or lie completely idle for
the sake of profit, while the majority of the
people either are without land or have only
very small fields, and, on the other hand, it
is evidently urgent to increase the produc-
tivity of the fields. Not infrequently those
who are hired to work for the landowners or
who till a portion of the land as tenants
receive a wage or income unworthy of a
human being, lack decent housing, and are
exploited by middle men. Deprived of all
security, they live under such personal
servitude that almost every opportunity of
acting on their own initiative and responsi-
bility is denied to them and all advancement
in human culture, sharing in social and
political life is forbidden to them.”
Bottom-up approach
Changing its paradigm from that of
the first rural congress, the NRC-II plan-
ning committee, right from the beginning
had adapted a see-judge-act methodol-
ogy following a bottom-up approach car-
ried out in three stages. The first stage
involved local consultations done in two
parallel tracks. On the diocesan level, (ad
intra) 80 consultations were completed
on the role of BECs in rural development
facilitated by the National Secretariat for
Social Action (NASSA), CBCP-BEC Of-
fice and Episcopal Commission for Indig-
enous Peoples (ECIP). Parallel to it was
the 13 sub-regional consultations (ad
extra) that dealt on rural poverty issues
among basic sectors handled by the Phil-
ippine-Misereor Partnership (PMP), the
Association of Major Religious Superi-
ors of the Philippines (AMRSP), and the
Rural Poor Solidarity (RPS), an alliance of
non-government and people organiza-
tions engaged in rural issues. These par-
allel consultations were accomplished in
a span of six months, from November 2007
to April 2008.

Regional Congresses
The first stage laid down the ground
work for the regional congresses which
constitute Phase Two of the NRC II. Con-
sidered the most important part of the NRC
II, as it is in here that the consolidated
reports collated at the first stage will be
discussed and participants will be able to
center on localized issues and action plans.
The regions were divided into five
clusters—two in Luzon (Luzon North and
Luzon South), another two in the Visayas
(Western Visayas, Central and Eastern
Visayas) and one in Mindanao.
True to its commitment of giving a
chance to the poor to speak out their
concerns and be heard, participants to the
regional congresses represented various
sectors among the rural poor – farmers,
fisherfolks, indigenous people, women,
elderly and youth.
The Social Teachings of the Church
served as a framework in the analysis of
the consultation outputs.
Realities
Indeed the regional consultations
gave an opportunity to the rural poor to
voice out their issues and show the reality
of their existence. The workshops output
highlighted their pitiful social condition as
well as their struggle to live a life befitting
a human being with dignity. Although
representatives came from different regions
vol42_no07.pmd 19
and have diverse experiences, certain com-
monalities emerged in their sharing: lack of
social services, no land to own and till,
youth having no access to education,
environmental degradation, injustices, il-
legal encroachment, etc.
The consultations centered on the
following questions: First on the prevail-
ing situation in the community and the
factors that contribute to the situation.
These questions comprise aspects of land,
produce, programs and social services,
marketing and other areas not specified.
The second question deals on the re-
sponse of government, Church, and NGOs
and POs. The third aspect of the workshop
dealt on recommendations and proposals
from delegates.
High expectations
The NRC-II will convene a nationwide
assembly at the San Carlos Seminary in
Guadalupe, Makati for its third phase. It
expects to gather close to two hundred
delegates all over the country, half of which
will be representatives of the rural poor.
High expectations are being gener-
ated by the National Rural Congress. Vari-
ous non-government and people’s orga-
nizations that have not been part of the
entire process have expressed their desire
to participate in the final phase of the
congress.
In fact, representatives from various
sectors as well as government officials will
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
C O V E R
S T O R Y
be invited to the congress so they will hear
first hand the concerns of the poor. It is also
in view of a post NRC-II scenario of engag-
ing government, business leaders and other
sectors to work together for the realization
of the outcome of the congress.
Without doubt the statement that will
be formulated at the end of the congress will
propose a challenge to both Church and
government who certainly have the greater
responsibility to respond positively to meet
the basic needs of the poor sectors of
society. The same argument can be applied
to our poor brothers and sisters who are
also in constant struggle to live a dignified
life befitting a human being.
Indeed, the congress is an opportu-
nity for the Church and the rest of Filipinos,
especially the rural poor to tackle head on
the root cause of rural poverty. But still,
some nagging questions beg to be asked.
Will this second National Rural Congress
bring about the desired change all of us
aspire for? Will it truly lead to the social
transformation of our rural society so deeply
mired in poverty because of indifference
and neglect of those who have the capacity
to do something positive to address the
situation? Will the poor peasants for whom
this Congress was organized to give them
a voice will go home convinced they have
been listened to if ever they had been given
the chance to speak?
And the most important question of
all—is the Church really serious in her
preferential option for the poor? I
Volume 42 • Number 7 19
 ARTICLES
During one of the sessions of the First National Rural Congress in February 1967.
‘The Church goes to the barrio’
By Paul J. Marquez, SSP
F
orty-one years ago, on
February 5-11, 1967 to
be exact, the Philip-
pine Catholic hierarchy
hosted the National Con-
gress for Rural Develop-
ment with the theme “Man
and Land in the Philippines
in the Light of Vatican II”.
Vatican Council II gen-
erated much hope on the part
of the clergy and laity alike,
so they eagerly heeded the
suggestion from Pope Paul
VI that such a Congress be
held in the Philippines. The
Pope had chosen the Philip-
pines, the only Christian
country in Asia, as the ideal
springboard for the launch-
ing of ideas and committed
action to address the many
problems that beset the rural
and agricultural population
in Asia.
In keeping with the spirit
of the slogan adopted by the
Congress “The Church Goes
20 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 20
to the Barrio”, the delegates did
not only meet in Manila but also
traveled to Los Baños and
Cagayan de Oro. The delegates
dwelt on the problems affecting
people in the rural areas, and
they also had the opportunity
to interact with and to listen to
rural folks like farmers, fisher-
men, business people, artists
(like Nick Joaquin) and laborers
who joined in as observers to
the Congress. The Congress
also opened its doors to non-
Christians, then a new practice
brought about by Vatican II.
A host of diverse and emi-
nent speakers, panel chairmen
and resource persons had been
chosen to spearhead the delib-
erations (the likes of Horacio
de la Costa, SJ, Benigno
Aquino, Jr and Ferdinand
Marcos). The biggest bulk of
the Congress was composed
of the local delegates from dif-
ferent dioceses spread across
the archipelago—from
Batanes to Cotabato.
The Vatican sent two del-
egates to the Congress, namely
Msgr. Giovanni D’Ascenzi, the
Ecclesiastical Adviser to the
International Rural Associa-
tion, and Msgr. Joseph
Grimilion, Executive Director,
Commission for International
Justice and Peace. There were
also delegates from Australia,
Canada, Ceylon, India, Indo-
nesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Ma-
laysia, Taiwan and Vietnam,
joined in by U.S. observers.
His Eminence Rufino J.
Cardinal Santos, then Arch-
bishop of Manila, presided in
the Mass at the Manila Cathe-
dral to mark the opening of the
Congress. The Civic Opening
was held at the Philamlife Au-
ditorium graced with the pres-
ence of First Lady Imelda
Romualdez Marcos and Vice-
President Fernando R. Lopez
who read the speech for Presi-
dent Marcos (then in his first
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
year in office and was ill at
the hospital).
Towards the end of the
7-day Congress, the differ-
ent work groups each sub-
mitted their recommenda-
tions and proposals. These
were gathered and incorpo-
rated in a list of General Con-
clusions and Proposals.
Forty-one years had
come and gone, and it is good
to review the proposals pre-
sented by the delegates.
They had offered much hope
for the poor and the rural
folks forty-one years ago.
How much of these propos-
als were translated into ac-
tion, and how great was the
impact made on the lives of
the very poor? The message
of Pope Paul VI whose initia-
tive made the Congress hap-
pen can inspire today’s gen-
eration of Filipinos as we
grapple with our present
problems related to rural de-
velopment:
“In the age-old civili-
zations of the Asian nations,
deep and rapid transfor-
mations are taking place,
due to the impact made
upon them by scientific and
technical progress, with its
repercussions in every
sphere of social life. The
present hour is an impor-
tant one for the Philippine
Nation, called as it is by
Divine Providence to mani-
fest by ideas and facts that
a sincerely-lived faith in
Christ, while being a ray of
light which leads beyond
the confines of time to the
possession of the true God,
is also the ferment which
leavens all the genuine
human values upon which
the various civilizations
are nourished.”
The call by Pope Paul VI
continues to ring in our hearts
as it was made forty-one
years ago, and the great chal-
lenge remains. May we sin-
cerely live our faith in Christ
so it can truly be a ferment to
leaven our own time.

Impact editorial: March 1967
Note: We saw the wisdom of reprinting this editorial of Impact (Vol. 2 No.
1, March 1967) on the First National Rural Congress. Impact was the
official organ of the Congress—eds
Civic opening of the First National Rural Congress. Mrs. Imelda Marcos, His Eminence Rufino Cardinal Santos, Archbishop Lino Gonzaga, Msgr. Luigi Ligutti, and
Dr. Abraham Weisblat, at the Philam Life Auditorium, February 5, 1967.
I
n terms of impact on the public con-
sciousness, the recent Rural Develop-
ment Congress, sponsored by the
Catholic Hierarchy, was undoubtedly one
of the most successful held in the Philip-
pines in recent years.
The coverage of the press was spon-
taneous and wide; the cooperation of both
the government and private agencies con-
cerned was heartwarming.
The Congress, days and even week
before it began, had caught the imagina-
tion of the public and elicited a lot of
interest among all sectors of the popula-
tion.
The results of the deliberations of the
Congress constitute a wealth of informa-
tion and observations, from both the ex-
perts as well as laymen, whose thinking on
the matter of rural progress, is, indeed, as
pertinent and vital.
The Congress, therefore, was an in-
spiring success. It quite ably achieved its
aim of crystallizing thinking on the chal-
lenge of rural development. It succeeded
in putting across the message that there is
a lot to be done in the rural areas.
In not so many words, the Congress
said that unless something is done to
alleviate the misery of our long economi-
cally neglected rural people, the results
may be something that we will regret.
The situation, in short, is explosive.
vol42_no07.pmd 21
Is the Church
interested in
rural progress?
All these, again, the Church, through
the Rural Development Congress, the first
of its kind to be held in this part of the world,
has dramatically shown to the public.
This is well and good. We have gone
one step forward.
But, the Church, of course, is the first
one to admit that first steps, by them-
selves, don’t tell the complete story. First
steps are just that—starters, which could
be dismally meaningless without the fol-
low-up.
The vital thing now is to pursue, vig-
orously and organizedly, the excellent
beginning that the Congress has made.
The Congress has lucidly defined the
problem; it even came up with some very
feasible recommendations: what remains
to be done is act. Act promptly and reso-
lutely.
The Church, through the Congress,
has imposed upon itself a gigantic task
which it cannot shirk. A lot is at stake in
this endeavor: not only the prestige of the
Church, but also the welfare and stability
of the rural masses that the Church so
deeply cares for.
The Church again has no alternative
but to move forward with this undertaking
on its shoulders. Disenchantment in the
rural areas is widespread. A lot of our
people have become bitter and hopeless,
thinking that their government has com-
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
ARTICLES
pletely forsaken them.
It is indeed during these times that the
motherhood of the Church, its tenderness
and solicitousness, is most imperative.
Her children in rural Philippines are des-
perately crying for help and it will just be
felicitous if the Church will be the first one
to come to their succor.
The Church can take comfort from the
fact that she has the goodwill and the
prayers of the whole nation which fol-
lowed the proceedings of the Congress
with vivid interest.
The government and the private sec-
tor have pledged to cooperate to the best
of their ability.
The priests, intellectuals, the farmers
and fishermen and all the men of love and
goodwill in this fair land of hope will extend
to the Church all cooperation that it will
need for this momentous undertaking.
So for the next several months, the
public attention will still be on the Church.
With bated breath, so to speak, it will
wait for what it will do towards helping the
rural areas. The people will be asking, is the
Church genuinely interested in rural
progress? What will happen to all that
they talked about in the Rural Develop-
ment Congress? Is there anything con-
crete that we can expect from the Church?
These are the all-important questions
that the Church will now have to answer.
Volume 42 • Number 7 21
 N E W S
FEATURES
Bishop seeks justice for
‘Princess’ victims
MANILA, July 1, 2008—Al-
though the government says it
is doing its best to determine
those liable in the sea mishap
involving another Sulpicio
Lines’ vessel, for a Catholic
bishop, that’s of little comfort.
The shipping company
has been involved in several
fatal accidents in the past but
its operation continued like
nothing happened, thus the
need for vigilance, said Manila
Auxiliary Bishop Broderick
Pabillo.
Pabillo is hoping the on-
going government investiga-
tion into the sinking of Prin-
cess of the Stars would bring
justice to those who perished
in the sea tragedy.
“We should really focus
on the investigation that’s cur-
rently being done so that we
would know who should be
held accountable for this (trag-
edy),” he said.
Korean bishops launch inter-faith meetings
22 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 22
Authorities yesterday
kicked off their investigation
on Saturday’s ferry sinking off
Sibuyan straight by question-
ing officials of Sulpicio Lines.
The inquiry coincided
with President Gloria Arroyo’s
pronouncements that her gov-
ernment is holding the belea-
guered shipping firm account-
able for the tragic event.
Pabillo also appealed to
the management of Sulpicio
Lines to cooperate with the
investigation for the immedi-
ate resolution of the case.
“We are hoping that they’ll
be open for the investigation
and whatever is the result, they
must respect it. They should
also carry out their promises to
families of the victims,” he said.
Sulpicio Lines earlier re-
jected to fully take responsibil-
ity of the tragedy and instead
described the incident as “an
act of God.”
SEOUL, Korea,
July 1, 2008—The
Catholic Bish-
ops’ Conference
of Korea (CBCK)
began a series of
inter-faith meet-
ings with Bud-
dhists, Confu-
cians, Protes-
tants, Anglicans,
Orthodox and
representatives
of Korea’s tradi-
tional religions.
Called A Seonggyungwan (Confucian).
Journey with the
C a t h o l i c
The shipping company
assured P200,000 to be given
to every family of those who
died as well as medical assis-
tance to those who were in-
jured.
Pabillo also called on the
families of the victims not to
lose hope despite declarations
Bishop’s Conference for
Ecumenism and Inter-religion
Dialogue, the series is meant
to be open to members of all
faiths and held annually in late
June.
To start this program, Fr
Lee Jeong-ju and 20 Catholic
seminarians will visit the Chris-
tian Conference of Korea (Prot-
estants), Seoul Diocesan Of-
fice of the Anglican Church in
Korea, the Diocesan Office of
the Orthodox Church in Korea,
the Jogyae Buddhist Office and
The Catholic Church has
developed a good relationship
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
from the authorities that
chances of getting survivors
are slim.
“This is really a tragic event
but we should not lose hope.
And we should also remain
steadfast in prayer for their
(victims) safety,” he said. (Roy
Lagarde)
with other religions as
shown by the friendly rela-
tions and exchange between
Card Stephen Kim Sou-
hwan and Rev Beupjeung,
Buddhist monk, as well as
the well-wishing messages
exchanged on the occasion
of the various religious holi-
days.
The Bishops’ program
was positively welcomed
by other religions whose
leaders hope to see these
meetings bear fruit and
favour dialogue and har-
mony in the country.
(AsiaNews)

Catholic Priest
assassinated: the first
in the history of Nepal
KATHMANDU, Nepal, July 1,
2008—A Catholic priest,
Salesian Fr. John Prakash, 62
years old was killed in Sirsiya
(Morang district), in east Nepal.
He is the first priest to be killed
in the country. Police have
opened an inquest into his
death, their suspicions falling
on a terrorist group.
Fr. John Prakash, a native
of Kerala India had worked in
Nepal for over 10 years (see
photo). He was the principal of
Don Bosco School and lived
along with two other Salesians
in their residence attached to
the school. Fr. George
Kalangara, the parish vicar told
AsiaNews that during the night
a group of armed men broke
into the priest’s residence and
immobilised Fr. Mathew who
had only just joined the com-
munity in Nepal.
Another resident priest Fr.
Lazarus Maradi was travelling
abroad at the time. The group
then turned on Fr. Prakash de-
manding money. “Then we
don’t know really what hap-
pened”—says Fr. Kalangara—
”we only know that there was
an explosion. When the police
arrived there were signs of a
struggle. On one side of the
room the windows were
smashed and broken glass was
everywhere”.
Police have confirmed that
the bomb has led to widespread
damage of the buildings,
opened just one year ago. At
the scene of the crime the fur-
nishings were completely de-
stroyed.
The security forces sus-
pect an underground terrorist
group, the Terai Defence Army,
of being behind the attack. A
policeman confirmed to
AsiaNews that leaflets belong-
ing to the group were found in
vol42_no07.pmd 23
the complex. Twice in the past
the group had demanded
money from the school princi-
pal. Police reported that there
were bills amounting to 600 US
dollars as well as Indian Ru-
pees and Nepalese coins lit-
tered on the ground at the scene
of the crime.
Fr. Benjamin Pampackel,
another Salesian speaking to
AsiaNews, warns against hur-
ried conclusions: “We can only
say that Fr. John is no longer
here. We will wait for the police
inquiry to do its job, in order to
understand what really hap-
pened and who were respon-
sible”.
Msgr. Anthony Sharma,
Nepal’s first bishop, has con-
demned the incident. He told
AsiaNews that he had no
knowledge of the group be-
lieved to be behind the attack.
The Private Boarding
School Association of Nepal,
Pabson, has also condemned
the murder and has asked for
urgent government action to
bring those guilty to justice.
The Salesian fathers who
work in Morang district, are
not only committed to educa-
tion projects but also to devel-
opment of rural villages,
healthcare for mothers and
children, and training of
healthcare professionals as well
as pastoral work.
This assassination—per-
formed by a terrorist group¯is
the first to mark the history of
the Catholic Church in Nepal.
In the past however, other
priests and religious have been
subjected to threats and rob-
beries. In 1997 a Jesuit priest
was killed in a robbery.
Nepal’s Catholics count
seven thousand out of a popu-
lation of 25 million. (AsiaNews)
More than 1,500 people
die of torture in Indian
prison, human rights
activist says
NEW DELHI, India, July 1,
2008—”Torture is legalized
state terrorism,” said Lenin
Raghuvanshi, director of the
People’s Vigilance Commit-
tee on Human Rights
(PVCHR) as he commented
a report by the Asian Centre
for Human Rights titled
Torture in India 2008: A
State of Denial which found
that 7,468 persons, at an av-
erage of 1,494 persons per
year, died in prison and
police custody between
2002 to 2007.
An equal number of
persons, if not more, were
killed by the army and state
paramilitary forces custody
in insurgency affected ar-
eas, a large number of these
deaths the result of torture.
In the country’s 12,000
police stations all over the
country there is frequent
use of torture and use of
deadly force at local police
stations in India.
India has the highest
number of cases of police
torture and custodial deaths
among the world’s democ-
racies and the weakest law
against torture.
The police often oper-
ate in a climate of impunity,
where torture is seen as rou-
tine police behavior to ex-
tract confessions.
Volume 42 • Number 7
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
N E W S
FEATURES
The report analyses
patterns and practices of
torture in police custody
with special focus on tor-
ture by prison guards, the
military, armed opposition
groups like the Naxalites (In-
dian Maoists) in north-east
India, other public officials
and non-state actors like
upper castes, recovery
agents of the Banks,
Panchayats and so-called
civil society organizations.
Lenin Raghuvanshi, re-
cipient of the 2007 Gwangju
Prize for human rights,
stressed that reported cases
of abuse is highest among
Dalits, Tribals and minority
communities.
The Indian system
based on castes is diabolic
and perpetuates discrimina-
tions and crimes against the
weakest.
The system is guaran-
teed by collusion between
police and upper castes,
which favor the stronger ac-
cording to a semi-feudal
order of things.
“India,” said the activ-
ist, “has to immediately rati-
fication the UN Convention
Against Torture,” but sadly
it wants to preserve the
“nexus between police and
feudal of upper-caste.”
(AsiaNews)
23
 N E W S
FEATURES
Expatriate finds challenges running
social services in Muslim area
JONGGOL, Indonesia, June 30,
2008—More than 200 stu-
dents, parents and teachers at
a school graduation and fare-
well party were surprised when
school authorities suddenly
asked them to leave.
It was 6 p.m. on June 19
when Reverend Mike Hilliard
asked his Indonesian wife,
Jeveline Lengkong, to make the
announcement for the people
to leave. Lengkong heads
Talitha Cumi Foundation that
runs Mama Sayang Orphan-
age and St. Enoch schools in
Jonggol village, about 40 kilo-
meters southeast of Jakarta.
Reverend Hilliard, of the
Assemblies of God, said they
had to discontinue the program
after hearing from the school’s
security guard that a group of
Muslims would attack the
school after magrib, the daily
Islamic sunset prayer. “Fear-
ing the attack we stopped the
program,” the Scottish pastor
told UCA News on June 19.
24 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 24
The party that started at 4
p.m. that day marked the gradu-
ation of 42 kindergarten, pri-
mary, junior high and senior
high students. The rumored
attack, however, did not hap-
pen.
According to Reverend
Hilliard, he and his wife have
lived in Jonggol since 2000. In
May 2003 they founded Talitha
Cumi Foundation to run social
and religious activities.
While waiting for the li-
cense to operate schools,
which they got in 2004, the
couple founded the orphan-
age in 2003 after visiting sev-
eral poor villages in West
Kalimantan province.
In 2006, they opened the
St. Enoch kindergarten and
primary, junior high and senior
high schools. The same year
they also founded a clinic, “but
we have not run it because
local village authorities did not
allow us to,” Lengkong told
UCA News. Eight men in
Jonggol reportedly pressured
the authorities not to give their
approval, she added.
Lengkong said the men
never openly protested but
sent letters accusing the
schools, especially the kinder-
garten, of being a means of
evangelization. “To explain our
activities, we held a meeting
with local people, including the
eight men. Things looked fine
during the meeting but after-
ward the men kept opposing
our activities.”
Five months ago, Rever-
end Hilliard added, the same
eight men invited radical Mus-
lim groups from outside the
area to destroy a Protestant
church in Jonggol. “They might
come to attack our schools and
orphanage,” he worries.
The pastor rejected accu-
sations that the foundation
aims at evangelization. He
pointed out that it has em-
ployed an Islamic religion
teacher for the 15 Muslims
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
among the 160 students. Other
students are mostly Protes-
tants, with some Catholics.
Last Christmas, he re-
called, the foundation received
several boxes of towels and T-
shirts from the British women’s
association, but “that dona-
tion was accused as means of
proselytism.” A similar accu-
sation, he added, led him to
stop paying school fees for 30
children of his driver’s village.
The couple said they suspect
certain people are jealous of
the foundation’s fast growth.
Maulina Wati, the Islamic
religion teacher, told UCA News
she is happy to associate with
people of other religions of vari-
ous ethnic groups. “I am a resi-
dent of the area. These schools
are useful here,” she said.
Markus, an orphan from
Kalimantan, told UCA News
he is thankful the foundation
gives him free education and
the opportunity to associate
with urban people. Harry
Djatmiko, a student’s father,
said: “The school must keep
running because it is better than
others. Residents here support
the school.”
Reverend Hilliard, recall-
ing his trip to West Kalimantan,
said: “We could not believe
the poverty we saw. Many chil-
dren did not go to school. Some
schoolchildren did not have
even pencil or paper. So we
decided to help them, and a
pastor there helped send the
children to us.”
He also said his orphan-
age now has 112 residents aged
3-19 years from all over Indo-
nesia, but 80 percent from
Kalimantan. Two of them are
studying at university and one
is working, but they still stay at
the orphanage. (UCAN)

Towards a Second
National Rural Congress
F
orty years ago, the Church in the
Philippines convened a National
Rural Congress highlighting the call
that “the Church must go to the barrios.”
The involvement of the Church in rural
issues was concretized in the formation of
diocesan social action centers, rural coop-
eratives, advocacy groups for agrarian
reform, and others.
To commemorate that event held in
1967, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines issued early this year the
pastoral statement, “The Dignity of the
Rural Poor - A Gospel Concern”. We made
a call for a Second National Rural Con-
gress (NRC II) to review the continuing
issues confronting the majority of our
people living in rural areas.
“But this time,” we said, “our farmers
must do the speaking by themselves, the
discerning, the proposing of their own
ideas, the planning of how we must as a
people come together to work for the com-
mon good of the country…”
In this light, we are adopting a SEE-
JUDGE-ACT methodology in convening
this Second National Rural Congress.
There are five objectives:
To describe the current situation of
various sectors of the rural poor–e.g., small
farmers, landless workers, indigenous
people, small fishermen, rural women and
youth, etc.;
To describe the role of Basic Ecclesial
Communities (BECs) and church-based
programs in rural development;
To review the impact of key social
legislation and to engage government
agencies in the implementation of ongo-
ing social reform programs under the Com-
prehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL),
the Indigenous People’s Rights Act
(IPRA), etc.;
To apply the Social Teachings of the
Church to the concrete problems of Philip-
pine rural society and to arrive at recom-
mendations and action plans; and
To collate and disseminate research
findings through media channels, and to
promote continuing dialogue among local
churches, NGOs and academe in the social
transformation of rural–as well as urban
poor–communities.
vol42_no07.pmd 25
The timetable comprises two phases
Phase I: (July-November 2007) in two
parallel tracks:
A. Diocesan consultations on BECs
in rural development (to be conducted by
the National Secretarial for Social Action
(NASSA), and the Offices for BECs and
Indigenous People);
B. Sub-regional consultations on ru-
ral poor sectors and rural issues (to be
conducted by the Philippine-Misereor
Partnership (PMP), the Association of
Major Superiors of the Philippines
(AMRSP), and the Rural Poor Solidarity
(RPS) coalition of non-government and
people’s organizations.
Phase II: (First Quarter of 2008) - con-
vening of NRC II to discuss the collated
inputs from the diocesan and sub-regional
consultations. The Congress itself may
take two-to-three days.
Overseeing the entire process under
the CBCP Plenary Assembly is the NRC
Central Committee with Archbishop An-
tonio Ledesma (Executive Chairman),
Bishop Broderick Pabillo (Vice Chairman),
Bishop Socrates Villegas, Bishop Sergio
Utleg and Sr. Rosanne Mallillin, SPC (mem-
bers).
The Central Committee is to be as-
sisted by the Episcopal Advisory Council,
which is composed of Gaudencio Cardinal
Rosales (Luzon), Ricardo Cardinal Vidal
(Visayas), Archbishop Orlando Quevedo
(Mindanao), and Archbishop Angel
Lagdameo (CBCP). The ad intra secretariat
for the diocesan consultations on BECs
includes: Sr. Rosanne Mallilin of CBCP-
NASSA (Coordinator), Msgr. Elmer
Abacahin of the CBCP-BEC Office, and a
representative of the Episcopal Commis-
sion on Indigenous Peoples. The ad extra
secretariat for Sub-regional consultations
on rural issues includes: Ms. Lourdes
Cipriano of PMP (Coordinator), Bro. Hansel
Mapayo of AMRSP, and Ms. Belinda
Formanes of RPS.
An auxiliary arm of the NRC Central
Committee will be composed of the CBCP
Offices of Research (under Abp. Antonio
Ledesma), Media (under Msgr. Pedro
Quitorio), and Secretariat (under Msgr.
Juanito Figura).
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
STATEMENTS
Moreover, from time to time, there will
be periodic consultations of notable lay
advisers, research centers, and other Epis-
copal commissions. (cf. the organizational
flow of NRC II in the Appendix.)
It is in this light that we make an appeal
to all our diocesan social action centers,
schools, and research centers as well as
farmers’ organizations, NGOs, and gov-
ernment agencies to participate actively in
a spirit of solidarity in the various activi-
ties outlined for the NRC II process.
The expected outcome of this NRC
process, including Phases I and II, are:
SEE: a fuller description, both quanti-
tative and qualitative, of the rural poverty
situation;
JUDGE: a deeper analysis of the situ-
ation in the light of the Social Teachings of
the Church; and
ACT: concrete proposals for action
addressed to the rural sectors, local
churches, government agencies, NGOs,
and others.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit–
the Spirit of Truth, Justice, and Love–and
through the intercession of Our Lady of
the Immaculate Conception, may we carry
out these proposed activities in solidarity
with our brothers and sisters in the coun-
tryside.
For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of
the Philippines,
+ANGEL N. LAGDAMEO, D.D.
Archbishop of Jaro
President, CBCP
16 July 2007
Volume 42 • Number 7 25
 FROM THE
B L O G S
It’s an agricultural
country, Stupid!
I
t may sound strict and stern,
uncouth and unprofes-
sional. But it is an expres-
sion only meant to drive home
a reality that stares Filipinos at
the face, a truth that especially
people in the rural areas readily
understand. The Philippines is
an agricultural country—
where “super–regions” do not
make much sense, and where
super-farmers are needed to
stay, instead of preparing “su-
per–maids to go”. Even a Fili-
pino with a doctoral degree in
economics from foreign uni-
versity, should know this con-
struct of nature, viz., with its
many islands and rivers, its vast
fields and farmlands, it seasons
of rain and sun, the Philippines
makes a country designed by
nature itself to be by and large
agricultural in constitution and
finality.
In its elementary series, fol-
lowing is the more relevant suc-
cessive reality flow in the con-
text of agriculture: First, agricul-
ture means food. Second, food
nurtures life. Third, life promotes
action. Fourth, action forwards
progress and development. Fifth,
progress and development ad-
vance human dignity. Sixth, hu-
man dignity confirms human
rights. Seventh, human rights
affirm democracy. Eighth, democ-
racy confers national pride.
Ninth, the pride of a national is a
blessing of a people. Tenth, a
blessed people are the funda-
mental element of a united and
peaceful nation.
Making electronic compo-
nents, manufacturing equip-
ments, having Call Centers and
many other economic agenda
are good. Running stock mar-
kets, producing building mate-
rials, investing in housing
projects and similar financial
ventures are all right. Even
downing trees, looking for pre-
cious metals, developing en-
ergy sources and such other
26 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 26
undertakings are acceptable—
on condition however that they
neither undermine the agricul-
tural constructs of the coun-
try, much less destroy the en-
vironment of the land. This
conditionality is definite and
defined. Otherwise, the Philip-
pines would stay where it is
now—nowhere! It is half–
baked agricultural and half–
cooked industrial. Balance:
Neither here nor there.
Provided the People of the
Philippines would not be sub-
servient to the confused and
confusing present administra-
tion, would neither mind the
empty promises nor listen to
the visionary pronouncements
of the Malacañang occupant,
there is still realistic hope for
them to have a more salutary
present and to look forward to
a more promising future. Agri-
cultural development is the
answer to the national predica-
ment. Green revolution is the
call of the times. Food is wealth.
It brings contentment. It means
health and wellbeing. And
when more than enough, food
is profitable for export and even
convertible to fuel.
Hence: Improve and en-
large irrigation systems.
Mechanize farming. Put up stor-
age buildings. Provide food
packing/caning facilities. Build
more farm to market roads. Fund
research centers for rice and
corn, vegetables and root
crops, coconuts and sugar-
cane, and other widely native
cultivated food items. Among
other things, these mean a real-
istic investment in agriculture,
a just and fair agricultural re-
form, a more favorably treated
farming people, duly pursued
and developed foreign markets
for Filipino food products.
Again—with feeling: THE
PHILIPPINESISANAGRICUL-
TURAL COUNTRY, STUPID!
www.ovc.blogspot.com
Food. Shelter.
Clothing.
O
ne of the most ominous realities that loudly an
nounces that there is a fast brewing social volcano
in a country, is the fact that a good number of its people
lack basic food to eat, have no decent shelter nor enough
clothing to wear. And this is exactly the composite socio-
economic plague that is now causing anger and resentment
among many Filipinos. Hungry men, women and children in
extra long queues for rice. Miserable families either squatting,
living under bridges or sleeping in the streets. Imported
discarded and dubious clothing items on sale here and there.
What makes this ugly phenomenon even more odious
to see and detestable to even but think about, is that there
is a Malacañang Palace that stands for affluence unlimited
and enormous power, that looks like a fortress where
ordinary people, the poor in particular, are most unwel-
come. In fact, its occupant travels with every expensive
entourage and acts like royalty pleased with big bows and
lavish homage from its subjects. Incidentally, these hun-
gry and miserable subjects are the ones paying for all the
lavish expenses and regal perks of the leadership.
This pitiful situation in the country is made even more
painful to the simple people and horrible to those in the
know, by the proud and loud claim of socio-economic
expertise on the part of the national leadership with its
grand “super” developmental visions and progressive
projections. Not long ago, it foresaw the Philippines as a
first world country soon. Now, it is not even a developing
but simply stagnating nation—not really going forward
but actually backwards.
This miserable state of affairs all over the land is precisely
what causes long protest marches, angry rallies, inclusive of
fuming moves from cause-oriented groups and organiza-
tions. As the heartbreaking national situation continues or
even worsens, it is to be expected that more and more sectors
of the Philippine society will go to the streets, make denounce-
ments, burn effigies. As usual, the only exception to these
demonstrations of anger and frustration will be the close
relatives and big beneficiaries of the key character popularity
censured for both errant and incompetent leadership.
Thus also stands the rationale of the long standing
nervousness mixed with hallucinatory factors on the part
of the ruling administration that continues to see destabi-
lization plans and moves in practically all nooks and
corners of the country—specially in Metro manila. No
wonder that seeing ghosts of rebellion around itself, the
national leadership has been decidedly surrounding itself
with all available and willing military and police ex-Gener-
als, fervently hoping that they would go to its defense
when actually undergoing popular assault—forgetting
the wisdom behind the saying “When the going gets
tough, the tough ones get going.”
www.ovc.blogspot.com
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM

Abominable contrasts
THERE must be a thousand and one substantial and
incidental contrasts existing in the country. The most
distinct and appalling one being the great divide between
the powerful and the helpless, the wealthy and the
impoverished, the shrewd and the naïve, the exploiters
and the exploited. Truth to say, the most notable and
detestable contrast in Philippine society is one so obvi-
ous to still point out and dangerous to seriously dwell
on, viz., the deep and wide contrast between those few
who govern and the millions who are governed. The
contrast is not only devious but also odious.
This disgusting and repulsive socio-political phe-
nomenon in this supposedly “Bayan Magiliw” has in
fact become more gross and lethal particularly in the
past seven years. This is not to say that it was very much
better than before. But it is certainly much worse this
time. And given the big distrust and high disapproval
rating of the ruling administration not only among
Filipinos but also before the international community, it
is extremely hard to believe that the national psyche
could even realistically think of better days ahead
especially come 2010 which is foreseen as an ominous
year.
The contrast is like an enormous and bottomless
abyss particularly between the one gloriously reigning
chief-commander and the miserably suffering lowly
vol42_no07.pmd 27
EDITORIAL
impoverished millions of people all over the land. The
supreme ruler is not only known for being endowed
with the wide and thick mantle of immunity, but also
stands over and above the law premised on truth,
integrity and honesty—and furthermore acts outside
the sphere of ethics plus the moral order marking the
difference between right and wrong, between good
and evil. The people are looked upon as lowly subjects
to be treated with patronizing disdain and periodically
thrown charity crumbs to appease their hunger and to
show them who is their boss-chief and some kind of
petty divinity of “Perpetual Help”. Such is the opera-
tive premise of the cryptically called “Katas ng Vat”
in addition to the loudly proclaimed and acclaimed
grocery grants here and there, to this and that chosen
community.
This stark contrast has just been so realistically and
shamelessly illustrated when the highest officials of the
land together with amply blessed and loyal court of
followers, happily left the country with class, proudly
met with influential individuals, threw lavish parties,
occupied luxurious hotels—while thousands of Filipinos
met devastating calamities, lost their lives and proper-
ties and to this writing have neither enough food to eat
nor clean water to drink. The contrast cannot be more
horrible and abominable.
Volume 42 • Number 7 27
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
 FROM THE
I N B O X
Farmer Fleming and a nobleman
H
is name was Fleming,
and he was a poor Scot-
tish farmer. One day,
while trying to eke out a living
for his family, he heard a cry for
help coming from a nearby
swamp. He dropped his tools
and ran to the swamp.
There, mired to his waist in
black sewage, was a terrified boy,
28 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 28
screaming and struggling to free
himself. Farmer Fleming saved
the lad from what could have
been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage
pulled up to the Scotsman’s
sparse surroundings. An el-
egantly dressed nobleman
stepped out and introduced him-
self as the father of the boy Farmer
Fleming had saved.
“I want to repay you,” said
the nobleman. “You saved my
son’s life.”
“No, I can’t accept payment
for what I did,” the Scottish farmer
replied, waving off the offer.
At that moment, the farmer’s
own son came to the door of the
family hovel. “Is that your son?”
the nobleman asked.
“Yes,” the farmer replied
proudly.
“I’ll make you a deal. Let me
take him and give him a good
education. If the lad is anything
like his father, he’ll grow to a man
Stone soup story
M
any years ago three
soldiers, hungry
and weary of
battle, came upon a small vil-
lage. The villagers, suffering
a meager harvest and the
many years of war, quickly
hid what little they had to eat
and met the three at the vil-
lage square, wringing their
hands and bemoaning the
lack of anything to eat.
The soldiers spoke qui-
etly among themselves and
the first soldier then turned
to the village elders. “Your
tired fields have left you
nothing to share, so we will
share what little we have:
the secret of how to make
soup from stones.”
Naturally the villagers
were intrigued and soon a
fire was put to the town’s
greatest kettle as the sol-
diers dropped in three
smooth stones. “Now this
will be a fine soup”, said the
second soldier; “but a pinch
of salt and some parsley
would make it wonderful!”
Up jumped a villager, crying
“What luck! I’ve just remem-
bered where some has been
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
you can be proud of.”
And that he did. In time,
Farmer Fleming’s son graduated
from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical
School in London, and went on to
become known throughout the
world as the noted Sir Alexander
Fleming, the discoverer of Peni-
cillin.
Years afterward, the
nobleman’s son was stricken with
pneumonia. What saved him?
Penicillin. The name of the noble-
man? Lord Randolph Churchill.
His son’s name? Sir Winston
Churchill.
rowena.dalanon@cbcpworld.net
left!” And off she ran, re-
turning with an apronful of
parsley and a turnip.
As the kettle boiled on,
the memory of the village
improved: soon barley, car-
rots, beef and cream had
found their way into the
great pot, and a cask of wine
was rolled into the square
as all sat down to feast.
They ate and danced
and sang well into the night,
refreshed by the feast and
their new-found friends.
In the morning the three
soldiers awoke to find the
entire village standing be-
fore them. At their feet lay a
satchel of the village’s best
breads and cheese. “You
have given us the greatest
of gifts: the secret of how to
make soup from stones,”
said an elder, “and we shall
never forget.” The third
soldier turned to the crowd,
and said: “There is no se-
cret, but this is certain: it is
only by sharing that we may
make a feast.” And off the
soldiers wandered, down
the road.
rowena.dalanon@cbcpworld.net
 B O O K
REVIEWS

Glimpses of Paul and His Strategies for Preaching Paul

Message Frank J. Matera
Bernardita Dianzon, FSP For preachers who lack familiarity in using the Pauline texts
for preaching, this book is for you! Here, Matera provides
Right in time for the opening of the celebration of the Apostle’s some strategies on how to go about preaching the Pauline
bi-millennium anniversary of birth, this book offers a fitting texts from the Sunday
tribute to the great Apostle who had worked zealously for the Lectionary. First, by making
proclamation of Christ’s saving use of the historical and liter-
message. The book is a collec- ary setting of the text, the sec-
tion of short articles on Paul, of ond is interpreting the text
which, according to the author’s within its broader literary con-
own description, are like snap- text, while the third is propos-
shots; although taken at various ing key ideas that should be
angles, “are supposed to give preached. Paul is the most
the readers a more or less co- prolific and profound of New
herent image of the Apostle and Testament writers and yet it is
show at least the major contours rarely that his epistles are
of his message.” Thus the first used as text for preaching. Of
section, aptly called Glimpses, course, central to the New
provides but a quick look on vari- Testament is the Gospel, the
ous Pauline topics presented. word of Christ. But it is Christ
The second section, called and the Gospel that Paul
Gazes, nonetheless offer a more writes about. The author who
substantial treatment and expo- is as passionate about Paul
sition of other Pauline themes. as any Pauline disciple
The book is an interesting read should be claims that in read-
as it offers an easy understand- ing Paul he “encounter[s]
ing of Paul and his message, someone who has under-
which is summed up as the stood how the proclamation of
Good News. Thus reading this the gospel illumines the hu-
volume should entice readers man situation and solves the
to explore further, the author most mundane problems…
hopes, that they may discover and [one who] knows what it
by themselves the richness and means to live with, for, and in
the saving power of God’s word. Christ.” Matera is a professor
Dianzon, a Biblical scholar who of New Test ament from the
holds a Licentiate in Sacred Catholic University of America.
Scriptures from the Pontifical An excellent resource to
Biblical Institute and a Doctor- deepen one’s knowledge on
ate in Sacred Theology from the the epistles of the great
Loyola School of Theology, is a Apostle in this bi-millennium
member of the Daughters of St. jubilee of his birth, this book
Paul. This volume, just off the is published locally by
press, is her first book. Paulines.

Reconciliation The Shepherds’ Voice

From the Sacramental to Societal
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz, JCD, DD
The book brings to fore the reconciliatory nature of the sacra-
ment of confession—hence the term reconciliation. The book
posits that the sacrament of reconciliation involves a two-way
action between a sinful human being and a forgiving and lov-
ing God. Man moving towards God asking for forgiveness and
God moving towards man offering his love. Part and parcel of
our being human is to commit the same mistakes over and
over again. Reconciliation shows the reality of the “sinning-
forgiving [action] between man and God” that is done repeat-
edly. Divided into five articles, the book discusses the Scrip-
tural foundation of the sacrament, its theological connotation,
provisions according to Canon Law, its natural ordination and
social application. In the present context of our socio-political
reality, where there is so much enmity and discord because of
varying ideologies, this book offers a refreshing insight on
how to go about making peace with God, with ourselves, and
others.
The Juridic Dimension of the Teaching Office
of the Church
Jaime B. Achacoso
This volume, second in a series of Canon Law Notebooks
published by the Canon Law Research & Communication
Foundation talks about the teaching aspect of the Church as
prescribed by Canon Law. Through the mandate given by Christ
to the Apostles, the Church is called to fulfill the threefold task
of teaching, sanctifying and ruling. Achacoso explains though
that there is an order to follow in fulfilling these functions, with
teaching taking priority before the other two roles. Presented
in three chapters, the first explains the juridic dimension of the
teaching office of the Church. Chapter 2 elucidates the basic
forms of the ministry of the word—preaching and catechesis,
while Chapter 3 discusses the importance of Catholic Educa-
tion in evangelization. The author is a priest of the Personal
Prelature of Opus Dei and a Consultor of the Episcopal Com-
mission on Canon Law of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines.

Volume 42 • Number 7 29

vol42_no07.pmd 29 7/3/2008, 4:09 PM

 ENTERTAINMENT
P atuloy na itinataguyod
ni Nanay Flor (Gina
Pareno) ang kanilang
negosyong lumang sinehan
na nagpapalabas ng mga
lumang “bold” na pelikula
sa kabila ng samu’t saring
problema nito. Kasama
niyang namamahala ang
anak na si Nayda (Jacklyn
Jose) at manugang na si
Lando (Julio Diaz). Sa
sinehan na sila nakatira
kasama ang iba pang
kaanak: sina Allan (Coco
Martin) at Ronald (Kristofer
King) na projectionist. Labis
na dinaramdam ni Nanay
Flor ang panloloko sa kanya
ng kanyang asawa, kasabay
ng pagpasan niya sa
problema ng lahat ng
kanyang kaanak na tauhan
na rin sa sinehan. Si Allan
ay makakabuntis na
makakadagdag sa pasakit
ni Flor. Lingid din sa kanyang
kaalaman ang nangyayaring
30 IMPACT • July 2008
vol42_no07.pmd 30
pagse-“serbis” ng mga
kalalakihan sa mga
parokyanong bakla ng
sinehan. At dahil sa sinehan
na nakatira ang buong
pamilya at kaanak na
nagpapatakbo ng sinehan,
namumulat ang mga batang
apo ni Nanay Flor sa mga
bisyo at kalaswaan.
Isang "cinema verite"
ang Serbis na
makatotohanang
naglalarawan ng tila
pinaglipasan na ng panahon
na kultura: ang mga sinehan
at teatro. Naging lugar na
lamang ito ng madidilim na
sikreto ng nakaraan at
kasalukuyan. Pinamahayan
na rin ang sinehan ng mga
baho, problema at bisyo ng
isang pamilyang nasadlak sa
kadiliman. Mahusay ang
pagkakagawa ng mga
eksena na parang nanonood
ka lamang ng tunay na
buhay. Kung kaya’t
CATHOLIC INITIATIVE
FOR ENLIGHTENED
MOVIE APPRECIATION
Title: Serbis
Cast: Gina Pareno, Jacklyn Jose, Coco Martin, Kristofer
King, Julio Diaz, Dan Alvaro
Genre: Drama
Director: Brillante Mendoza
Screenplay: Armando Lao
Producer: Ferdinand Lapuz
Location: Manila
Running Time: 90mins
Technical Assessment: 3.5
Moral Assessment: 2.5
Rating: For viewers 18 and above
naparangalan ng rin ang
Serbis sa ibang bansa.
Matapang nitong tinalakay
ang maraming sakit ng
lipunan na naglalarawan sa
kalagayan ng mga bansang
nasa “Third World” katulad
ng Pilipinas. Walang itulak
kabigin at hindi matatawaran
ang galing ng lahat ng
nagsiganap. Maraming
biswal na simbolismo na
epektibong naisalarawan
ang dilim, kasalanan at
kasamaan na naikulong sa
isang lugar.
Malinaw ang layunin ng
Serbis: ang isalarawan ang
nakaririmarim na kalagayan
ng isang naiibang uri ng
pamilyang nasadlak sa
kahirapan. Ipinasilip ng
Serbis ang isang mundong
hindi madalas na makita ng
Pilipinong manonood. Isang
lugar na alam nating nariyan
ngunit hindi binibigyang
pansin. Sa kabila ng mga
bisyo, kalaswaan at
kasamaan, isang bagay ang
labis na pinahahalagahan ng
mga karakter sa pelikula: ang
pamilya. Bagama’t hindi
perpekto at puno ng depekto,
dalisay pa rin ang
7/3/2008, 4:09 PM
pagmamalasakit at
pagmamahalan sa isang
pamilya. Tahimik din nitong
ipinakita ang kakayahan ng
isang taong kumawala sa
isang masalimuot na
sitwasyon kung kanyang
nais. Nakababahala nga
lamang dahil hindi malinaw
kung para saan ba ang
pagtakas. Sa pagbabagong
tungo sa kabutihan o sa higit
pang kasamaan? Sadyang
nakababahala ang biswal at
grapikong pagpapakita ng
mga eksenang hubaran, seks
at homosekswalidad.
Bagama’t hindi sinasabi ng
pelikula na ito ay mabuti,
maari pa rin itong
makaapekto sa sensibilidad
ng mga manonood. Ang
pagkakaron ng batang
karakter bilang saksi sa lahat
nang bisyo at kasalanan sa
lugar ay isang epektibong
device na nagsasabing
malayo pa ang ating
lalakbayin sa pagbabago
sapagkat iminumulat na natin
ang ating mga kabataan sa
isang mundong nagdidilim na
ang pamantayang moral at
bumababaw ang pananalig
sa Diyos.
 N E W S
BRIEFS

INDIA INDONESIA CAMBODIA BURMA

India to rival Statue Indonesia wary of Complaints lodged vs Rights group urges
of Liberty raising fuel prices poll campaign release of an activist
The government here Energy minister Purnomo With just five days be- The military government
plans to build a 309-foot-tall Yusgiantoro said the gov- fore the official campaign here should release detained
statue off the Mumbai coast ernment is wary of raising period, Cambodia’s National activist Zargana and let him
rivaling New York’s Statue fuel oil prices again ahead of Election Committee has al- continue giving aid unhin-
of Liberty. The $4.5 million- elections next year. With ready received 15 com- dered to communities af-
worth project, which will in- general elections due next plaints, with most lodged by fected by Cyclone Nargis,
clude a library, a museum April and presidential elec- the Sam Rainsy Party, the Human Rights Watch said.
and an amphitheatre, will tions in June, Yusgiantoro main opposition party. Re- The group said to nab one of
depict the 17th century said the government would ports said most of the com- Burma’s famous public fig-
Maratha warrior king, “shoulder” higher global oil plaints are related to vandal- ures for talking to the media
Shivaji, who is hero in prices in the state budget. ism of rival party’s signs, or while he was distributing aid
Maharashtra state for defy- about the use of loudspeak- shows “the Burmese gov-
ing Mughal and British ers. ernment is more concerned
PAKISTAN
forces. with controlling its citizens
IRAQ than assisting them.”
House explosion kills
CHINA
seven Gov’t sues over ‘oil- SRI LANKA
China, UAE make big for-food’ program
An explosion destroyed British diplomat
progress in ensuring the house of a militant in The Iraqi government has
safe blood donation Pakistan’s Khyber region filed a civil lawsuit in a US beaten
June 30, killing seven, on the federal court against
China and the United third day of an offensive Australia’s former monopoly Senior British High Com-
Arab Emirates (UAE) have against Islamists threaten- wheat exporter and dozens mission officer in Sri Lanka,
made impressive strides in ing the city of Peshawar. A of other companies over the Mahendra Ratnaweera has
tackling the risk of contami- militant chief said the blast now discredited United Na- been beaten and his car
nation from unsafe blood by was caused by a missile, but tions oil-food program. They smashed by unidentified as-
reaching close to 100 per- an official in the region said alleged that kick-backs and sailants recently. The attack-
cent voluntary blood dona- explosives stored at the corruption robbed billion of ers also tried to grab a jour-
tion, said WHO. Their ef- house in the town of Bara dollars from the Iraqi nalist traveling as a passen-
forts to increase their safe went off accidentally. Se- through the said program ger in the vehicle.
blood base were promoted curity forces launched the between 1996 and 2003. Ratnaweera was severely
as models for other coun- offensive on the country’s injured in the attack.
tries to follow on the occa- northwestern border with PHILIPPINES S. KOREA
sion of World Blood Donor Afghanistan to push back
Day last month. Taliban militants. Owners of sunken Gov't gears upgrade
ferry sue weather ser- of naval forces
AFGHANISTAN CHINA vice
South Korea plans to trade
Afghan suffers under ‘Zero tolerance drug The owners of a ferry its 1, 300 tonne diesel-electric
global food crisis policy’ which sank during a raging attack submarines for Indo-
typhoon with the loss of nesian-built patrol aircraft.
International relief Chinese officials said a some 800 lives has filed a Military officials said the deal
agency World Vision says lifetime ban on one of their civil suit against the Philip- will be discussed when arms
the global food crisis is forc- swimmers for taking drugs pines weather service for procurement officials from
ing some of the poor in Af- shows that a “zero toler- allegedly failing to issue an both nations meet in Jakarta
ghanistan to sell their daugh- ance” policy is in place for updated storm bulletin. this month. They, however,
ters into early marriages. the Beijing Olympics follow- Sulpicio Lines, owners of refused to confirm news re-
The group says meals are ing the banning for life after the Princess of the Stars ports that the two nations
becoming a luxury for many failing an out-of-competition which sank off Sibuyan Is- would sign a $1 billion deal to
in Afghanistan where half drug test. The swimmer was land June 21 are seeking trade two S.Korean subma-
of the population live below found to be using the muscle- damages for a wrongful rines for eight Indonesian-built
the poverty line. building drug Clenbuterol. storm forecast. CN-235s.

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