ADVERTISEMENT
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“We are willing to go into serious peace talks aimed at addressing the root causes of the armed conflict through fundamental social, economic, political and constitutional reforms.” - NDFP
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Pointing to the public-private partnership in the development of the South Luzon Expressway as the culprit in the planned increase in toll fees, drivers' group Piston warned that the planned hike plus the imposition of VAT on toll fees would trigger price increases as transport costs would likewise jack up.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“There could be no reconciliation without justice,” President Benigno Aquino III declared during his inaugural speech. But the means by which he intends to run after the former Arroyo administration, the Truth Commission, is being criticized by progressive groups for being a dud.
Related story: Truth Commissions, a Failure in the Country, Successful in Other Countries
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
The Water for the People Network is blaming the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems for the water shortages. It warns that the plans of the Aquino administration to fast track more privatization projects, through its planned public-private partnerships, would result in higher rates of basic utilities and services.
By MARYA SALAMAT
“If you can tie our hands with an AJ (assumption of jurisdiction), please tie the hands, too, of the PAL management with regard to their discrimination and violations of the Labor Code,” Robert Anduiza, FASAP president, appealed to the Department of Labor.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima believes that the prison is no place for a nursing mother and her baby.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
“We believe that teaching women at a young age regarding reproductive health and sexuality would aid them in avoiding unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and maternal death.” – Gabriela and Salinlahi.
By MARYA SALAMAT
The dialogue brokered by government did not address the root causes of the unrest raised by the pilots who resigned. Instead, PAL will continue to implement its massive spin-off and contractualization schemes – approved by the Arroyo regime, not yet rescinded by the Aquino government -- that will affect thousands of PAL’s cabin and ground employees.
By MARYA SALAMAT
The mass resignation of PAL pilots, the notice of strike filed by the cabin crew union, the struggle of ground employees against mass termination and contractualization -- all of these are interrelated. “It all stems from Lucio Tan’s moves to increase his profits even more by intensifying the exploitation of all his employees in the aviation industry.”
Related story: As Though 11-Year CBA Suspension Not Enough, PAL Employees Face Layoffs, Contractualization
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“It is inhumane for the court to order a nursing mother to go back to prison with her newborn child. We could only imagine [Carina's] turmoil as none could be more horrid for a mother than the thought of her child being put in peril,” said Joms Salvador, deputy secretary-general of Gabriela.
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
The KMP promises to continue the struggle for the rights and welfare of Filipino peasants. "We would continue fighting for a genuine agrarian reform program with the main goal of free land distribution," said Rep. Rafael Mariano.
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
President Aquino’s electoral platform, inaugural speech and State of the Nation Address (SONA) contain no clear environmental agenda and position on major issues such as mining, climate change and the garbage problem, said Clemente Bautista of Kalikasan.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
After the attempt on his brother-in-law’s life, peasant leader Dario Tomada fled to Luzon and took on different jobs to support his family back in Leyte. Five years later, he was arrested by soldiers for 15 counts of murder that allegedly took place in 1984 -- when he was still peacefully tilling a small piece of land and was not involved in any organization.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Nearly six months since the Morong 43 were arrested and the wheels of justice have been grinding slow on our detained colleagues. For these innocent health workers, being held each day more in detention is a continuing torture and a serious injustice.”
By ARNOLD PADILLA
Aquino’s promotion of PPPs and privatization in his SONA has further reinforced the view that his administration is incapable of introducing new policies that will reverse the old pro-business, pro-market neoliberal policies of the past administrations, including the Arroyo administration.
By BULATLAT STAFF
No mention of land reform, no promise of any wage hike, no hint that the budget for education and basic social services will be increased, no reference to the reality that debt servicing eats into the national budget more than the corruption at the MWSS or Napocor or NFA, and no acknowledgment of the fact that the cease-fire precondition for the resumption of the peace talks with the Communists is the same precondition that bogged down previous negotiations.
Related Items • Sidebar: Ordinary Filipinos to Noynoy: We Expect Jobs, Decent Income, Housing • Bulatlat's live coverage page of the Sona • Twitter updates • Photos • Webcasts: Reaction by Ibon Foundation | Human rights under Aquino | Condition of workers | Peasant Situation | Sovereignty issues facing Noynoy • Livestreaming of "People's SONA"
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Because the Arroyo administration left the country in a crisis of unparalleled proportions, progressive groups presented an agenda, which they deem as necessary for the nation's survival.
By MARYA SALAMAT
“It is a challenge to the Aquino administration to address the housing question holistically, beyond the low-cost housing projects peddled as the flagship program of the government,” GWP Rep. Emmi de Jesus says.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Special Report As the Philippine military continues to wage Oplan Bantay Laya, its so-called “dirty war” against communists as well as activists, peasants and workers, more and more innocent children are not only being caught in the crossfire but have become targets as well of human-rights violations.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“It is unthinkable that Aquino is unaware of the military’s policy on extrajudicial killings of activists. The recent killings bore the DNA of Gen. Jovito Palparan’s shock and terror tactics,” Anakpawis party-list Representative Rafael Mariano said.
A community of readers and supporters that help us sustain our operations through microdonations for as low as $1.