Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts Volume IV, Number 19 June 13 - 19, 2004 Quezon City, Philippines |
400
Children of Miners Barred from School Nearly
400 school children failed to enroll in Tuba, Benguet when the two schools in
the area funded by a mining corporation refused to admit children of former
employees. BY
ALDWIN QUITASOL BAGUIO
CITY — Philex Mining Corporation (PMC) in Padcal, Tuba, Benguet in northern
Philippines has barred children of ex-employees from enrolling both in the
elementary and secondary schools within the mine camp. Nearly
400 pupils were denied enrollment as the Philex Mines Elementary School (PMES)
and Saint Louis High School-Philex (SLHS-Philex) complied with the “Enrollment
Advisory” issued by the General Services Department of PMC. The
advisory calls on both PMES and SLHS-Philex for the new schoolyear to accept
only children who are qualified in accordance with the guidelines set by the PMC.
Among others, the guidelines provide that allowed to enroll are direct
dependents of active employees based on PMC’s records; children of claimants
or indigenous residents of host communities; children of term residents who are
currently employed with the National Allied Mine Workers Union-Local 101 (NAMAWU-L
101), and of those providing basic services such as PUJ drivers/operators, and
vendors/entrepreneurs who are staying in private cottages under a valid and
updated lease contract with the company. Those
not accommodated by the PMES and SLHS-Philex are dependents of retired or
separated employees, employees with pending court cases involving dismissal, and
dependents of contractors, contractual and casual employees including agency
guards. One
of the parents of children who were denied admission lambasted the PMC action as
unreasonable, inhumane and discriminatory. “Nabayag
a pinagserbian ni lakay ko ti Philex, adu pay ti sakripisyo na kalpasan na,
binale-wala lang ti kompanya, kas-ano ngayen ti masakbayan ti annak min,
graduating pay diay maysa nga ubing ko” (I have long served the company
and have sacrificed a lot but this has meant nothing to the company. What is now
my children’s future, one of them is even graduating this year?), cried the
parent. The
parents have petitioned Tuba Municipal Mayor Jose Baluda asking him to intercede
and have the PMC advisory recalled. The
letter was received by the mayor as early as June 6 but no action has been done
at presstime. The
parents even approached the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the Department of
Education (DepEd), the governor’s office and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
(Provincial Board) of Tuba - but all to no avail. A
public consultation was also held last June 9 at the provincial capitol of
Benguet in an attempt to address the issue. In front of the provincial
officials, parents and their supporters were told by representatives of PMC: the
decision is final. Another
parent, who asked not to be identified, lambasted the PMES and SLHS-Philex as
company-maneuvered schools. “Apay anya gamin sakiten ti nakem da ta saan da
nga awaten ti annak mi ket agbayad kami met” (They have no heart by
refusing to accept my children yet we’re even paying), he said. Both the PMES and SLHS-Philex are funded by the PMC. Posted by Bulatlat.com We want to know what you think of this article.
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