“By awarding the POC modernization project to the private investor, the Aquino administration had just signed the death sentence for public orthopedic hospital care.”
“What greater blow can an insensitive government give to the suffering people than privatizing the only public orthopedic hospital where the poor run for treatment?” – Emma Manuel, Alliance of Health Workers
The US government shutdown was not to blame for the crashing of the food stamp program for poor families in 17 states on October 12, just the latest in a long line of snafus by private contractors hired by government.
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Analysis A lot has been said about President Benigno Aquino III’s fourth State of the Nation Address. Perhaps one of the most scathing remark came from Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago who likened the president’s speech to a college paper because as Senator Santiago said, a lot of footnotes were placed in the body…
“The Filipino workers and people are fed up and are protesting against the rising prices and intensifying demolitions. The context is rock-bottom wages and chronic unemployment. That is the real state of the nation.” – Kilusang Mayo Uno
As the awarding of the modernization project of the Philippine Orthopedic Center to a private firm is fast approaching, health workers, patients, the urban poor, and church people are exploring different options to stop its implementation.
“The Aquino government has kept on trying to implement this fare hike but has failed to actually implement one. It knows how badly this will affect the public and how this will make the public really angry at the government.”
By Carol Pagaduan-Araullo Streetwise | BusinessWorld The privatization mantra is being incessantly hummed by the Aquino III administration. Privatization is being promoted to the public as the solution to deteriorated, broken-down and inadequate public utilities and social services. The argument is not new: government just doesn’t have the resources to provide for these public goods.…
This year, private water concessionaires are up for ‘rate rebasing,’ meaning they would substantially increase water rates to pass on the costs of their planned projects, some of which would not be implemented but will be charged to consumers anyway. This is aside from the usual rate increases.
Read also: Metro Manila experience: Poor water service, unjustified rate hike petition
“Eventually, no matter how the DOH strongly denies it, the POC will turn into a private corporation and thus, can no longer provide free nor affordable health services for the people, especially the majority poor.”
By MARYA SALAMAT
Progressive groups are protesting against high prices, high rates of utilities and mishandling of Sabah issue.