By Satur C. Ocampo At Ground Level | The Philippine Star June 8, 2011 marked 10 years of implementation of the controversial Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), which then President Arroyo railroaded into approval by the 11th Congress and promptly signed. This law has systematically hastened the transfer of control over power generation and…
Month: June 2011
Foreign land deals: global land grabbing?
By IBON Features MANILA– There is a rising trend in the number of what are called foreign land deals in many countries across the globe, covering up to million hectares of land. The scale and rate at which these deals have taken place, plus the institutions involved in the transactions have made these deals controversial.…
Employment climate still bleak under Aquino – KMU
By BULATLAT.COM MANILA — “The government’s claims of a modest decrease in unemployment this April cannot hide the fact that the employment climate under President Noynoy Aquino remains bleak.” This was how labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno reacted to the recently-released National Statistics Office study showing a slight decrease in unemployment in the country. The…
Pols told: do a Pacquiao, support P125 Wage Hike Bill
PRESS RELEASE June 16, 2011 MANILA — In marking the “National Day of Workers’ Condemnation Against Meager COLA’s,” labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno appealed to the country’s politicians to “do a Pacquiao” and support the P125 Wage Hike Bill pending in the House of Representatives, referring to boxing champ Manny Pacquiao who recently announced support…
Aquino playing to US-designed script by stoking Spratlys conflict — CPP
MANILA – By issuing inflammatory and provocative statements, the Aquino government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are stoking the Spratly Islands conflict in order to justify inviting US military presence in the South China sea lanes on the pretext of defending Philippine sovereignty. The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said that…
Pacquiao bats for P125 wage hike for workers
By MARYA SALAMAT
“I was once a laborer, too. I have worked at various jobs just to be able to feed my family. I know how it is to work hard and to subsist on meager wages.” – Rep. Manny Pacquiao
Rights groups demand general, unconditional and omnibus amnesty for all political prisoners
By RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat.com MANILA – Justice Secretary Leila de Lima pledged to study the cases of political prisoners in a dialogue with human rights groups today. Leaders of Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda), Karapatan and other groups sought a dialogue with de Lima and presented a proposal for a…
SC fails again to decide on Hacienda Luisita dispute
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“By not issuing any decision today, the Supreme Court prolongs the sufferings of farm workers and provides opportunity for the Cojuangco-Aquinos to maneuver.” – Lito Bais, president of the United Luisita Workers Union (Ulwu) said.
Divorce bill, providing a remedy for women in abusive marriages
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“We cannot deny the reality that there are marriages that turn sour. There are marriages that are abusive, even violent and there are bigamous marriages. We need to address this reality and give couples in these failed marriages the option of divorce.” – GWP Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan
Peasant groups protest vs. military encampment in Davao, Comval schools
PRESS RELEASE June 14, 2011 Davao City — Farmers and lumads condemned the military encampment in civilian communities in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley Province which has terrorized schoolchildren and disrupted the farming of peasant folks. “The warring posture of the military creates fear tension, sowing fear in our community and disrupting our normal way…
Don’t bring Luisita case back to square one, group said
PRESS RELEASE June 14, 2011 MANILA — The regional farmers’ alliance Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (AMGL, Peasant Alliance in Central Luzon) urged the Supreme Court to decide firmly on the Hacienda Luisita case and favorably to the farmworkers, particularly the lifting of the temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Stock Distribution Option…