Cory espouses new kind of people power
By Rhodina Villanueva
The Philippine Star 02/24/2006
Citing poverty and inequity as principal threats to the country’s democracy, former President Corazon Aquino has called on the private sector to bring "people power" to a higher level with the launch of projects that will develop the entrepreneurial skills of the poor classes.
Speaking before business groups, non-government organizations and members of the academe participating in a conference on micro-enterprise development yesterday at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City, Aquino stressed the need to "harness people power versus poverty by mobilizing disadvantaged communities to help themselves with the support of multiple sectors."
"The threat to our lives may not be as imminent as it had been 20 years ago, but the impact of the dire social picture on the future of our children can already be felt," said Aquino, who owed her presidency to the EDSA 1 people power revolt that ousted the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.
"Clearly, opportunities for employment and livelihood have to be created here. We need to empower millions to take advantage of economic opportunities," she said.
Aquino cited the Gawad Kalinga community-building program of the Couples for Christ, a Christian movement, as a model for employing people power against poverty.
She also said that an initiative centering on micro-enterprise development showed enormous promise for empowering disadvantaged Filipinos and for rallying many sectors around a noble cause.
The country’s first woman president lauded the work of micro-finance institutions (MFIs) that have already reached out to almost a million clients among the entrepreneurial poor.
MFIs provide a broad range of financial services, primarily loans averaging P5,000 per borrower to low-income households for their micro-enterprises, meant to enable them to improve their living standards.
"To many of us, livelihood loans of P1,000 to P10,000 may not mean much, but to those outside the fringes of the mainstream economy, these are vital signs in tiding them over from day to day. The small but steady income from their micro-enterprises makes it possible for them to eat decent meals, to send their children to school and to nurture dreams of a better life," Aquino said.
She also expressed hope that these micro-entrepreneurs would be able to stabilize their sources of livelihood, grow their businesses and eventually graduate to small and medium enterprises.
Ramon del Rosario Jr., chief executive officer of the Phinma Group and also a speaker in the event, said "We cannot eradicate poverty in this country unless we transform the financial and economic system to make it accessible to the majority of our people."
"We need to alter this system by democratizing capital and creating wider avenues to enable the poor to participate in the mainstream market," Del Rosario said.
The challenge for the country today, Aquino said, is how to make that happen in a purposeful and systematic way.
"Just as people power achieved critical mass at EDSA on Feb. 23, 1986, we hope that we can map out concrete steps by which to achieve a critical mass in a concerted attack against poverty to be led by the private sector," she stressed.
Aquino will lead the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA revolt in Makati City tomorrow.
The celebration, organized by the city government, will be highlighted by the dropping of confetti from buildings along Ayala Avenue and a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Ninoy Aquino at Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.
By Rhodina Villanueva
The Philippine Star 02/24/2006
Citing poverty and inequity as principal threats to the country’s democracy, former President Corazon Aquino has called on the private sector to bring "people power" to a higher level with the launch of projects that will develop the entrepreneurial skills of the poor classes.
Speaking before business groups, non-government organizations and members of the academe participating in a conference on micro-enterprise development yesterday at the AIM Conference Center in Makati City, Aquino stressed the need to "harness people power versus poverty by mobilizing disadvantaged communities to help themselves with the support of multiple sectors."
"The threat to our lives may not be as imminent as it had been 20 years ago, but the impact of the dire social picture on the future of our children can already be felt," said Aquino, who owed her presidency to the EDSA 1 people power revolt that ousted the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.
"Clearly, opportunities for employment and livelihood have to be created here. We need to empower millions to take advantage of economic opportunities," she said.
Aquino cited the Gawad Kalinga community-building program of the Couples for Christ, a Christian movement, as a model for employing people power against poverty.
She also said that an initiative centering on micro-enterprise development showed enormous promise for empowering disadvantaged Filipinos and for rallying many sectors around a noble cause.
The country’s first woman president lauded the work of micro-finance institutions (MFIs) that have already reached out to almost a million clients among the entrepreneurial poor.
MFIs provide a broad range of financial services, primarily loans averaging P5,000 per borrower to low-income households for their micro-enterprises, meant to enable them to improve their living standards.
"To many of us, livelihood loans of P1,000 to P10,000 may not mean much, but to those outside the fringes of the mainstream economy, these are vital signs in tiding them over from day to day. The small but steady income from their micro-enterprises makes it possible for them to eat decent meals, to send their children to school and to nurture dreams of a better life," Aquino said.
She also expressed hope that these micro-entrepreneurs would be able to stabilize their sources of livelihood, grow their businesses and eventually graduate to small and medium enterprises.
Ramon del Rosario Jr., chief executive officer of the Phinma Group and also a speaker in the event, said "We cannot eradicate poverty in this country unless we transform the financial and economic system to make it accessible to the majority of our people."
"We need to alter this system by democratizing capital and creating wider avenues to enable the poor to participate in the mainstream market," Del Rosario said.
The challenge for the country today, Aquino said, is how to make that happen in a purposeful and systematic way.
"Just as people power achieved critical mass at EDSA on Feb. 23, 1986, we hope that we can map out concrete steps by which to achieve a critical mass in a concerted attack against poverty to be led by the private sector," she stressed.
Aquino will lead the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the 1986 EDSA revolt in Makati City tomorrow.
The celebration, organized by the city government, will be highlighted by the dropping of confetti from buildings along Ayala Avenue and a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Ninoy Aquino at Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.
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