By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com MANILA — The members of a coalition of 43 community-based organizations of peasant women in Northern Mindanao condemned the indiscriminate firing of guns by guards on peasants holding a protest action to fight for their right to the land they have been tilling. At least seven farmers have been…
Month: June 2011
Lawmaker calls for increased “chalk allowance” for public school teachers
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO Bulatlat.com A piece of chalk may cost only a peso, but one piece or two a day will inevitably add up to a big enough amount. Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said that many teachers in various school divisions in the country are not receiving their…
Remains of OFW who died mysteriously brought home, family wants justice
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com MANILA — The family of overseas Filipino worker Andy Dimacali is resolute that they would not let him die in vain. When asked if they are considering filing a complaint against officials, who, according to Crisanto and Dory Ann Dimacali and Jeff Macapinlac, did not lift a finger to…
Benjie Oliveros | Pathetic way to assert a country’s sovereign right
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Bulatlat.com Pity the Philippines. When China issued a not-so-veiled warning that it would use force against any “incursions” in the part fo the Spratly Islands that it is claiming, Vietnam reacted by protesting strongly. The Aquino government first made known its wish that the US would supply more arms to it through…
Protestant Church sues Arroyo for killings, human rights abuses
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Something is indeed terribly wrong when pastors and church workers are killed, arrested and detained or go missing while they are teaching people to know, defend and fight for their rights,” Rev. Rex Reyes, general secretary of the National Church of Christ in the Philippines (NCCP), said.
In his first year, Aquino did nothing to improve education, bring down fees — Anakbayan
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO Bulatlat.com On June 13, the second Monday marking the official start of the 2011 school year, university students from various universities all over the country held coordinated protests against what they said was the failure of the government of Benigno Aquino III to improve the system of education and put…
Rice Watchdog Bantay Bigas calls for rice sufficiency for food security
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO Bulatlat.com There would be no food security in the country for as long as it remains largely dependent on rice imports. The advocacy group Bantay Bigas renewed its call for rice sufficiency in the Philippines in the wake of the release of a paper “Putting Rice on the Table: Rice…
‘Why is Aquino government suddenly engaging China over Spratlys?’
By MARYA SALAMAT
“It is as clear as day,” declared Terry Ridon, chairman of League of Filipino Students, “that it is only when US interests are served shall it extend assistance to its semi-colony.”
Rights group slams Leyte ordinance compliant with AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan – Bayanihan
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO Bulatlat.com Human rights advocates in Samar have sounded the alarm against a new ordinance passed by Leyte provincial legislators. The local lawmakers passed Sanggunian Panlalawigan Ordinance 2011-02 prescribing the guidelines in the conduct of outreach activities in the countryside of the province of Leyte. The ordinance states that individuals, agencies…
Luis V. Teodoro | Tales twice told
By LUIS V. TEODORO Vantage Point | BusinessWorld IT was one of those statements that make no sense, but which some Catholic bishops are especially adept at making. Butuan Bishop Juan De Dios Pueblos said House Bill 1799, or the divorce bill, will lead to more immorality in Philippine society. The faithful should be trembling…
One year under Noynoy, college students, drop-outs ‘paying’ for government’s ‘education commercialization’ policy
PRESS RELEASE June 13, 2011 MANILA — University students and other youths are bewailing soaring tuition and other fees at the college level a year under the administration of Noynoy Aquino, despite a last year promise by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) will not hike their tuition rates…