Price increases are to be expected as the country’s staple food will be solely at the hands of the profit-oriented private sector.
Rice price hikes seen with tariffication bill
Year: 2019
Tariffication to worsen dependence on imported rice
While not a guarantee to lower prices in the long run, opening up the rice sector to unbridled imports leaves the country’s rice security at the mercy of an unpredictable and increasingly unreliable world market. This happens as 95 percent of Philippine rice imports come from just two countries whose own domestic production is either slowing down or declining. Globally, rice production has been steadily decelerating in the past four decades.
‘Rice tariffication detrimental to NFA, consumers’
“This situation may lead to chaos and further manipulation of the supply and price of the staple by unscrupulous traders.”
Environmentalists, fisherfolk denounce DENR’s ‘fake’ rehabilitation of Manila Bay
‘There is no real rehabilitation if the Manila Bay ends up with profit-driven corporations.’
A case of illegal arrest and a trumped-up charge
Almost a year after their warrantless arrest, detention and prosecution for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives, on Jan. 15 Rafael Baylosis and Roque Guillermo were ordered freed by a Quezon City court. Baylosis is a peace consultant of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in the GRP-NDFP peace talks, which President…
Journalism in troubled times
Should the media report everything government officials do and say for the sake of that elusive concept called “objectivity”? Philippine practice suggests that that’s what most journalists assume — and that, no matter how erroneous, outrageous or potentially harmful the statements and actions of those sources may be, their responsibility ends with accurately quoting them.…
First Person | Kuwentong #SM
Patay na ang Contractual King pero patuloy ang legasiya ng sistemang kontraktwal sa loob ng SM. 99% ng kanilang mga manggagawa ay contractual kaya mas dapat i-expose ang kabulukan ng sistemang ito.
New efforts to lower down age of criminal liability, a state abandonment, groups say
“The proposed legislation aims nothing but to put the blame on children in conflict with the law and punish them behind bars.”
Peace consultant released from jail
“The release of Baylosis is a victory, but hundreds more remain languishing in jails across the country. Along with the kin of political prisoners, other human rights advocates, and human rights lawyers, we will continue to work for the dismissal of charges against trumped-up charges against political prisoners.”
This Week on People’s History: Impeachment and ouster of President Joseph Estrada
In this episode of This Week of People’s History, Bulatlat remembers the impeachment trial and ouster of President Joseph Estrada.
Better in 2019: What a year taught young activists
While the domestic and international currents tend to make a person pessimistic, hope abounds. For young activists, the previous year has three lessons that may be used to further uphold people’s rights, interests, and welfare.