Since losing a number of its major overseas bases in the 1990s, the US has had to make shifts in its basing strategy. It now increasingly relies on what its Department of Defense calls “Cooperative Security Locations” (CSLs), and there is now less emphasis on “Main Operating Bases” (MOBs). The US has a number of…
Category: Other Stories
A Day in the Life of a Jeepney Driver
Jeepney drivers work long days and endure a lot of difficulties in their struggle to eke out a daily living. At the end of the day, however, their earnings are far from enough to afford basic necessities. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat Sa maghapon Ang buhay ay pamamasada Tinitiis Usok at init ng makina At…
Constitutional Issues to Determine Alignments in Senate Vote on the JPEPA
While the treaty’s sponsors, Senators Miriam Santiago and Mar Roxas, still have a lot to explain to their colleagues about the economic implications of the JPEPA – not to mention the still unresolved issues of toxic waste dumping and dubious gains for Filipino nurses and health workers – it seems that the issue of constitutionality…
Bill Pushes for Gov’t Use of Free Software
A bill mandating the government to use free/open source software (FOSS) has been filed at the House of Representatives. Bayan Muna Representative Teddy Casiño said the use of FOSS will help the government save from its spending on computer software and licenses. BY BULATLAT Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, principal author of House Bill No.…
Salary Standardization Law 3: For Whose Benefit?
The Confederation for the Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) says that the proposed salary adjustment by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is totally unfair for the 1.4 million employees who toil for almost 12 hours everyday despite the low salary. BY NOEL SALES BARCELONA Bulatlat During the Sept. 3 National…
‘Rise Up!’
PHOTO ESSAY BY RONALYN V. OLEA Bulatlat Vol. VIII, No. 24, July 20-26, 2008 Anger. Student leaders from various colleges and universities present their reasons for calling for Arroyo’s ouster. They simultaneously tore apart papers with Arroyo’s face. Alternative street classes. Students listen to a youth leader in one of the discussion groups at Plaza…
Study Shows Foreign Nurses, Caregivers Face Exploitative Work Conditions in Japan
While proponents of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) claim that the pact will create more opportunities for local nurses by allowing them to enter the Japanese market, a study by a Japanese university shows that foreign nurses in Japan face exploitative work conditions and even discrimination. BY IBON FOUNDATION Posted by Bulatlat Volume VIII,…
More Violence Feared After GMA Scraps Peace Panel
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Liza Maza said the Bangsamoro people can’t help but interpret Arroyo’s move as a declaration of an all-out war against them. “The Arroyo government’s obstinacy, all the while ignoring the legitimate demands of the Bangsamoro, does not bring the conflict anywhere near resolution,” she said. BY CJ KUIZON Davao Today Posted…
Reporting the ASEAN: Repression of ASEAN Media Continues
(First of 3 parts) This is a slightly revised version of the author’s presentation in Jakarta, Indonesia on July 29 and August 26 during the training of journalists from member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) organized by the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of InWEnt-Germany. BY DANILO ARAÑA ARAO Bulatlat Vol. VIII,…
Planned Transfer of Home for Aged Opposed
Employees and caregivers of Golden Acres Home for the Aged oppose the planned transfer of the facility to Tanay—a town in Rizal province—which is 57 kilometers from Manila, saying that it would only endanger the health and well-being of the elderly, and their own jobs as well. NOEL SALES BARCELONA Vol. VIII, No. 32, September…
Agri Dep’t Transfers to Isabela in 3 Months
Does the Department of Agriculture (DA) have only three months left to stay in Manila? This is the question of employees at the Office of the Secretary (OSEC), now that there is a specific directive from the President herself to hasten the transfer of the DA office from Quezon City to Ilagan City, Isabela (approximately…