1. Philippine Experiences on Safeguards Asia Peoples Safeguards: Platform for Action Nov. 18-22, 2014 – Bangkok, Thailand

2. Outline 1.What are “safeguards” for us? 2.Examples of current safeguards in our national laws 3.Some initiatives to promote and protect 4.Who are working on these safeguards 5.Emerging issues and gaps

3. What are safeguards for us: National laws, policies and mechanism that: 1.Promote social justice 2.Based on priciples of human rights 3.Incorporates participation, transparency, inclusion, gender justice, environmental concern, local autonomy, etc 4.Reflects and complies with our international commitments

4. Examples of “safeguards” NIPAS (protected areas) LGC (local autonomy) CARP (agrarian reform) IPRA (IPs) Fisheries Code UDHA (urban poor) Magna Carta for Women Social Reform Agenda (NAPC) PCSD (Sustainable Develoment) Green Courts (Writs of Nature)

5. Some initiatives Direct participation in multi-stakeholder mechanisms Complaints and grievances to quasi-judicial bodies Legal track at the courts Direct resistance action by the communities Struggles in legislative reforms Watchdogs and monitoring groups

6. Who are working on these safeguards Different sectoral national movements (women, IPs, labor, urban poor, peasants, fishers, PWDs, LGBT, children, etc.) Various thematic national campaigns (mining, food security, water, forests, land use) Multi-sectoral formations (MDGs, budget watch, social watch, EITI) Academe,media and faith-based groups are very influential players

7. Emerging issues and gaps 1.Weak capacity of government to regulate and monitor safeguards compliance 2.Large corporations and political elite influence regulations 3.Corruption 4.Fragmented response and engagement by people’s movements and civil society 5.The system is flawed…but resistance is not adequate…yet