MANILA, Philippines—The modern-day idea of transformative social protection sprang from the squalor of mid-nineteenth century Europe when standards for water supply, sewerage, and housing (elements to a decent life) were left to market forces, which kept them so degradingly, dangerously, and deadly low that reforms particularly on health became necessary.

COMMUNIQUE
By Network for Transformative Social Protection
14 October 2009

Even before the global economic meltdown and the recent natural disasters that deepened the crisis in many countries in Asia, the poor have already been reeling in poverty. These crises impacted heavily on the lives and livelihood of people—depriving millions of their basic human rights to guaranteed jobs and livelihood, adequate food, and essential services like healthcare, housing, education, safe water, and electricity. Hungry, homeless and without access to services, the poor are usually at the receiving end of state or non-state effort, if any, to get them out of misery; they are often seen as part of the problem but ironically, the decision-making and implementation of the solution do not involve them.

AEPF-Philippines and the Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD) are holding a

Roundtable Discussion Series
on Transformative Social Protection in the Philippines

(October-November 2009)

At the heels of electoral campaign fever for 2010 Presidential elections, and in the midst of devastating impacts of recent typhoons "Ondoy" and "Pepeng," millions of Filipinos go hungry, homeless, jobless, and are now having difficulties picking up their lives again. The crises and the upcoming elections are actually opportune times for the people to put forward policies or measures towards the realization of life with dignity.

RECLAIM PEOPLE'S DIGNITY
Transformative Social Protection:
A Democratic and Human Rights Response to the Crisis

WHEREAS the current financial and economic crisis is the worst that could be experienced in systemic boom-and-bust cycles since the Great Depression of the 1930s, occurring alongside crises in food security, energy, and climate change, causing 230 million to lose their jobs by the end of the year (ILO estimates) and pushing millions of workers and peasants back to hunger, poverty, and deprivation;