MANILA, Philippines — They are out of the streets and are now part of the government but left-leaning officials are still facing a struggle inside the Cabinet, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) chief Liza Maza said Thursday.
Maza, a former representative of the progressive party-list group Gabriela, said they are discussing the concerns of the masses in the presence of “militarist” voices in the Cabinet.
“It’s a struggle within and we will engage in that. We won’t give up on our role to engage with the Cabinet, where the voices of militarists are strong, the voices of the neoliberals and the old ruling class,” Maza said in Filipino.
Maza declined to elaborate on her statement about the Cabinet, which is a mixed bag of retired military officials, activists, politicians, career officials and businessmen.
“Just look at the background of the people there. But what is important, I suppose, is for us to understand (that) the president is very inclusive,” she said.
“There are varying views about different topics and policies discussed inside the Cabinet.”
Maza said she and the other left-leaning Cabinet members—Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano—are willing to work with other officials to support President Rodrigo Duterte’s agenda.
“In this setup, you always have to establish your unity with people and that is what you want to nourish,” she added.
Despite the termination of the peace talks, Maza believes she and the other Cabinet officials associated with the political left still have the trust and confidence of the president.
‘Peace talks to address poverty’
Maza also reiterated the need to resume the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF), which represents the communists in the negotiations.
“We know that the root cause of armed conflict is also the root cause of poverty. I think it would be good to resume the peace talks so these issues can be discussed seriously and we can have an agreement on social and economic reforms like, for example, land reform,” Maza said.
“I think land reform is very vital in solving poverty in our country,” she added.
Maza said Duterte is set to meet with Cabinet members aligned with the political left on February 20. She said they intend to persuade Duterte to continue the peace talks, which he terminated early this month.
In order for the peace talks to move forward, Maza said it is necessary “to stop all those attacks” and to “reflect.”
“I’m not saying military, military attacks but you know all those (psychological) war and things like that. And reflect and see how to pursue, how to go back to the negotiating table. Because all those things will not be helpful,” the anti-poverty chief said.
Maza also cited the need for a comprehensive solution to poverty and the active involvement of the poor in the crafting of development policies.
She said the government should craft programs to provide the 10 basic needs namely food and land reform, water, shelter, health care, education, work, social protection, healthy environment, peace and participation.
Maza also believes that the conditional cash transfer (CCT) would not solve the country’s poverty problem. The CCT provides financial assistance to families who send their children to school and who avail of state health services.
“I don’t think it (CCT) will ever, ever address poverty,” Maza said.
“To end poverty, we must address its roots in underdevelopment and inequality. That is why we have decided to focus our efforts on policy advocacy since many of the things that we need to end poverty require new policy or fundamental changes in existing policy,” she added.