Disagreements on social, economic reforms delay gov’t-NDF talks
CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga– Discussions on social and economic reforms during the peace talks between the Philippine government and communist rebels was delayed Friday after their respective reciprocal working committees differed on the agreement outline.
“While both parties agreed to adopt the preamble and declaration of principles of the NDFP draft, the government peace panel wants the ‘ bases, scope and applicability’ to be deferred until they have exchanged a more detailed outline,” said Julie de Lima, chair of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines ( NDFP)’ s reciprocal working committee on social and economic reforms.
“The government peace panel requested to postpone discussions on the CASER (Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms) for them to elaborate on their nine- point outcome- based proposal,” De Lima said.
For the NDFP, De Lima said the outline should be based on “addressing the root of the armed conflict while the government panel wants an outcome- based outline.”
“We have exchanged with the government peace panel an outline of a comprehensive draft on social and economic reforms that includes agrarian reform, national industrialization, environmental protection, rights of the working people, foreign economic and trade relations, and monetary and fiscal policies,” she said.
“We also welcome the government’s acceptance of the NDFP draft as the working draft of the discussions on social and economic reforms.”
The NDFP refused to include in the outline nine major outcomes that the government panel wanted spelled out in the CASER.
These outcomes are poverty eradication, environment and climate justice, globally competitive economy, adequate and quality social services, reduced inequalities, peaceful rural communities, food security, living incomes, and gender equality and representation.
“We want the outcomes spelled out in CASER because we do not want to limit the discussions only on the root causes of poverty.