MANILA — Some 1.3 million or the overwhelming majority of the supposedly 1.5-million new jobs created since last year are actually non-earning, poorly earning or otherwise insecure jobs including part-time work, according to research group IBON. In April 2009, 540,000 of the jobs created were either unpaid family work (394,000) or domestic household help (146,000).…
Category: Press Releases and Statements
ON THE RESUMPTION OF THE GRP-NDFP FORMAL PEACE TALKS
The Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform (PEPP) welcomes the recent announcements made by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) that the GRP-NDFP formal peace talks will resume next month, August 2009. The PEPP commends the negotiating panels of the two parties, as well as…
Arroyo-Obama Meeting Questioned
For the Arroyo government, it would be a dream photo ops come true. For the United States government, it would be a chance to reinforce their neo-colonial interests in the Philippines. “Both Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and US president Barack Obama plan to utilize the meeting for their own gain. Arroyo needs the publicity as a…
UP Prof. Raymundo Victim of Political Repression — Group
TENYUR NGAYON NA PARA KAY PROP. SARAH RAYMUNDO BATAY SA MGA PANG-AKADEMIKONG PAMANTAYAN, HINDI SA MGA ARBITRARYO AT NAKATAGONG DAHILAN! “ [UP] Its ideological inclination has always been anti-Establishment. Even as it produces graduates that can fit into the existing social order, it openly bids them to go against the tide. “Tatak UP” is how…
Bayan Condemns Spate of Bombings in Mindanao
The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan today condemned the four explosions that rocked Mindanao, particularly Jolo in Sulu, the city of Iligan and Lanao del Norte. “The explosions that resulted in civilian deaths are condemnable and cannot be justified. We condemn in the strongest terms the spate of bombings that have hit Mindanao over the…
Independent Probe Urge on Mindanao Bombings
Initiatives for Peace in Mindanao PRESS STATEMENT July 7, 2009 InPeace calls for independent probe on bombings InPeace Mindanao calls for an independent probe on the bombings in Mindanao that will also look into a military plot intended to stage emergency rule. We urge the authorities to look beyond the ‘Muslim terrorist’ propaganda fanned by…
To Solve ‘Vanishing Load’ Scam, NTC Must Lower Rates, Ban Spam — TXTPower
Press Release July 4, 2009 The National Telecommunications Commission must “do more” than extend the expiry of prepaid load to decisively end the issue of “vanishing prepaid load” that is bedeviling the country’s more than 70 million mobile phone subscribers. In a press conference, consumer advocacy group TXTPower.org Inc. (TXTPower) said that “the absurdly short…
Media’s Maguindanao Coverage and Military Checkpoints: A Call to Defend the People’s Right to Know
The State of the Bakwits (S.O.B.), a joint coverage of Mindanao and Manila journalists held on June 29 to July 1, 2009 was intended to focus public attention on a humanitarian tragedy that we believe has not been given the attention it deserves. Coming from different media organizations in Mindanao and Manila, we issue this…
Palace Probe on Fil-Am Activist’s Abduction a Token Response — Bayan
Independent probe needed — Bayan MANILA — The umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan doubts the Malacanang probe into the abduction of Filipino-American activist Melissa Roxas will lead anywhere. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita recently ordered the Department of Defense to investigate the abduction. “It’s a sham. The Palace is likely reeling from intense public criticism of…
Broadcaster Shot Dead in Agusan
MANILA — A motorcycle-riding gunman shot and killed a radio blocktimer in Brgy. Poblacion in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur. The victim, 43-year-old Jonathan Petalvero, sustained a lone gunshot wound on the head from a .45 caliber pistol and was brought to the New Bayugan Doctors Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. News reports…
Comelec Should Not Sell Out 2010 Elections to Foreigners
“COMELEC should not leave the 2010 Automated Elections in the hands of foreign control,” said Mr. Rick Bahague, National Coordinator of the Computer Professionals’ Union (CPU) in reaction to the pull out of Smartmatic’s local partner, Technology Information Management. CPU has been a vocal critic of the COMELEC’s hasty implementation of the Automated Elections. “As…