Project Title:

The Philippine Sabbath Year Campaign

“Every seventh year we will forgo working the land and will cancel all debts.”
Nehemiah 10:30

I. Background

The Jubilee Debt Campaign

The observance of the Jubilee year in 2000 was translated into a global campaign that pursued a
vision of liberation and fullness of life for all. It highlighted various issues and called upon the
leaders, governments, institutions for urgent and concrete actions on the deepening problems of
poverty, injustice, inequality and inequity.

Among these issues was the debt. The problem of indebtedness of poor and developing countries
was seen as one of the reasons that deprived citizens of these countries of the fulfilment of their
basic human needs, and led to the intensification of poverty and failure of these countries to
develop. Hence, various debt campaigners world-wide came together for a global campaign – the
Jubilee Debt campaign – and pursued a collective push for debt cancellation and policy reforms
directed to lending institutions and governments to demand an end to the debt bondage.

In the Philippines, the Jubilee Debt campaign was pursued towards the repeal of the Automatic
Appropriations on Debt Service and non-payment of onerous, fraudulent and behest debts
incurred during the Marcos regime. The Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) and various faith-
based organizations actively campaigned around these calls through popular education work, and
through a signature drive which aimed to pressure the Philippine Congress towards concrete and
positive action.

The Jubilee Debt Campaign succeeded in putting the debt issue as a main agenda in the discourse
of poverty reduction. Lending governments and institutions were forced to develop and extend
debt relief initiatives, albeit limited and self-serving, such as the Highly Indebted Poor Countries
(HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). The Jubilee Debt campaign
likewise paved the way for a strong global movement on the debt involving campaigners from the
South and North.

The Philippine Jubilee calls on the debt has remained an uphill battle due to the realities of the
Philippine political system and apparent subservience of government to foreign dictates resist
any policy reforms that run counter to the ruling class and foreign interests. However, the
participation and support of the faith-based groups have succeeded in highlighting the debt issue
among the public, including government. But the battle has yet to be won. Whatever momentum
that was achieved has been immediately doused by an overpowering majority bent on protecting
their self interests.

Seven Years Hence

The year 2007 marks the seventh year after the celebration of the Jubilee year. In the Hebrew
scripture, the seventh day or seventh year is as significant as the observance of the Jubilee. This is
referred to as the Sabbath year, which prompts one to reflect on issues such as debt.

In the Philippines, the moral dimension of the debt problem has not fully resounded in the
various discourses towards resolving the country’s problem of indebtedness. It is seen that the
observance of the Sabbath Year as an opportune moment for gathering the various faith-based

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 groups in renewing their commitment on the debt advocacy and become a strong voice in pushing
for significant policy reforms on the debt.

II. Description of the Project

The 2007 Sabbath Year Campaign for the Philippines will launch a comprehensive debt campaign
with the hope of building a stronger constituency within faith-based groups. The campaign will
primarily focus on the relationship of debt and morality/faith and how this relationship is
intertwined in the concept of illegitimacy of debt. The campaign will also engage the newly
constituted 14th Congress on its legislative agenda.

On its 20th year, FDC would like to reactivate, reenergize and deepen the public discourse on
illegitimate debts – based on recent documented cases.

The tasks of the Sabbath Year Campaign are to educate, organize and mobilize. The education and
training of the constituency is a primary goal. The coming together and building of consensus
goes second. Working together in order to develop solidarity actions among the faith-based
communities is third. Thus, there are two major engagements which faith-based groups shall
focus – push for legislative agenda and massive educations sessions.

In this campaign, the identified primary movers are the faith-based groups, institutions,
communities and individuals (lay people). A core group shall be formed to oversee the operations
and provide direction to the Sabbath Year Campaign. The group will be tasked to develop
strategies that will integrate the debt issue in their work as moral shepherds, and in identifying
and maximizing arenas where such efforts will be effectively channelled towards the realization of
major policy reforms on the debt.

III. Goals and Objectives of the Campaign

The 2007 Sabbath Year Campaign wants to build a strong network of constituents that will
generate a much broader and powerful support in pushing for passage of legislative agenda on the
debt.

The general thrusts of the Philippine Sabbath Year campaign are as follows:

Building a strong network of constituents among faith-based groups.

1. Introduce to faith-based groups and communities the concept of “illegitimacy of debt” and
deepen understanding on this by taking up specific illegitimate debt cases and highlight
the moral dimension of the country’s debt problem.
2. Build consensus on the debt issue and the concept of illegitimate debt among faith-based
institutions and groups.
3. Reach out to other faith-based groups and renew partnership with those not yet involved
in the campaign. Welcome faith-based groups (e.g. Islam, Aglipayan, UCCP, INC, Dating
Daan, etc.) and lay organizations (e.g. Couples for Christ, Lay Forum Philippines,
Solidarity Philippines, Catholic Educators Association of the Philippines) of other
denominations.

Promoting and popularizing the moral dimension of the debt issue to the public.

1. Develop allies, champions, experts and spokesperson on the debt issue within faith-based
groups and networks highlighting the ethical, moral and faith aspect of the issue.

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 2. Contribute in the public discourse through different venues (e.g. pulpit, media) to
encourage more popular and at the same time powerful support from various faith-based
groups of different denominations.
3. Develop debt-related biblical materials to help understand the issue and continue
organizing education sessions for the participants, constituents and partners to equip
them with knowledge so they can be effective champions/spokespersons/supporters of the
issue.

Push for concrete policy reforms on the debt

1. Develop and mobilize a pressure group within faith-based communities to push for the
Comprehensive Debt Audit and eventually the Repeal of Automatic Appropriations Law
(PD 1177).
2. Support the various initiatives and engagements related to specific loan cases that calls for
government actions as well as immediate non-payment of loans deemed as illegitimate.

IV. Major Engagements

A. Public Information and Massive Education Sessions

Since one of the main objectives of this project is to build a stronger constituency among and
within faith-based organizations, it is absolutely necessary that they undergo a series of education
sessions, trainings and workshops on the debt problem – about the basics, including the figures
and statistics, context, trends, current conditions and ways forward in campaigning work. These
will enable them to understand the issue more so that its relevance to their faith and morality as a
people can be easily seen and identified. In this campaign, the relationship of morality and ethics
in the issue of debt has become important because it is the faith-based constituents who would be
at the forefront as far as discussions on this relationship are concerned. As it has been described,
the moral dimension of the debt problem has not been thoroughly explained and brought to the
attention of most faith-based people and the public. It is the responsibility of this campaign,
therefore, to primarily show how our indebtedness is more of a moral and ethical issue rather
than just economics.

Furthermore, the concept of “illegitimacy of debt” will be introduced and further explained
through the specific cases that FDC is now currently engaged in. Understanding this concept
would elevate further the discourse on the debt problem; thus, making faith-based people realize
that debt, while causing misery and hardships to the people, has already become a “social
structural sin.”

The education sessions to be scheduled for the faith-based groups are as follows:

1. Two-day intensive training on illegitimate debts with other sectoral debt campaigners and
a separate, but similar two-day intensive training on the concept of “illegitimacy of debt”
in connection with immorality specifically designed for faith-based groups only.
2. Six short dialogue education sessions with key faith-based organizations to formally
introduce the campaign and the issue of illegitimate debts:

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and National Secretariat
for Social Action (NASSA) – combined session

Couples for Christ (CFC) and Gawad Kalinga (GK) – combined session

National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) – one session

Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines (AMRSP) –combined
sessions with mission partners and Board both men and women

Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches (PCEC) and Micah Challenge
Philippines network – combined session

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Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) and Manila
Archdiocesan Parochial School Association (MAPSA) – combined session
3. Lectures and seminars in various faith-based communities, congregations, parishes,
schools and gatherings.
4. Introduce the concept of the Philippine Sabbath Year Campaign to Islamic groups and
touch base with networks of other denominations (Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, etc) in an
educational dialogue and hopefully find similarities and commonalities in the concept of
the Sabbath or some in the Biblical and Qur’anic perspectives and principles in relation to
debt. Invite scholars of the Qur’an, of Hinduism and of other denominations to help the
group in the process. There is already a contact from a member of the working group of
the campaign which can provide us with the requirements and contact persons.

Education Materials for the series of trainings and lectures

Prepare training Kits for the workshops and education sessions (including quick stats,
primer, various Powerpoint presentations, etc)

Collecting Christian teachings, Biblical passages, other relevant Christian documents,
Qur’an passages and materials from other denominations if there are any which may be
related to debt

Produce Bible Study Guides, Bible-based articles and documents and materials which can
be sourced from other denominations all in relation to debt

Produce a document/pamphlet that links the illegitimacy of debt to immorality.

Public Information and Campaign

Launching of the Philippine Sabbath Year Campaign through a press conference in
September.

Create a blog/e-newsletter to regularly inform and update the faith-based community with
recent developments. This initiative too will help in maintaining relationship with them
and will provide a feedback mechanism for FDC and the group.

B. Push Legislative Agenda

The aim of the intensive training and massive education sessions of the faith-based constituents is
to develop new champions, experts and spokespersons on the issue of debt. Furthermore, FDC
wants to forge a stronger and strategic partnership with faith-based networks of various religious
denominations in the hope that they can give support to FDC as it pushes for its legislative agenda
in relation to debt. They can be a part of the lobbying efforts for the two specific major legislative
agenda.

1. Congressional Debt Audit (official) – a comprehensive audit of the public sector debt and
contingent liabilities. “Comprehensive” debt audit would mean not only focusing on the
financial aspect but also to review and assess the political, social, environmental,
economic and ethical aspects of the debt problem.
2. Repeal of the Automatic Appropriations Law or PD 1177 – the law that gives automatic
appropriation to servicing of domestic and foreign debts.

The lobbying and pressure efforts will be conducted in various ways:

Meetings and dialogue with Senators and Representatives of Congress regarding support
for the campaign.

Pastoral letters, issuing of press statements, public expression of support for the agenda so
that others may be influenced to support the campaign as well.

Participate in the Citizens’ Debt Audit Commission and have a parallel audit of debts
alongside with the official debt audit to be pushed in Congress.

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C. Church Unity Congress

It is very important for the Philippine Sabbath Year Campaign to develop a strong base of
constituents because FDC envisions a faith-based community that will remain a staunch advocate
of the debt issue in the coming years and will actively support future engagements. FDC wants the
constituency to realize that as long as there are people, communities, countries suffering from
debt bondage, the commitment to break free from these bondages should not cease. And this can
only be done if various issues on debt are thoroughly understood by the majority and if the
constituency is convinced on the positions and arguments it carries.

Hence, the Church Unity Congress is identified as one of the starting points in our process of
building a strong base. It aims to reach out and touch base with other faith-based organizations,
renew ties with former partners, dialogue, discuss, consolidate unities and build consensus on the
various aspects of the debt problem. FDC recognizes that building constituency and maintaining
it is a continuous relational process that needs regular talks, dialogues and updating. However,
FDC is ready to take that responsibility by establishing an effective feedback mechanism to
facilitate the regular exchanges.

The Church Unity Congress is scheduled for October in time for the Week of Action. The Week of
Action is a collaboration of several coordinated, multi-form activities (e.g. forums, fair, concerts,
dramatic actions) with the theme: “Week of Action Against Illegitimate Debts, Unfair Trade and
Worsening Poverty”. This whole affair is the parallel event of the “Global Week of Action Against
Debt and IFIs” happening simultaneously in several countries worldwide. There are important
events in October which prompt the birth of the week of action:

Jubilee U.S.A. – September-October

Rolling Fast – Sabbath Year Campaign

October 15, 2007

20th Death Anniversary of Thomas Sankara, former President of Burkina Faso, who called
for repudiation of debt.

United Nations – October 16-17, 2007

World Food Day

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

October 20, 2007

World Youth Day

October 19-21, 2007

International Monetary Fund-World Bank Annual Meetings (IMF-WB)

For the Church Unity Congress, a broader network of faith-based groups from other
denominations will be invited (i.e. Protestants, Evangelicals, Muslims, etc) to participate in the
debates and discussions. Unities, positions and arguments will be put in a petition format. The
petition signing will be the highlight of the event. The petition shall be signed by representatives
of faith-based organizations and various individuals to symbolize their dynamic support for the
issue of debt and its campaign. The signatories will be the primary members and strategic
partners of FDC’s faith-based network and constituency.

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IV. Budget & Work Plan for Philippine Sabbath Year Campaign (October 2007 – September 2009)

Year 1 Year 2
Engagement / Activities Expected Output
Oct- Jan.- Apr- Jul- Oct.- Jan- Apr- July-
Dec Mar June Sept Dec. Mar. June Sept.
2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2009 2009
Public information & massive education
sessions
• Network (meetings, consultations) with major Sustained regular coordination. 7,500 7,500 7,500 7,500 7,500 7,500 7,500 7,500
religious denominations and coordination
• Six short dialogue education sessions with key Campaign and illegitimated debt issue are adapted by: 30,000 30,000
faith-based organizations to formally introduce • CBCP-NASSA
the campaign and the issue of illegitimate • CFC and GK
debts • NCCP
• AMRSP
• PCEC and Micah Challenge Philippines
• CEAP and MAPSA
• Intensive training on illegitimate debts with By the end of the training, 50 participants from different 50,000 50,000
other sectoral debt campaigners sectors (urban poor, youth and students,
peasants/fishers, women, workers) are developed and
committed to campaign.
• Intensive training on the concept of By the end of the training, 30 participants from 30,000 30,000
“illegitimacy of debt” in connection with the Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Evangelical and other
moral dimension of the concept specifically faith-based groups including several church-based
designed for faith-based debt campaigners media are developed and committed to campaign.
only (include church-based media)
• 2 Major educational dialogues with other Dialogue with Islam faith leaders and others (Hindu, 20,000 20,000
denominations Buddhist, etc.)
• Production of educational/pop-ed materials, • 5,000 pamphlets on debt related articles/passages 10,000
kits, pamphlet format documents, Bible Study lifted from the Bible, Koran, encyclicals, etc…
Guides and other materials • 5,000 pamphlets on immorality of debt 10,000
• 1,000 each of button pins, flyers, brochures, poster 25,000 25,000
• 2,000 Bible study guides 20,000
• 2,000 folders 10,000
• Lectures and seminars in various faith-based • 10 Lay Catholic/Christian Communities 50,000 50,000
communities, congregations, parishes, schools (charismatic groups, lay groups, organizations,
and gatherings including those within the area of FDC chapters)
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 • 10 Orders and Congregations (Catholic) 50,000 50,000
• 10 Parishes and other Christian Churches 50,000 50,000
• 10 Catholic and Christian Schools 50,000 50,000
• 3 Dialogues during big gatherings of key-faith 30,000
based institutions (e.g. CBCP Conference, PCEC
Conference, AMRSP Convention)
• 15 Faith-based organizations in the regions – 50,000 50,000
Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist, other denominations (5-
Luzon, 5- Visayas and 5-Mindanao)
• Creation and maintenance of an e-newsletter Up-to-date blog. 11,250 11,250 11,250 11,250 11,250 11,250 11,250 11,250
or blog
• Media activities: Press Conference for the Tri-media coverage. 30,000 30,000
launching of the Philippine Sabbath Year
Campaign & dramatic actions
Consolidation of unities Consolidate more faith-based communities, groups, 100,000 100,000
• Hold major Faith-based Congress Against institutions of various denominations:
Illegitimate Debt • 2 Congresses on Illegitimate Debts
Lobbying/Push Legislative Agenda
• Conduct briefings, dialogues and meetings • Established lobby group with 30 faith-based 2,800 2,800 2,800 2,800 2,800 2,800 2,800
with members of the Congress and Senate leaders and personalities who will conduct
dialogues and briefings with both the minority and
majority leaders of the Senate and Congress.
• Network and participate in other engagements • Work with the newly form PAID!, Citizen’s Debt 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500 12,500
that will help push the legislative agenda (e.g. Audit Commission and other formations
Citizens’ Debt Audit, lobby also other key faith-
base organizations ) – attend meetings, etc.
Overhead Cost • Administrative and secretariat work (15,000 x 24 180,000 180,000
months)
TOTAL 858,400. 921,200.
GRAND TOTAL Php 1,779,600.00

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