Friday, August 20, 2010

NCCP Statement on the Hacienda Luisita Inc., Compromise Deal

August 17, 2010

Farmers Deserve the Land They Till
(A Statement on the HLI Compromise Deal)

“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with me.” (Leviticus 25:23)

The earth is the Lord's and we are but stewards. Those who toil the land must be recognized and given their due as responsible stewards. They ensure that the land produces the fruits that sustain life for all. Land is life. It is a gift desecrated when the control of the land is left in the hands of the few.  This desecration of God's gift has been a decades-old problem in the country as landlords continue to own large tracts of land confining the vast majority of peasants and farm workers in perpetual bondage and misery.

With this in mind, the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), in solidarity with the workers of Hacienda Luisita, denounces the so-called compromise deal between the workers and the Cojuangcos, the family of President Benigno Aquino III, over the 6,500-hectare Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI). For one, the said deal was pushed before an upcoming decision of the Supreme Court on the legality of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) decision to revoke the controversial stock distribution option (SDO). The SDO circumvented the outright distribution of land as mandated by the 1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) by making the farmworkers as HLI stockholders.

Secondly, to say that the SDO scheme failed to uplift the lives of the HLI workers is a gross understatement. In effect, the Cojuangco-Aquinos used the SDO scheme to perpetuate slavery. Before the infamous massacre in November 16, 2004, newspaper reports stated that the average income of a worker in Hacienda Luisita was P9.50 per working day! Could that ensure survival? With the compromise agreement, the SDO is retained with only a portion of the vast land or only one third of the remaining 4,102 hectares of agricultural land to be distributed to the farmers.

The NCCP maintains that there should be an effective distribution of land to maximize its blessings for the good of all God's creation. This should not be compromised. Thus, we join the petition in praying that the Supreme Court rule in favor of the 10,000 farmer-beneficiaries. They have rightfully earned the claim after toiling the soil for many years. Let this be a noble precedent for all other landholdings similarly situated.  A decision in the farmers' favor will not only be a victory for other farmers experiencing the same but also for social justice. We remind President Benigno Aquino III that to take a stand on the issue and declare his “hands on” support to farmers instead of taking a “hands-off” policy befits a President who boldly declared in his inaugural address that the Filipino masses are his “boss”.



REV. FR. REX RB. REYES, JR.
General Secretary

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Job Vacancy at ECLOF INC., Philippines

VACANCY

ECLOF INC., PHILIPPINES

ECLOF (Ecumenical Church Foundation) INC., Philippines is a microfinance non-government institution under ECLOF International based in Geneva, Switzerland. ECLOF Philippines is the only MFI which has strong linkages with the Protestant Churches with strategic partnership with 11 churches and church related organizations and 12 NGOs/POs/Cooperatives. ECLOF has a mission of providing financial assistance reaching to the marginalized entrepreneurs.
At present ECLOF Phil. has three (3) branch offices in Greater Manila, Benguet and Palawan and expanding to service other areas in the Philippines.
You may visit our website for more info at www.eclofphils.com.
Currently we are in need of the following:

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (1) IMMEDIATE

Job Summary: Under the consultative direction of ECLOF Board of Trustees, develops, recommends and oversees implementation of the short and long-term objectives, policies, budget and operating plans of the foundation. Gives direction and leadership toward the achievement of the foundation’s philosophy, mission, strategies and objectives.

Requirement/Qualifications:
Ø  Bachelor’s degree in any course relevant to ECLOFs operation is required and Masters degree in Business Administration/Management is preferred.
Ø  Has 15 years of work experience in the area of specialization, 10 years of which are in the micro-finance, NGO or the same field and at least 5 years in managerial position.
Ø  Manifests evidence of Christian faith and values.
Ø  Strong management and leadership skills and experience.
Ø  Demonstrate ability to lead in strategizing and coalition building.
Ø  Demonstrate effectiveness and lead experience in fund development.
Ø  Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Ø  Has proven track record in building and maintaining partnerships and associates.

Interested applicant may send resume with photo and application letter via email at hr.eclofphil@gmail.com or you may personally visit our main office at Rm. 200 NCCP Ecumenical Church Center, 879 EDSA, Q.C. You may also contact us at 02-925-1763.


Application deadline:  September 15, 2010.