RJ Javellana, 53, is a consumer welfare activist and organizer, focusing on empowering ordinary consumers and dismantling oligarchic control over economic policies, public utilities and suppliers of basic commodities through renationalization to fully address poverty among the vast majority of Filipinos.
Javellana formed United Filipino Consumers and Commuters to advocate against unfair and unreasonable price increases of primary commodities as well as commuter fares and services. However, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board questioned the operation of the group in November 2018, after representatives failed to appear at any hearings required by the government body. Javellana refuted this claim, saying instead that the LTFRB suddenly canceled hearings.
He also oversees the Water for All Refund Movement, which focuses on inequalities related to flawed concession agreements, water billing and water availability. He helped form Green Dream or Luntiang Pangarap, with his high school batchmates, aiming to reduce the adverse consequences of climate change and support environmental initiatives such as revitalizing the Ipo watershed.
Javellana unsuccessfully sought a Senate seat in 2019 under Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino, a supposed independent party pledging to usher in alternatives to what they consider to be the same old corrupt politicians that has also expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte.
During his senatorial bid in 2019, Javellana remained supportive of the Duterte administration but joined calls to amend the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and the Rice Tariffication Act. He also opposed the use of violence in the campaign against illegal drugs.
He supports reinstating the death penalty for plunder and rape, legalizing divorce, charter change and passing freedom of information and anti-political dynasty laws. He opposes the legalization of medical marijuana, shifting to a federal system of government and lowering the age of criminal liability.
In his 2022 Senate campaign, Javellana repeats his pledges on economic and environmental reforms, particularly his drive to reverse privatization and deregulation of public utilities. UFCC is also vying for party-list representation in the 2022 election.
The candidate's top priorities if elected to office, tracked against previous promises and accomplishments, if any
Nationalize public utilities, such as water utilities (specifically the legislative franchises granted to Maynilad Water Services, Inc. under Republic Act No. 11600 and to Manila Water Company, Inc. under R.A. No. 11601), and prohibit privatization of public utilities
In this 2019 Senate campaign, he proposed to:
- Nationalize public utilities and hospitals
- Amend the TRAIN Law, to remove the burden on excise tax on ordinary consumers
- Amend the Rice Tariffication Law, to reduce dependency on importation and strengthen the local agriculture industry
- Implement a 10-year debt moratorium on debt servicing to pay for medical programs
- Repeal the oil deregulation law
Leads various consumer advocacy NGOs and participates in pro-consumer protests and demands such as rollback of jeepney fare and water rates
In his 2019 Senate campaign, he proposed to compel the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to talk to water companies (e.g. Maynilad to help in alleviating the problem in water sewage, since clean up drives doesn’t solve the root cause)
Oversees Green Dream or Luntiang Pangarap, which seeks to alleviate the effects of climate change
In his 2019 Senate campaign, he proposed to pass a law prohibiting political dynasties
The candidate's top five accomplishments and contributions for the last 15 years or so
Public Office
Javellana lost his bid for councilor in the City of Manila in 1991.
1986
Private Sector
Javellana, as president of Water for all Refund Movement or WARM, has initiated a number of cases contesting several practices and projects of Maynilad and Manila Water, the concessionaire agreement executed for the privatization of water utilities and the conduct of Metropolitan Waterworks Sewerage System.
Calls for President Benigno Aquino III to void the concessionaire agreement have also been made
By WARM, through its president, 2014
Maynilad and its chief financial officer, Randolph Estrallado, filed libel raps against WARM and Javellana, and the Manila Times. The two libel complaints were filed before two prosecutors, one at Quezon City and another at Makati City, based on the same allegedly libelous article published by the Manila Times
WARM also prays for a refund of the pass-on charges imposed despite Maynilad and Manila Water enjoying tax holidays
By WARM, through its president, 2014
Petition also sought a temporary environmental protection order that would order MWSS and its concessionaires, Maynilad and Manila Water, to implement an adequate sewerage plan and to stop collecting “environmental/sanitation” charges from consumers
By WARM, through its president, July 2013
In August 2013, the CA denied the petition, citing:
- petitioners’ failure to substantiate their claims by including scientific or other expert studies linking the combined sewerage system to the alleged damage to the environment
- failure to make it clear if the combined sewerage system is already operating or is just part of a business plan
- petitioners’ lack of standing, for failure to show proof of its accreditation or registration with any government agency as required in Section 1, Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure of Environment Cases
Helped form Green Dream or Luntiang Pangarap to promote initiatives to diminish the adverse effects of climate change
Co-founder and Secretary General
Actions and/or proceedings pending against or resolved in courts or tribunals involving the candidate, based on publicly available information
Resolved Actions and/or Proceedings
| Subject Matter | Relevant Dates | Accrued Liability | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Libel case Filed by Maynilad and its CFO Randolph Estrallado against WARM, it’s president, and the Manila Times, based on the same allegedly libelous article published by the Manila Times after WARM filed its cases against the concessionaires and MWSS |
Complaint filed in May 2014 before the Office of the Prosecutor of Quezon City | Dismissed by the prosecutor’s office | |
| Libel case Filed by Maynilad and its CFO Randolph Estrallado against WARM, it’s president, and the Manila Times, based on the same allegedly libelous article published by the Manila Times after WARM filed its cases against the concessionaires and MWSS |
Complaint filed in 2014 before the Office of the Prosecutor of Makati City | Dismissed by the prosecutor’s office |
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Key details about the candidate's campaign
Candidate's major donors and campaign funding sources
The candidate's top advocacies in the last 15 years or so
Participated in reforestation efforts for the Ipo watershed
Co-founder and Secretary General
- Formed UFCC and WARM, aiming to dismantle the control exerted by oligarchs over the economy through denationalization and revocation of oppressive laws to eliminate unfair and unjust price hikes of basic commodities and commuter fares and services
- Supports the repeal of the oil deregularization law, the excise tax on petroleum, and the VAT on fuel products
- Supports the repeal of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act
- Supports putting the control of key industries to the government to help curb unreasonable price hikes and increase of buying capacity of households
- Filed cases challenging the concessionaire agreement with and resulting business and operating practices by water utilities firms and MWSS
As President of UFCC, Secretary General of WARM, and as senatorial candidate in 2019 and 2022
- Proposed to pass a law mandating a national debt moratorium, with funds being used to pay for public healthcare instead
- Wants all hospitals to be public
As senatorial candidate in 2019
Basic information on the candidate's family, background and work experience
- Rodolfo Javellana, father, former assistant administrator at the National Grains Authority (now, National Food Authority)
[Unknown name], mother, former executive assistant to GSIS General Manager Ramon Cruz
•AB in Political Science, Lyceum of the Philippines University, 1989
•Co-founder and Secretary General, Luntiang Pangarap (Green Dream), current
•Vice President for External Affairs of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino, current
•President, Water for All Refund Movement, current
•President, United Filipino Consumers and Commuters, 2015-present
•Brgy. Kagawad in Brgy 798, San Andres Bukid, City of Manila, 1986
