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By MARYA SALAMAT
The janitors credit their reinstatement to the workers’ unity and determined struggle.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
"As it turned out, the price freeze was just meant to temper public outrage over the shameless greed displayed by oil firms after hiking petroleum prices during the height of the flooding and devastation brought by the monsoon rains. In the end, oil firms simply could not moderate their greed." – CAOPI
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Getting no support from either the national or local governments after Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 inundated their homes, they were able to, piece-by-piece, rebuild their homes and their lives. And now again, their homes and meager belongings were swept away by the floods.
“EO 79 lacks in social justice. It claims it’s good for the mining industry, but it’s very half-baked.” -- Ateneo de Davao University President Joel Tabora
The Mindanao Lumad Alliance, Kalumaran, urges Aquino to “put an end to the killings, abuses, and military recruitment of Lumad paramilitaries in our communities that failed to bring peace and development” as it called to “stop this deception that mines, dams, and agribusiness will bring in development.”
Dagok blocked the backhoe operator’s view as she finds this the only way she could stop the machine from gnashing its teeth on the land -- the land where they have lived and tilled for years; the land they call home in Bariquit Compound, Purok 13, Bugac in Maa village.
By MARYA SALAMAT
“For humanitarian consideration, it is appropriate that the government restrain all price hikes at this point.” -- Anakpawis
By MARYA SALAMAT
“The labor department itself has maneuvered to deceive workers with a supposed wage hike whose determination the capitalists hold now even more firmly in their hands.” – PAMANTIK–KMU
2nd part: In Calabarzon, workers get first taste of wage cuts via two-tier wage system
Sidebar: Latest poverty measure: excluding the poor from the poverty count
The Philippines seemed closer to reaching the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing poverty by half than if the old poverty methodology were used
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“There's now a combined estimate of at least 12,000 to 14,000 undocumented OFWs in Saudi Arabia, higher than last year's estimate pegged from 8,000 to 10,000." – Migrante
By MARYA SALAMAT
When President Aquino sought US support for joining the Trans Pacific Partnership during his US visit, the US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. declared…“[we] have to change laws, issue executive orders and frankly, introduce amendments to the Constitution.”
By SONNY AFRICA/IBON Foundation
In closing the 2012 SONA, President Aquino asked rhetorically: “Isn’t the agenda for change moving forward?” Unfortunately after two years, there is clearly no fundamental change and no systematic economic reforms taking place.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Aquino’s 90-minute speech, said to be one of the longest SONAs in recent memory, highlighted achievements that progressive groups shot down either as just a deception, a half-truth at best, or simply meaningless.
Sidebar: Groups press for release of activist, condemn violent dispersal of anti-SONA protests
Sidebar: Anti-SONA 2012 protests in regions against privatization, rights violations
Sidebar: Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon march vs land grabbing, militarization
By MARYA SALAMAT
“The final, long awaited EO makes it clear that Malacañang has addressed only the concerns of foreign business but brushed away legitimate concerns of mining affected communities and environmental groups.” – Kalikasan Party-list
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