Day: January 19, 2009

(First of three parts) On the way to completing its second term, the Leonardia administration is already battered by dozens of accusations of graft and corruption and bad governance. Worse, Bacolodnons are still baffled by what the Leonardia administration is doing, what it is doing to the city’s coffers, and where it is leading the…

(Second of three parts) The lack of jobs, unstable income, and decent housing, as well as high crime rates – problems exacerbated by the city government’s lack of a pro-people development paradigm – are just among the manifestations that Bacolod is unlikely to grow as a “humane city”. BY KARL G. OMBION SPECIAL REPORT (Bulatlat.com)…

(Conclusion) Although calls for greater people participation in governance and development are commonly heard and even “recognized” by the Leonardia administration, in reality, its programs and projects rarely involved, if any at all, the people’s meaningful participation. BY KARL G. OMBION SPECIAL REPORT (Bulatlat.com) Although calls for greater people participation in governance and development are…

On December 5, 2008, over 200 recently fired workers at the Republic Window and Doors factory in Chicago occupied their plant, demanding they be paid their vacation and severance checks. The occupation ended victoriously six days later when the Bank of America and other lenders to Republic agreed to pay the workers the approximately $2…

Even as the administration continues to deny that the global economic turmoil will push the country into a deeper crisis, the Philippines has effectively started to enter a recession. BY IBON FOUNDATION Posted by Bulatlat Even as the administration continues to deny that the global economic turmoil will push the country into a deeper crisis,…

What is most insidious about the credit agency warnings is the “fallacy of composition” follies it provokes. If collectively countries and investors follow their advice and governments – especially in the largest countries – fail to engage in large enough fiscal expansions – then the prospects for widespread payment problems of sovereign debt surely will…