Press Release
February 23, 2009

Press statement of Senator Loren Legarda

On GMA claim that the world won't accept another EDSA

"The acceptance by the world of another people power upheaval in the Philippines rests on the validity of its underlying reasons. This unpopular administration grappling with corruption controversies, for example, may bring unto itself another EDSA by canceling next year's elections in order to cling to power.

"True, we don't need another EDSA, more so since we must work as a people during these hard times. But this government must not push people to think desperately that badly needed change can only be realized by going out into the streets once more.

"To me, what's troubling about this statement by government is that it may be conditioning the mind of the people not to do anything against moves to extend the President's term beyond 2010. One such move is the House's initiative to amend our Constitution without the participation of the Senate."

On SWS survey on rising unemployment

"It's appalling, this latest survey by SWS that 11 million Filipinos or 27.9 percent of our work force are unemployed. It doesn't speak well of the touted initiatives by the administration to generate at least one million jobs each year.

"Considering that local and international labor markets are contracting due to the economic downturn, many more Filipinos may be joining the ranks of the unemployed or under-employed unless drastic measures are undertaken.

"I have been pushing for the immediate implementation of the many laws that had been passed - like the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Act and - to help generate jobs. But this government, I feel, is more preoccupied with travels abroad. Meanwhile, the job-generating potential of many sectors, like the two million jobs that can be had in the rubber industry, are being set aside."

On Asean eying $120-B credit line

"Asean countries having access to funding for important pro-people projects is very important. But the Philippines must rely on external funding only when absolutely necessary. We must not incur more debts for corruption-tainted projects or undertakings whose benefits to our people are dubious.

"The World Bank report blacklisting several local contractors over alleged anomalies in the conduct of the bidding for a WB-funded project should illustrate this point. So many roads and highways that lead to nowhere had been built in the past using high-interest loans. Ditto with white elephants like the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), the dangerous operation of which is now being pushed anew by some."

News Latest News Feed