FDC In The News: On the privatization of Philippine National Railways (PNR)

Last June 16, Task Force Diskaril (derail), a loose advocacy group organized by the People Against Illegitimate Debt (Paid!) and the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), staged a protest outside the Philippine National Railways (PNR) office in Tondo, Manil, denouncing the privatization of the public transport system which, they claimed, have resulted in job insecurity among PNR workers, involuntary displacement of many urban poor communities and further indebtedness of an already debt-burdened populace. The activity was covered by mostly Manila-based photojournalists. The joint statement we released came out in GMANews.TV and The Daily Tribune.

GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101462/Debt-activists-stage-protest-at-railways-office#

Debt activists stage protest at railways office
Article posted June 16, 2008 – 11:07 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Debt activists and urban poor groups stormed the Philippine National Railways (PNR) office in Manila Monday, shortly after President Arroyo visited its offices there.

In a statement, Task Force Diskaril said the protest aimed to attract awareness on the plight of people affected by the controversial North and South Railways Modernization projects.

Task Force Diskaril, which includes the People Against Illegitimate Debt (PAID!) and the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), underscored the Arroyo government’s modernization of PNR, claiming that said projects have only resulted in job insecurity of PNR workers, involuntary displacement of many urban poor communities, and further indebtedness of an already debt-burdened populace.

[READ MORE]

The Daily Tribune
17 June 2008, Page 3
http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20080617met1.html

Groups storm PNR, slam North, SouthRail projects

Hundreds of persons affected by the controversial North and South Railways Modernization projects staged a protest outside the Philippine National Railways (PNR) office, a few hours after President Arroyo visited the government corporation yesterday.

In the protest rally, members of the Task Force Diskaril – a loose advocacy group organized by the People Against Illegitimate Debt (Paid!) and the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) – underscored the Arroyo government’s modernization of PNR, claiming the North and Southrail projects have only resulted in job insecurity among PNR workers, the involuntary displacement of many urban poor communities and “further indebtedness of an already debt-burdened populace.”

Members of Bagong Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa sa PNR (BKM), the duly recognized union of PNR workers, lambasted the government’s effort to privatize PNR by pushing Executive Order 366. The EO mandates all departments and agencies of the Executive branch, as well as government-owned and -controlled corporations, to scale down, phase out, abolish, deactivate, merge, consolidate and regularize any and all agencies that do not deliver “quality public service.”

[READ MORE]