“If the Aquino government is indeed worried only of our safety, how come they are allowing big business and foreign investors to construct infrastructures right where our loved ones died during Yolanda? Why are the mining and logging operations in farflung areas lashed by Yolanda still continuing?” -- People Surge
Under the “Interruptible Load Program” or ILP, shopping malls and factories are set to use their diesel generators this summer so that they would not have to draw power from the grid. The problems is, power consumers would be billed for it.
The protest rally, held in commemoration of Roque’s first death anniversary, calls for justice for all children killed by the state forces.
Of the P2.26-trillion budget, only the P1.4-trillion were debated and seemingly visible to the public. The rest of the national budget are in the category of lump sum funds, falling under the discretion of the President, and as such are actually pork barrel funds.
Today, the survivors of Yolanda’s wrath are also finding it difficult to get back on their feet, not only because they lack appropriate services from the government -- on the contrary they are being “evicted” and forced to accept loans or “cosmetic” solutions of short-term jobs – they also have to contend with increased military deployment.
“The Moro people will continue to endure the national oppression, economic subjugation and dire poverty and backwardness albeit under the signboard of a supposedly newer and better form of regional autonomy.” – Moro Christian Peoples’ Alliance
During a nationally coordinated drivers’ and workers’ protest led by Piston yesterday, March 24, George San Mateo, national president of Piston, said they disagree with the fare hike plan aired by Acto, 1-Utak, Altodap and Fejodap, “because public opinion will be turned against us drivers.”
In 2005, the local government of Marinduque filed a case against Placer Dome in the United States. Last year, its new owner Barrick Gold offered a US$ 20-million settlement with a condition that the petitioners, including Philippine government agencies, waive their accountabilities and responsibilities with regard to the disaster.
“We don’t think our wages are that high, as these aren’t enough to cover the spate of price hikes in goods, services and other utilities.” – workers of NXP
“It is the national government's responsibility to lead the reconstruction… many private companies involved are not in there for humanitarian reasons but for profit.” – People Surge
“How can the PEMC or the ERC recalculate on the basis of a failed market? It was abuse of market power not just market failure. Who manipulated the under-offering that led to market failure? They must be held accountable and should be the one to pay, not the people." – Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares
'It is really Aquino who is the driver of the Cha-cha train.'
“She [Social Welfare Sec. Dinky Soliman] is very patronizing. She showed no compassion – here there are typhoon victims who are crying because they are getting no help, but she is not bothered.” – Monique Wilson, director, One Billion Rising
Related story | Aquino’s apology merely serves to justify gov’t inadequacies – progressive groups
“In other countries, proper disaster risk reduction and management has made a difference, regardless of the strength of the storm or any other natural hazard. For example in Vietnam, only six people died when Yolanda struck there, in part because of the preparations." – Vencer Crisostomo, Anakbayan
The Philippines is contributing to the spending requirement for the expansion here of US military facilities.
Even as the Supreme Court has yet to decide on petitions against its November-December rate hike, Meralco is asking for the approval of a “provisional” hike, reasoning that the second tranche of the stalled rate hike is not covered by the high court’s TRO.
The 19th anniversary of the passage of RA 7942 or Mining Act of 1995 was “greeted” with nationally-coordinated protest actions across the Philippines. The day was dubbed as Green Flag Day, and protesters launched their call for the revocation of Pres. Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s mining liberalization policies and projects.
Why are wages pressed down to starvation levels? Why is contractualization so rampant today? How could workers' rights to decent wages, security of tenure, and to form unions be trampled upon with impunity? Progressive workers say that a law, which was named after...
“With all the ill effects of Herrera Law to workers’ right to security of tenure, right to strike and decent wages, it is but timely for the government to repeal the law and replace it with a genuinely pro-labor Labor Code.” – EILER
The progressive workers movement was historically one of the most consistent in leading protests and strikes against the Marcos dictatorship.
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.
