2015-07-07
Bob Muntz
The Philippines is always going to be a difficult country for the Greens. Political violence and corruption are both deeply embedded in the culture, even though there have been several spectacular and entirely peaceful demonstrations of 'peoples' power' which overthrew corrupt and dictatorial presidents in recent decades. Government structures are also poorly resourced and lack technical skills, as well as being mired in corruption.
How can a party committed to non-violence, honest and democratic politics, which seeks fundamental change on climate and other environmental issues, together with economic development for the poor, hope to succeed in the Philippines?
In the largely rural province of Laguna, 60km south of Manila, Greens PH, or the Philippine Greens, has begun to make a real impact over the past three years. In April this year the party persuaded the provincial governor to endorse an extensive climate action program that is heavily based on Greens strategies. The provincial government has since allocated a small but significant budget for this program.
The party has also organised income-generating activities among the poor in both urban and rural areas, and has elected councillors in a dozen barangay (village) councils. It is aiming to elect a majority of councillors in 27 target villages at the local elections next year, as well as many municipal councillors, to complement its existing influence in the provincial government. This focus on local village and municipal elections is one way of dealing with the rampant political corruption at higher levels of government. There is a chance of overcoming the relatively small-scale corruption at the local level with good community organising, which is not yet possible at provincial or national levels.
The strategy the party is pursuing in Laguna is very different, and in some ways more comprehensive, than the one pursued in Australia and other developed countries. Our appeal has been mainly to the well educated, socially progressive middle class with enlightened values on social and environmental issues. There are such people in the Philippines of course, but not enough to form an effective base for a political party. The Greens in Laguna, however, are focusing on winning support from impoverished famers and fishers, and the urban poor, who form the bulk of the provincial population. The party's appeal is two-fold: economic development and poverty alleviation, together with effective action to deal with the consequences of climate change and other environmental issues. These activities will be followed by electoral campaigns to get Greens councillors into office, initially at the municipal and sub-municipal level.
The province mostly consists of low-lying farming areas around the shore of Lake Laguna, the largest lake in the Philippines. Much of this land has always been subject to flooding from the 12-15 typhoons which hit the area each year. In recent years flooding has become more severe and more frequent. This is attributed to climate change. Adaptation to this climate change, through the formation of community-based disaster relief committees to cope with immediate needs, and building infrastructure such as emergency housing centres, has an obvious appeal to the vulnerable poor from whom the Greens are seeking support.
In a poor country like the Philippines climate adaptation will always be the primary focus of dealing with climate change, but mitigation is also part of the strategy. The party is negotiating with the private sector to establish a 25-30 MW solar PV farm within the province to complement other planned geothermal projects which are increasing the contribution of renewable energy.
The community organising activities around livelihood projects not only help deal with the issue of poverty, they have fostered the development of community leaders, particularly women, who are ready to take a leadership role in political issues as well.
Community organising is inherently a slow process, and whether this dual strategy can be effective in electing Greens members to public office next year at the local elections only time will tell. But there is much enthusiasm and momentum in Laguna province, and the party is certainly making an impact on the provincial government. Some national political figures are also beginning to take notice of the climate action program.
Bob Muntz recently visited the Philippines to strengthen our relationship with the Greens there. He travelled on behalf of our International Development Committee, which has assisted the Philippines Greens with a project to train and inspire party organisers in one province.
Pictured: Kiko Labro, national convenor of the Philippines Greens, addresses the Laguna provincial congress.