Pahayagan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas

Pinapatnubayan ng Marxismo-Leninismo-MaoismoANG

Gain strength in an all-round wayin engaging the Duterte regime

Engl ish Edition

Vol . XLVI I No. 13

July 7, 2016

www.phi l ippinerevolution.net

Editorial

Let us take every opportunity under the newly-installed Duterte govern-ment to all-roundedly strengthen and expand the Party, the NPA, massorganizations and organs of people's democratic power.

Indeed there is much potentialin building and strengthening a pro-gressive and pro-people alliancebetween Duterte and the national-democratic forces.

The national democratic move-ment is glad that Duterte himself ishelping build and nurture this alli-ance. At the same time, it is alsokeenly aware that Duterte is thecurrent chief of the reactionarystate dominated by US imperialism,the big bourgeois compradors andbig landlords.

The national democratic move-ment welcomes Duterte's offers ofcooperation in order to forge a pro-gressive and pro-people alliance asan additional means of advancingthe people's demands for nationalfreedom and social justice.

On the other hand, the revolu-tionary and progressive forcesare aware of the limitations ofsuch an alliance. They arealso aware of thedangers of being tieddown, completely sweptor drowned into such.

They are also awarethat the reactionaryruling classes remaindominant and that thepotentials of a pro-gressive and patriotic al-liance remain very small.

Duterte's progressive aspect is beingcounteracted and overpowered byUS imperialism and the puppet rul-ing classes.

Thus the revolutionary move-ment and legal mass movement mustuntiringly consolidate its ownstrength. Developing the people'sindependent strength is the keyfactor for a progressive alliance toemerge and serve as an effectiveweapon for advancing their interestsand welfare. Such independentstrength is also necessary to be ableto persevere in advancing massstruggles in the cities and thepeople's war in the countryside withor without an alliance.

To effectively confront and take

advantage of the new situation, wemust, above all, further expand andstrengthen the Party. Build and im-plement a plan for ideological, poli-tical and organizational consolida-tion especially for the next sixmonths. Carry out special Marxist-Leninist studies to strengthen ourgrasp of the particularities of thecurrent situation and tasks in ad-vancing the revolution. At the sametime, continue with the three-leveleducational program.

The prevailing situation opensmuch political advantage for the na-tional democratic forces. Thepeople's agenda and the overall na-tional democratic political line is nowat the center of national politicaldiscussions, discourse and debate.

Members of mass organizations,Red fighters and commanders of theNPA and Party members and cadres

July 7 , 2016 ANG BAYAN2

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Editorial: Gain strength in an all-roundway in engaging Duterte 1

Activists present People's Agenda 3

Preparations for the peace talks 4

40,000 march for peace in Davao 4

CPP's campaign against illegal drugs 5

Release Ka Lando! 5

US Pacific Partnership opposed 6

Anti-mining struggles claim victory 6

Devastation of neoliberalism 7

Militarization preys on minorities 7

Murder attempt on journalist 7

"Normalization" of US-Cuba relations 9

Brexit reflects discontent and crisis 11

Vol . XLVI I No. 13 | Ju ly 7, 2016

ContentsANG

must sharpen their grasp of the lineand analysis of the semicolonial andsemifeudal social system and pro-gram of the CPP for a people'sdemocratic revolution. Arouse thebiggest number of people with re-gard the need to take action andstruggle for national and social lib-eration.

Let us carry out a widespreadeducation movement and enrol anunprecedented number of peopleover the coming months. Win overthe support and cooperation ofbroad sectors, organiza-tions, institutions as wellas officials of the reac-tionary government whoare ready to assist theeducation movement forrousing the people.

Build the na-tional democraticschools in villages,schools, factoriesand semi-prolet-ariat communities,government andprivate offices,

call centers, churches and otherplaces. Ensure the supply of booksand other reading references, aswell as other equipment necessaryto effectively carry out widespreadmass education.

Continue to rapidly expand theNPA. While carrying out agrarianrevolution, carry out widespreadrecruitment from the peasant youthmasses. Undertake widespread en-listment of urban youth to undergo

training as new Red fighters. Carryout widespread propaganda forarmed struggle. Further expandand consolidate the people's mili-tias.

Strengthen the military, poli-tical, cultural and economic capa-bility of the NPA. Continue toprovide the NPA with weapons andmilitary training. Continue to carryout tactical offensives targeting theworst units with fascist crimesagainst the people. Disarm and ar-rest the biggest criminals involvedin trafficking illegal drugs. Under-take measures to defend the envi-ronment against destructive min-ing, logging and plantation opera-tions.

Expand several-fold and con-solidate the mass base. Aim toachieve unprecedented rate of ex-pansion and strengthening of themass organizations of peasants,women and youth. Undertake anti-feudal campaigns. Carry out pro-duction campaigns.

Rapidly expand the reach oforganizing and mobilizing workers'unions. Take advantage of the fa-vorable situation for advancing thestruggle against contractualizationand wage increases in order toreach out to hundreds of thousandsof workers. Expand several timesover and strengthen the mass or-ganizations and education move-ment in poor communities, cam-puses, government offices,churches and others.

Expand and strengthen the un-derground movement in order tosecure the Party, cadres and acti-vists.

Let us maximize the NDFP'speace talks with the Duterte re-gime. Mobilize hundreds of thou-sands of people to support the 12-point program of the NDFP and theclamor for a just and lasting peace.In doing so, we can strengthenDuterte's progressive aspect andthe potentials of forging a strongalliance through formal agreementsthat will serve as its general pro-gram of action.

Ang Bayan is publ ished fortnightly by the Central Committee

of the Communist Party of the Phi l ippines

ANG BAYAN July 7 , 2016 3

Activists present People’s Agenda to Duterte

Positive and vibrant - this is how the delegates described the recently-concluded People’s Summit at the Universityof the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City last June 29. More than a thousand representatives from various sec-

tors and organizations assembled to finalize the People’s Agenda which served as the basis of their alliance with theDuterte regime.

The People’s Agenda containsthe 15-point program on nationalistand progressive change and a de-tailed program of what is doableunder Duterte’s administration in itsfirst 100 days in power. In particu-lar, the people’s agenda is dividedinto five aspects: economy, socialpolicy, peace and human rights,anti-corruption and administration,and foreign policy.

Before the summit, sectors anddelegates from different regionsconducted assemblies and consulta-tions to gather the demands andcalls of the people. The NationalPeople’s Summit which was held inUP Diliman is the culmination ofthese activities.

Organizations from SouthernTagalog and Central Luzon heldcaravans before converging to themain program in Metro Manila forthe People’s Summit and mobiliza-tion last June 30, in time for Presid-ent Duterte’s inauguration. Deleg-ates from Bicol, Visayas andMindanao also attended the 2-dayevent.

“These (mobilizations) serve asour rally of support and to persuadehim to act upon his pro-people pro-nouncements, peace talks betweenthe GPH and NDFP, releaseof political prisoners andpeople’s agenda forgenuine change,” saidRenato Reyes, secret-ary general ofBagong AlyansangMakabayan(BAYAN).

More than 7,000 members ofdifferent organizations and sup-porters of the people’s agenda at-tended the rally held in Mendiola,Manila.

Reyes also added that thepeople and the Duterte regime arein agreement on six issues: an endto contractualization, prohibition ofdestructive and large-scale mining,distribution of 6-million hectares ofpublic lands to the farmers, safereturn of Lumads to their com-munities, release of political pris-oners and the resumption of peacetalks.

After the program, Duterte in-vited leaders of progressive orga-nizations inside Malacañang to re-ceive the People’s Agenda and toconsult with them. Their discussionlasted for about an hour. Later inthe afternoon, Duterte dined withmembers of mass organizations andresidents of Tondo, Manila.

Meanwhile, a day after theirconsultation in Malacañang, Pres-ident Duterte appointed Liza Mazaas head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

According to Maza, her priorityis to address the needs of people inthe countryside.

The People’s Agenda1. Uphold national sovereigntyand territorial integrity.2. Respect human rights and givefull play to democracy.3. Reassert economic sovereigntyand conserve national patrimony.4. Carry out national industrializ-ation.5. Implement land reform as amatter of democratic right andsocial justice.6. Improve the wage and livingconditions of the workers.7. Expand social services, espe-cially in education, health andhousing, and improve public util-ities.8. Stop plunder and all forms ofgraft and corruption and prosec-ute perpetrators.9. Reduce military expendituresand channel the savings to eco-nomic development and socialservices.10. Promote a patriotic, demo-cratic, scientific and progressivesystem of education and culture.11. Uphold gender equality in allfields of social activity and com-bat gender/sexual discrimination.12. Ensure wise utilization ofnatural resources and protectionof the environment.13. Respect the rights of nationalminorities to self-determinationand development.14. Resume GPH peace negoti-ations with the NDFP and com-plete those with the MILF.15. Pursue an independent for-eign policy.

July 7 , 2016 ANG BAYAN4

Sectors in Mindanao presented their demands whichwere consolidated into the Mindanao People’s Agenda.

Following are some of the demands: removemilitary camps and disarm paramilitary troops inLumad communities; resolve cases of illegallydismissed workers in Nakayama Technology

Corporation, Nakashin Davao InternationalCorporation and Radio Mindanao Network;release Moro prisoners who were illegallyaccused of being members of Abu Sayyafand immediately expel large-scale anddestructive mining in Mindanao.

The Mindanao People’s PeaceAgenda was submitted to Fidel Agcaoiliof NDFP and Silvestre Bello III, chiefnegotiator of GPH panel who attended

the event.In Butuan City, 3,000 members of

progressive organizations marched toexpress their support for the upcoming

peace talks. The group also demanded accountability ofthe previous Aquino regime and pushed for the people’sdemands in CARAGA.

40,000 march for peace in Davao

Preparations for peace negotiations

The resumption of peace negotiations between the Gov-ernment of the Philippines (GPH) and the National Demo-

cratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) may be pushed back tothe last week of July. Fidel Agcaoili of the NDFP Negotiating

Panel said that the delay is due to the additional time needed to process therelease of NDFP consultants.

Around 40,000 delegates from various sectors and parts of Mindanao attended “Pukaw Kalinaw: Unity for Justiceand Lasting Peace," a two-day forum on the root causes of armed struggle among the communities and different

sectors.

The NDFP will also ask the GPHto have the US delist the CPP, NPA,and NDFP Chief Political ConsultantJose Maria Sison from its "terrorist"list. Agcaoili clarified that it was thePhilippine government, during theArroyo regime, which was respons-ible for the revolutionaries' inclu-sion in the US list.

The continuing inclusion of theCPP, NPA and Sison in the said listis a major impediment to the latter's

return to the Philippines. This pos-sibility has been suggested by theGPH supposedly for Sison andDuterte to meet. According to Ag-caoili, the US must give assurancethat it will not intervene to derailthe peace negotiations. He said thatthere should be guarantees fromthe Dutch, Norwegian and US gov-ernments to respect the sovereigntyof the Filipino people in their desireto pursue a just and lasting peace

by allowing Sison to come homewithout interference.

Meanwhile, Sison is optimisticover the prospects of the peace ne-gotiations with the Duterte go-vernment." Let us take advantageof a new situation in which theworsening crisis of the ruling sys-tem, the growing strength of thepeople's revolutionary movementand the failures of previous admi-nistrations have brought about apresident who is courageous andproud to say that he is the first Leftpresident of the Philippines," hesaid. Sison likewise stated thatDuterte is willing to adopt and im-plement the necessary reforms for ajust and lasting peace.

The activity's highlights included discussions,cultural performances and a program which wasattended by delegates from the negotiating panel of theNational Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP)and the Duterte regime. Attendees marchedaround the city on June 29, to express theirsupport for the resumption of peace talks.

Before the event, activistscommemorated the first anniversaryof the murder of Leoncio Pitao (KaParago) in Barangay Pañalum,Paquibato District.

This has been the largestassembly in the region since 1984,said DOLE undersecretary JoelMaglunsod. The activity was led byExodus for Justice and Peace (EJP).Peasants, Lumad and sectors fromCaraga, Central Mindanao, WesternMindanao and Soccsksargen attendedthe event.

The root causes of armed conflict must be resolved,and this entails economic reforms, especially landreform and national industrialization, EJP said. After themarch, a peace forum was held in Almendras Gym.

ANG BAYAN July 7 , 2016 5

The CPP's campaign against illegal drugs

Revolutionary forces have long been carrying out a campaign againstillegal drugs. The New People's Army has been assiduously

implementing the orders of the CPP Central Committee to disarm and arrestthe most notorious criminals including the biggest drug traffickers, in orderto subject them to prosecution and just punishment.

They are in the top echelons ofthe AFP and PNP, who are also incahoots with key officials in thelocal and national bureaucracy.The NPA is ready to give battle tothose who will resist arrest witharmed violence.

For the CPP, the proliferationof illegal drugs, especially shabu,and the concomitant rise inincidents of violent crime servesthe perpetuation of the rulingsystem. Historically, the colonizersand ruling classes have

deliberately encouraged thepropagation of drugs as a means ofdesensitizing the oppressed andexploited masses. Drug abusenumbs them of the acute effects ofpoverty, hunger and state violence.

Drug abuse disunites thepeople and prevents them fromeffectively carrying outrevolutionary struggle. The use ofdrugs as a weapon to oppress thepeople is starkly clear in areaswhere the AFP conducts itscounterinsurgency operations.

Release Ka Lando!

Wherever there is heavy militarypresence in so called "civil-militaryoperations", illegal drugs areallowed to proliferate together withother anti-social acts.

The CPP welcomes PresidentDuterte's call for cooperation withthe revolutionary forces againstwidespread drug trafficking. Whileanticipating the possibility of amutual ceasefire in the comingweeks as a result of negotiationsbetween the NDFP and thePhilippine government, the NPA cancontinue to carry out selectoperations in defense of people'srights and welfare, especiallyagainst the biggest criminalsyndicates and their nefariousmilitary and police cohorts.

The National Democratic Front-Southern Mindanao Region

condemned the arrest and detentionof Red commander Eduardo Genelsa(Ka Lando) by the AFP last June 29in Sitio Sangi, Barangay Bongabong,Pantukan, Compostela Valley.Genelsa was arrested by combinedelements of the 10th ID, 46th IB,PNP and operatives of the IntelligenceService of the AFP. His arrest aims tosabotage the upcoming peace talks,NDF-SMR said.

Ka Rubi del Mundo of the NDF-SMR said that KaLando was conducting special consultations withresidents in a known NDF territory in Pantukan. He wastasked to unite the mass base on the upcoming peacetalks, and on the proper conduct of the People'sDemocratic Government and revolutionary forces whenthe proposed ceasefire agreement takes effect.

Ka Lando was then investigating activities of acertain druglord in cahoots with some AFP units andofficials in the area, the NDF-SMR stated. This was inline with the NPA higher command's directive for therevolutionary movement to conduct parallel effortsagainst drug lords and criminal syndicates.

Ka Rubi further said that Ka Lando's arrest is areprehensible, premeditated act designed to preemptmutual peace efforts by the revolutionary movement and

the Duterte government. This clearlyexposes the innate warmongering

character of the AFP which continuesto kowtow to the previous US-Aquinoregime's fascist Oplan Bayanihan.

The NDF-SMR expresslyde mands concrete and

immediate action from theDuterte government for

the immediate andunconditionalrelease of KaLando, as well as

the cessation of military operations and atrocitiesagainst the people.

Meanwhile, 39th IB troopers earned widespreadcondemnation on social media for their desecration ofthe remains of a Red commander who was martyred in abattle last July 1 along the border of barangays Basakand Balite in Magpet, North Cotabato.

Photos of Noel (Ka Jepoy) Gulmatico's corpse spreadon the internet when radio broadcaster Abner Franciscoposted them on his Facebook account. Franciscodescribed the anger felt by Ka Jepoy's family. In hispost, Francisco said that: "Both his eyes were gouged,his tongue cut, his neck slit. His family accepts his deathas a result of his joining the revolution, but they couldnot accept the desecration of his remains..."

July 7 , 2016 ANG BAYAN6

Groups oppose US Pacific

Partnership in AlbayAnti-mining struggles claim victory

A BARRICADE by the people of Barangay Didipio, Kasibu, Nueva Vizcayawas successful in stopping the destructive mining company Oceana GoldPhilippines Inc. (OGPI) in its drilling operations. Large-scale miningoperations in Zambales were also brought to a halt after the provincialgovernor suspended their licenses.

OGPI withdrew its equipmenton the third day of the barricadeby Samahang Pangkarapatan ngKatutubong Manggagawa at Mag-sasaka Inc. (SAPAKKMI), DidipioEarth Savers Multi-Purpose Co-operative (DESAMA), and theDidipio Barangay Council. (ReadAng Bayan, June 21, 2016.) Theprotesters also gained the supportof newly-elected Governor CarlosPadilla who promised to stopOGPI's drilling and expansion op-erations.

Nonetheless, the protestersare aware that their victory maybe temporary. Ernesto Bobola ofSAPAKKMMI said that they willcontinue to be vigilant givenOGPI's underhanded practice ofsneaking equipment into the area.On the other hand, DESAMA'sMyrna Duyan said that they needto unite the residents and thewhole village council to stand firmagainst destructive mining. OGPIhas attempted to disunite theresidents by coopting individuallandowners where OGPI's drillingequipment would be positioned.

In Zambales, newly-electedgovernor Amor Deloso ordered thesuspension of all mining opera-tions in the province. LastFebruary, residents from Bara-ngay Bato, Sta Cruz have put upbarricades against some of thesecompanies—Zambales DiversifiedMetals Co., Filipinas Mining,Benguet Nickel Mining Inc. andEramen Minerals Corp.—to protesttheir destructive operations.

Meanwhile, 32 environmentalorganizations crafted a 14-pointagenda for President Duterte'sfirst 100 days. The agenda calledfor the abrogation of Mining Actof 1995, suspension of large-scalemining and construction of coal-fired power plants, and resolvingissues related to toxic wastes. Theorganizations likewise pressedDuterte to junk Executive Order79 signed by Aquino in 2012 whichprohibits local government unitsfrom suspending mining contractsin their respective areas.

In this regard, the organiza-tion Kalipunan ng KatutubongMamamayan ng Pilipinas (Katribu)asked DENR Sec. Gina Lopez toremain true to her stance againstdestructive mining.

The group urged SecretaryLopez to investigate all miningoperations and hold accountablethose who destroy the environ-ment. Katribu also demandedthat the government suspend theapproval of new mining applica-tions. Around 60% of approvedapplications cover ancestrallands, resulting in the destruc-tion of the indigenous people'slivelihood.

On her first day at the DENR,Lopez ordered that the investiga-tion of all mining operations becompleted in a month. In the past,Lopez has joined forces withKalikasan People's Network forthe Environment in opposing de-structive mining in Palawan andMt. Lobo in Batangas.

MULTI-SECTORAL organizationsunder Bagong Alyansang Maka-bayan (Bayan)-Bicol gathered lastJune 27 in Legazpi City to protestthe "humanitarian" program inAlbay where around 1,000 com-bined troops from the US, Aus-tralia, Malaysia and New Zealandparticipated.

Dubbed as "Pacific Partner-ship," the program likewisefeatured Philippine Navy forces inSouthern Luzon, as well as the US'vaunted largest naval hospital shipUSNS Mercy. The foreign troopswill remain in Albay until July 11.

Bayan-Bicol's Pastor Dan Bal-ucio said that the continuing pre-sence of US troops will only bringtrouble to the country because itraises military tension not only inthe province but also in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Albay People's Organiza-tion (APO) likewise criticized theinvolvement of US troops, includ-ing the AFP, in humanitarianactivities and disaster response asthese militarize the said efforts.APO's Fred Mansos stated thatconstruction using governmentfacilities and equipment should beundertaken by personnel from theDepartment of Public Works andHighways, with the help of othercivilian agencies, and not bymilitary forces.

Residents also reported thateven before the PacificPartnership officially started, UStroops have already been seen inAlbay. According to APO, in thetown of Daraga, Ame-rican sol-diers have been present since May15 in the barangays of Mabini andKinawitan, and in Camalig'sBarangay Comun. Areas sur-rounding these villages were alsomilitarized.

ANG BAYAN July 7 , 2016 7

Neoliberal policies' devastating effecton local industry and agriculture(Fourth in the series on neoliberalism. Previous articles discussed the history ofneoliberal policies in the Philippines and the series of laws and orders which imple-mented neoliberal privatization, deregulation, liberalization and denationalizationin the country.)

Almost four decades of neoliberal policies in the Philippines havebrought about the wholesale destruction of the local economy

and the people’s livelihood.Import-oriented industry

growth was stunted, rendering itunable to generate more jobs. Agri-cultural growth tapered off in theface of all-out trade liberalizationand flooding of the local marketswith foreign agricultural products.Agricultural production remainedbackward. Due to its inability togenerate employment, the numberof unemployed rose (and becamefarm workers) in the countryside. Asa manifestation of uneven growth,the service sector, specifically retail,consistently grew.

Having so-called “solid economicfundamentals” is a lie. In fact, thelocal economy remains pre-industri-al, backward and agrarian. Export-oriented manufacturing is dependenton imported machinery and mater-ials, resulting in a chronic trade de-ficit and a cycle of incurring debts tokeep the economy afloat.

For decades, the state has beeninsolvent due to low revenues res-ulting from the abolition of tariffsand awarding tax holiday incentivesto big companies. To reduce its de-ficit, the state passed the burden to

ordinary citizens by imposing taxeson income, basic commodities andservices.

DeindustrializationThe industrial base shrank as

local production became more andmore dependent on imported ma-chinery and materials, foreign cap-ital and loans. The local manufac-turing subsector is an adjunct to theinternational chain of production ofbig capitalists. It is separate fromlocal agricultural production anddoes not serve in building a self-re-liant economy. Manufacturingmakes up half of the industry sec-tor.

From 7.6% in the 70s, industrygrowth plunged to 0.5% in the 1980sto the 1990s. During the same peri-od, its share to the local productiondropped from 39% to 20%.

Northern Luzon's indigenous peoples

fall prey to militarization

SIXTEEN members of the Aggay tribe, including women and children, werereportedly abducted by 86th IB troopers in San Mariano, Isabela last June17.

According to Karapatan-Cagayan Valley, the Aggays were abductedwhile members of the 86th IB were conducting military operations in theTappa-Cadsalan-Buyasan area. In a search mission conducted byKarapatan, the Social Action Center of the Archdiocese of Ilagan City, andrepresentatives of the Isabela local government, the Aggays reported thatthe soldiers also illegally searched their huts.

In addition, the group said that the 5th ID, which commands the saidbattalion, denied that they have custody of the Aggays. However,interviewed residents belied this, saying that some of their fellowtribesmen were forced by the military into a helicopter.

In related news, the Abra Human Rights Movement (AHRM) and Kakai-lian Salakniban Tay Amin a Nagtaudan (KASTAN CPA-Abra) condemnedthe abduction of four Tingguians by soldiers belonging to the 27th IB lastJune 25.

The Tingguians were identified as Teddy Ngitit Wagwagan, GodfreyNgitit, Marvin Dugayon and Bello Batang-i, all of Bangilo District.

According to AHRM and KASTAN, the four were hunting in themountains of Malibcong when chanced upon by the operating troops. Thegroup further said that the Tingguians were released only last July 1, andwere threatened by 27th IB commanding officer Col. Thomas Baluga withcharges of illegal possession of firearms.

Murder attempt on journalist

condemned

THE NATIONAL Union of Journalistsof the Philippines (NUJP)condemned the assassinationattempt on Radio MindanaoNetwork-dxRS broadcasterSaturnino "Jan" Estanio in SurigaoCity last June 30.

Estanio was shot by two gunmenriding in tandem. Also woundedwere Estanio's 12-year old son anda neighbor. According to the NUJP,there is a big possibility that theattempt to kill Estanio was inconnection with his hard-hittingcriticism of illegal drugs and illegalgambling operations, as well ascorruption in some governmentagencies. Estanio maintains anightly program with dxRS.

Before the attack, Estanio saidthat he has been receiving threatstelling him to to stop criticizing thewidespread illegal gamblingoperations in Surigao City.

July 7 , 2016 ANG BAYAN8

companies. Large companies relysolely on imported materials. Cap-italists do not invest both in newmachinery and trainings to improvelabor.

Agricultural declineUnder neoliberal policies, agri-

cultural production remained small,backward and separate even as theuse of foreign inputs (seeds, ferti-lizers and pesticides) increased. Atthe same time, local production fellas imported agricultural productsflooded the market, and as hacien-das and capitalist plantations con-verted thousands of hectares ofagricultural land for export pro-duction. From 1980, agriculture’soverall GDP share fell from a third(1/3) to 1/12 in 2010. From the1980s to 2000, the sector’s growthbarely reached 3%. This is far fromthe 7.4% high in the 1970s. On theother hand, agribusiness’ GDP sharerose to 15%.

Large tracts of farm and agri-cultural land remain in the hands ofa few landlord families. The CARPfailed to distribute land even withinits neoliberal frame. In 27 years, ithas distributed only 88% of its tar-get. Up to 76% of CARP beneficiar-ies have failed to pay amortizationsand are in the brink of losing theirland titles. Only 9.7% have madepayments and up to 15% are still inthe process of paying their debts.

Industry share in over-allemployment failed to grow,and even fell at times. It re-mained at 10% in the 1980sup to the 1990s, dropped to9% in the 2000s. It rose to15% in 2010-1015 but onlydue to the temporary jobgrowth in the constructionsubsector. Manufacturing’sshare in employment droppedto 8% during this period.

From more than 10 sub-sectors in the 1970s, exportmanufacturing shrunk tothree subsectors in the1990s: electronics, garmentsand textile and machineryequipment and transport. Bythe end of 2000s, 66% of exportswere produced by the machineryequipment and transport subsector.

It was also during this periodthat food manufacturing and agri-cultural exports fell, from 17% to 5%.Garment and textile production, oneof the stronger subsectors during the1970s, dropped from 21% to 5%.

Manufacturing has almost nolinkages to other aspects of the loc-al economy. Electronics manufac-turing is limited to assembly, pack-ing and testing of semiconductors.Automotive manufacturing is limitedto welding, painting, trimming andinspection. In the garments in-dustry, there is no local processingof materials and more than 80% ofmaterials used are imported fromChina, Taiwan, Hongkong and India.

Production is concentrated to afew companies. Comparison of theproduction of four biggest compan-ies to all others shows that almostall subsectors are monopolized.Some of the most concentrated sub-sectors include the processing ofpetroleum products, food, bever-ages, tobacco products, cement,non-metallic construction productssuch as glass, machinery equipmentand transport. The biggest compan-ies are run by the biggest compra-dors and their foreign partners suchas Eduardo Cojuangco’s San MiguelCorporation and Lucio Tan’s For-

tune Tobacco. Others are subsidi-aries of imperialist companies likethe Texas Instruments.

Foreign capitalists and theirlocal partners acquired and killedsmall and medium-scale companieswhich were largely owned by localentrepreneurs. This disproves theclaim that liberalization opens op-portunities for more industry play-ers. From 1997-2006, for everythree new investors, a total of 20companies closed shop. Most ofthese were small companies, almostall were run by Filipino enterpren-eurs and oriented towards the localmarket.

Though a majority (89%) ofcompanies in the sector are in themicro category, they are not in theposition to compete with biggercompanies. They only contribute upto 7% to the overall production.There are so few small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the sub-sector. In 1996, they contributed1% to the overall production and in2006, the contribution dropped to0.4%.

In manufacturing, majority(53%) of the workers are concen-trated in big factories, even thoughthese comprise only 0.8% of thetotal companies. Up to 19% arefound in micro companies while 28%are in small and medium enterprises(SME). SME production has no up-ward or downward linkages with big

ANG BAYAN July 7 , 2016 9

Small landholdings increasinglyfell under the control of commercialproduction as foreign companiesexerted their presence and domin-ance in the production process.These companies control the supplyof seeds, fertilizers and other pro-duction materials. They are also be-hind the “contract-growing” ofcrops such as cassava, oil palm,rubber tree and other similar cropsfor their needs in the country oroverseas. They come into agrarianventure agreements, which now en-compass around 1.2 million hec-tares of agricultural land. Theseagreements can stand from five to75 years. This is in addition to thebig plantations directly run by for-eign companies and local compra-dors.

During the 1970s, the country’smain agricultural products werecoconut, banana and poultry. By the1980s, almost all agricultural sub-sectors fell, except for meat. Duringthis time, forest resources, one ofthe main sources of agriculture’sgrowth, were depleted due to large-

scale foreign and locallogging operations.Since the 2000s,

production ofcoconut, sugar andother traditionalcrops have been on adownward spiral.Corn production onlywent up after farmersshifted from plantingcorn for consumptionto corn for animalfeeds.

Due to land conversion, land forplanting further decreased. From2.5 hectares in 1975, average farmsize fell to two hectares in the2000s.

In terms of land area, palay isstill the most widely planted, fol-lowed by other traditional cropssuch as corn, coconut and sug-arcane. But rice production hasdeclined relative to the rise in loc-al consumption mainly due to landconversion of rice farms. In thepast 30 years, palay productionhas been decli- ning and by the2000s, the Philippines has became

the biggest rice importer in theworld.

In the fisheries sector, pro-duction for local consumptiondropped as commercial fishing andaquaculture for export rose.Aquaculture’s production volumerose by 75% from 1.2 million metrictons (MT) in 1974 to 4.7 million MTin 2013. Meanwhile, production ofsmall fisherfolk who were limited tomunicipal waters only rose by 15%.From 1984-2013, fish exports roseto 65%. At the same time, sea im-ports for local consumption rose by100% due to the export orientationof the country’s fisheries.

US anti-Cuba offensive in theguise of “normalization”

Anti-imperialist countries are concerned by US imperialism’sinterventionist moves in Latin America. According to

Cuban President Raul Castro in his speech at the Association ofCaribbean States on June 4 in Havana: "We can't remain in-different before this turbulence in Latin America and theCaribbean, which is a consequence of an imperialist and olig-archic counteroffensive against popular and progressive gov-ernments".

US imperialism continues its in-tervention and other forms of bully-ing in Latin American countries. Itinitiated the coup d’état of theBrazilian president and is creatingtrouble for the Maduro regime inVenezuela. (Read Ang Bayan, June21, 2016.)

Behind the so-called normaliza-tion of relations with Cuba, the UShopes to undermine the political andeconomic system of a nation that is abulwark of anti-imperialism.

This “normalization” was an-nounced by US President BarackObama on December 2014. It wassupposed to end more than a halfcentury of imperialist persecution ofCuba that started when the anti-imperialist and declared-socialistleadership of Fidel Castro gainedpower in 1959.

“Normalization” agreementscame after a year of secret talks inCanada. In March, Obama visitedCuba, with ample coverage by the

US mass media. He called the visit“historic” and one that will changethe whole Latin America.

But with several months gone,the promise to close down the USnaval base in Guantanamo Bay, il-legally occupying Cuban soil, isnowhere in sight. This base holdsthe prison notorious for inhumantorture of suspected terrorists byAmerican soldiers. The US-imposedtrade embargo remains in force. Onthe other hand, Cubans are be-

July 7 , 2016 ANG BAYAN10

coming increasingly worried by“normalization” for the dangersthat opening US relations will bring.

Opening relations with Cuba is aUS imperialist measure to expandnew spheres of influence for invest-ments in Latin America.

Since diplomatic relations wereestablished in 2014, there havebeen commercial deals on telecom-munications and an airline service.A system of direct post has beenestablished and Starwood Hotels &Resorts Worldwide inked an agree-ment to construct three tourist ho-tels in the Cuban capital Havana.

Even as the US focuses its at-tention to the “Asian pivot”, it isalso consolidating its position inCentral America, which it considersits backyard. By declaring “normal-ization”, the US wants the Cubanpeople to believe that it is no longeran enemy, therefore placing it in abetter position to push changes inCuba that are favorable to US in-terests.

The US has sought to overthrowthe Cuban government for morethan five decades since the latterwon its freedom from the US-con-trolled Batista dictatorship. It hasplanned more than two hundred as-sassination attempts againsterstwhile president Fidel Castro.More than half a century of tradeembargo has been imposed, al-though this has caused the US eco-nomy itself to lose more than $1.2billion annually. In 1961, the US as-saulted the Bay of Pigs and in 1976,it planned the bombing of a Cubanairplane that killed 73 people. TheUS government also spends $27million annually, or half a billion forthe past 20 years, to broadcast im-perialist propaganda on Radio andTV Martí, though the Cuban gov-ernment has effectively blocked thesignal. Today, the US expects itsstrategy of economic engagementto win where the Cold War strategyof confrontation failed.

During Obama’s visit in March,he was allowed to broadcast hisspeech directly to the people of

Cuba. But the Castro governmentand the people were incensed whenhe called for “political freedom anddemocracy.” Raul Castro an-nounced that they are aware of theUS intention to generate Cubanagents to finish off the revolution.He said, “The goals are the same,only the methods have changed.”

Former President Fidel Castrothen wrote that Obama’s wordswere “honey-coated” and are ask-ing the Cuban people to forget “aruthless blockade that has now las-ted for almost 60 years”. He added,"we don’t need the empire to giveus any presents”.

People also complained aboutthe influx of tourists, a fashionshow and shooting of a movie thatinsulted the country’s culture andmorality and largely ignored the or-dinary citizens. A critic wrote that“we must, above all, fight for na-tional sovereignty... in every case,and demand respect for the dignityof every citizen."

The US' treatment to Cuba as afield for investments has encour-aged other imperialist states to es-tablish their own relations. Ninedays before the Obama visit, theEuropean Union signed an agree-ment for cooperation on economicreforms and trade.

Through its superficial show ofdiplomatic goodwill, the US is takingadvantage of the economic andpolitical crises in Latin America tobring down the Castro governmentin Cuba. US imperialism has instig-ated trouble in Venezuela, which isCuba’s main trade partner and sup-plier of 95,000 barrels of cheap oildaily.

It also messed up Brazil, one ofCuba’s main suppliers of food, asource of credit and a partner in to-bacco and sugar companies. Cubaearns $12 billion annually fromthese two countries for supplyingmedical services. Temer, Brazil’s in-terim president favoured by the US,announced that they will not add tothe 11,400 Cuban doctors, and pay-ment for services may not be sent

to Cuba but be given to the doctorsthemselves.

Cuba opened diplomatic tieswith the US amid a series of meas-ures to address the economic prob-lems resulting from US interventionin Latin America and the Caribbean.Cuba hopes that this “normaliza-tion” will open trade relations withdifferent countries. Trade with dif-ferent countries is crucial for Cubaespecially since a large part of itsneeds are dependent on foreigntrade.

Despite the embargo, coopera-tion with friendly governments inLatin America continue tostrengthen. Though limited in re-sources, Cuba allocates the biggestportion of its resources to providehigh-quality social services to itspeople. This country presentlymaintains one of the best healthcare and education systems in theworld. The United Nations andWorld Health Organization has up-held it as a model for deliveringquality social services by poor na-tions. Cuba also leads in social se-curity, housing and low unemploy-ment rates.

Lifting travel restrictions on UScitizens is expected to add incomefrom tourism. This income hasshown record highs the past yearbut still contributed less than one-third of the traditional $7 billionfrom health and education exportsin 2014.

In 2011, Cuba opened up tolocal small-scale private enterprisesand foreign capital. Last May,middle enterprises and foreign in-vestments were allowed. But theCommunist Party of Cuba reiteratedin its congress last April that therewill be no privatization of stateproperty and social services such aseducation, health care and socialsecurity. The congress also statedthat they have no intention of mov-ing towards capitalism, emphasizingthat social ownership and cooper-atives were mostly preferable toprivate property.

ANG BAYAN July 7 , 2016 11

Brexit reflects the people’s discontent overneoliberalism and the capitalist crisis

Last June 25, majority of voters in the United Kingdom voted in a refer-endum to leave the European Union (EU). This ended almost seven years

of the country’s membership to the European Economic Community, the blocwhich made the emergence of the EU in 1992 possible. The EU is an economicblock comprised of 28 countries in Europe and its nearby regions.

What was called the Brexit orBritish Exit shook the world’s mar-kets and caused an uproar inEurope. It encouraged the clamorfor at least 34 calls for a similar ref-erendum in other countries.

The triumph of the Brexit votereflects the working class and thepeople’s wish to seek an end to thecurrent economic and social crisis.It mirrors their anger and rejectionof the neoliberal policies of the EU,together with the InternationalMonetary Fund, which has dis-mantled victories and services wonby their unions and movementsover the past decades.

But at the same time, right-wingand ultra-nationalist groups haveexploited the people’s call to push fortheir own anti-immigrant and anti-worker agenda. These groups, withthe United Kingdom IndependenceParty at the helm, blame the highunemployment rate on foreigners orimmigrants who supposedly appro-priate jobs meant for the British.

They embody the strong currentof racism and discrimination againstimmigrant families who are lookingfor better lives in Europe. In thepast years, hundreds of thousandsof refugees from the Middle Eastand Africa have been desperate toenter the UK and other Europeancountries to get away from the USwars of aggression which the UKhas fully supported.

Conditions of the people in theUK have deteriorated under theneoliberal regime. Budget cuts forservices and benefits have been in-creasing since 2009. The largestcuts have been in pensions (35%since 2010), food subsidy and envir-onmental and disaster protection(30%), and funds for local com-

munities (51%). Billions of poundshave been cut from programs bene-fiting the most vulnerable in society,such as immigrants, victims of ab-use and persons with disabilities. Inthe next four years (2016-2020),the UK government plans to de-crease social spending by an addi-tional 40%.

Through the Brexit vote, thepeople in the UK strengthened theircall to junk austerity, stop privatiz-ation and the dismantling of theirnational health system, and the planto further lay off hundreds of thou-sands of government employees.They also demanded the re-nation-alization of their transport system,an end to the commercialization ofthe educational system and rein-statement of housing benefits. Theylikewise called for the decrease intaxes which the government hasbeen using to bailout big capitalistsand banks.

Nevertheless, Brexit will notresolve the basic issues the peopleof the UK face today. Aside fromhigh rates of unemployment, the UKeconomy is stagnant and is cur-rently burdened with debt.

Brexit’s triumph and the clamorof other right-wing groups to leavethe EU shatter the illusion of neo-liberal globalization. This illustratesthat despite the neoliberal doctrineof liberalization and deregulation,monopoly capitalists will alwaysprioritize thier own intereststhrough investment regulations andother protectionist trade policies.

The EU has served as an instru-ment of big capitalists againstsmaller capitalists and backwardcountries for some time. It used itscontrol on the common currency toblackmail Greece, Portugal, Spain,

Ireland and others into implement-ing neoliberal policies which aredamaging to their economies andpeoples. Only last year, it pressuredGreece to significantly reduce ser-vices and benefits in exchange forfresh loans.

In the midst of the world eco-nomic and financial crisis, competi-tion and rivalry between the biggestcapitalist countries inside the EUhas intensified. Not all EU membersare under its total control. The UK,for example, has refused to use theEuro for trading.

The EU also imposes limitationson investments among its membercountries, such as investment re-strictions on China.

Brexit’s triumph is an indicationof the weakening British, and ingeneral EU monopoly capitalism.But as there is no strong workers’party in the UK, it has not beensufficiently explained to the peoplethat capitalism is at the root of theintensifying economic crisis whichhas been accelerated by neoliberalpolicies. Because of this, right-wingand ultranationalist groups havefound it easy to ride on the struggleand propagate their anti-immigrantand anti-refugee sentiments.

In big capitalist countries suchas The Netherlands, Germany andFrance, Brexit has given ultrana-tionalist groups renewed vigor. Butin countries like Greece, Portugal,Spain and Italy, it can revitalizeleft-wing parties and groups whichhave struggled against dictates ofmonopoly capitalists represented inthe EU.