(Conclusion) Local governments’ power to re-classify agricultural lands for commercial and residential use has aided big landowners in saving their properties from agrarian reform. BY DABET CASTAÑEDA SPECIAL REPORT Bulatlat Vol. VIII, No. 9, April 6-12, 2008 “I’m not a saint,” a councilor in a municipality in Cavite said in Tagalog, “I must admit we…
Category: Other Stories
Gov’t, AFP Claims of NPA Weakening are Lies – Ka Roger
CPP spokesperson Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal has belied claims by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the AFP that the strength of the CPP’s armed component, the NPA, has been halved in the last two years and that it will certainly face defeat by 2010. BY ALEXANDER MARTIN REMOLLINO Bulatlat Vol. VIII, No. 8, March 30-April 5,…
Real Story for 2008: More Hardships, More Unrest
Gloria Arroyo’s distorted version of reality shows how detached her regime is from the people who face worsening poverty and hunger. But empty propaganda about economic growth will not quell the deteriorating political crisis that engulfs the country today. BY ARNOLD PADILLA Contributed to Bulatlat Vol. VIII, No. 8, March 30-April 5, 2008 Gloria Arroyo’s…
Oil Price Hikes More Frequent under Arroyo
Oil price increases under Pres. Arroyo’s term comprise almost 42 percent of total increases since the implementation of the Oil Deregulation law in 1996. BY IBON FOUNDATION Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VIII, No. 8, March 30 – April 5, 2008 Since the oil deregulation law was first implemented, much of the of the oil price…
JMSU: China will Set Up Gas Pipelines to Transfer RP Natural Gas, Fishers Group Predicts
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation will eventually set up gas pipelines from Palawan to mainland China once the potential reserves of 3.3 trillion cubic meters of gas is confirmed in the ongoing gas exploration, according to the militant fisherfolk alliance Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya or National Alliance of Small Fisherfolk…
DoH Order: ‘Regulating or Legalizing Organ Trade?’
The Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD) warned that the administrative order (AO) issued by the DoH March 24, which is supposedly aimed at eradicating the thriving black market of kidney trade would only pave the way for the virtual legalization of organ trade under the pretext of “management and regulation”. BY AUBREY MAKILAN Bulatlat Vol.…
More Harassment, Trumped-Up Charges Against Student Leaders
Student leaders from the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) have been met with trumped-up charges by the university administration. Ma. Criselda Diocena, Editor-in-Chief of the closed student publication, The Tandem and Student Regent and Student Council (SC) President Warren Rafal were charged with robbery after they opened the Tandem office and took out official receipts…
Food Riots, Anarchy Feared Amid Rice Crisis
BY KARL G. OMBION Bulatlat SPECIAL REPORT Vol. VIII, No. 8, March 30-April 5, 2008 Amid recent reports of another impending rice crisis, a local university-based agricultural economist said he is not surprised by the reports because “there has been a prolonged and continuous decline in Philippine agricultural productivity since the early 1970s.” Dr. Romeo…
Only-in-the-Philippines Syndrome
Ang only-in-the-Philippines ay katangian at kaganapang maaring mangyari lamang sa loob ng espasyo ng bansa. Ito ay social action o ginagawa ng kolektibo sa ilang sektor, pero hindi buong lipunan ang kalahok. Panlipunan ang sinasaad nito, o may sinasabi sa mababang kalidad at pagturing ng mga pwersa sa lipunan kaya nagaganap ang penomenon: mga umaakyat…
Heed Experience of other East Asian Countries with Japan Trade Deals, Solons Urged
Japan aims to consolidate and expand its region-wide production base, particularly in the electronics and automotive industries. Tariff cuts and liberal investment rules negotiated by Japan under free trade agreements with East Asian countries make this fragmenting of production processes across the region easier, greatly benefiting Japanese corporations. But, going by the experience of Malaysia,…
Malampaya Experience Shows Philippines may Lose from Spratly Deal
A deal by the RP government with China on the exploitation of oil resources in the Spratly Islands is not only unconstitutional but will likely have the country on the economic losing end. BY SONNY AFRICA IBON FOUNDATION Posted by Bulatlat Vol. VIII, No. 6, March 16-29, 2008 A deal by the Philippine government with…