This story
was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly
newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. V, No. 19, June 19-25, 2005
NEWS AT A GLANCE Enough of Gloria Tinio noted that the Arroyo
government’s policy of reducing annual per capita spending on education in favor
of debt payments has resulted in more children out of school, falling
achievement rates for those in school, and lower standards of living for
teachers. ACT also reiterated its
demand for the immediate granting of a P3,000 salary increase and condemned the
Arroyo government for refusing to raise salaries of state workers in the last
four years. “We’ve had enough of
Gloria’s salary freeze! We’ve had enough of Gloria’s lies! We’ve had enough of
Gloria!” said Tinio. Bulatlat
* * * ‘Never again to
dictatorship’ -- KMU “Gloria can and will do
anything to hold on to her weakening presidency,” KMU chair Elmer Labog said.
“But she will not succeed, workers say never again to another dictatorship.”
Labog also said that there
has been an undeclared martial law with the government’s militarization campaign
and political repression that caused harassment, abduction or even murder of
political activists and members of militant organizations. The labor center will lead
a major mobilization together with other sectors this week at the Liwasang
Bonifacio in Manila to frustrate Arroyo's alleged martial law declaration.
Bulatlat
* * * No coco compromise for
farmers The Kilusang Magbubukid ng
Pilipinas (KMP), the country’s largest and most militant farmer’s organization,
denounced June 17 the alleged coco levy deal proposal by the Presidential
Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and
business magnate Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco. “It is obvious that the
PCGG, DA and Danding are orchestrating a grand sell-out of the small coconut
farmer’s interest,” said Willy Marbella, KMP internal deputy secretary general
and himself a small coconut farmer from Bicol. “This is a reprehensible ploy to
again rob the coco farmers of their hard-earned and long-fought for funds.” Marbella added that “the
PCGG, the DA and especially Danding have no right to bargain for the small
coconut farmers” because the coco levy fund belongs to them. The group called for the
resignation of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
who, they said, have done nothing to alleviate the plight of farmers.
Bulatlat © 2004 Bulatlat
■
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The Alliance of Concerned
Teachers (ACT) scored June 17 the Arroyo administration for failing to release
the P1,000 “Education Assistance” bonus that it promised to teachers and other
government employees last June 1.
ACT Chair Antonio Tinio said the bonus was supposed to help cover tuition
expenses of children of parent-teachers this enrolment.
Widespread people’s
protests and resistance. This was the reaction of the militant labor center
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) June 17 to reports that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
plans to declare martial law on or before June 21 and that hit squads are
positioned within Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.