By ARNOLD PADILLA Bulatlat.com MANILA — In 2012, the dominant theme peddled by the Aquino administration was “good governance is good economics”. Malacañang’s hoax is that the “daang matuwid” (righteous path) has created a favorable environment for inclusive economic growth. From being the sick man of Asia, the Philippines now brims with vitality. Or so,…
Category: Special Reports
In 2012, urban poor jailed, killed for fighting for homes
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO Bulatlat.com MANILA – Eight months have passed since Arnel Leonor, 19, of Silverio Compound in Parañaque City, was killed during the demolition of their homes. As of this writing, no justice has been served and his mother Glenda feels it is taking too long. Eight months, too, have passed since…
Bleeding the supposed ‘bosses,’ the working masses, dry
By MARYA SALAMAT Bulatlat.com MANILA – In 2012, the incomes of the Filipino working population shrunk further compared to the rising cost of living, their recorded productivity and, based on news reports, growing revenues of companies. Considering that 2012 precedes an election year, the Aquino government only responded to decade-long calls of organized labor for…
Three decades of struggle for the only progressive teachers’ alliance in the country
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
The progressive teachers’ movement under the banner of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers commemorated its thirty years of struggle by drawing lessons from the past, as well as celebrating its victories, as it vowed to continue its struggle for the rights and welfare of teachers and the interests and rights of the Filipino people.
From paradise to wasteland: Environmental destruction, rights violations abound in Bicol’s mining industry
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“There is no truth to the claims of mining companies that they bring development and progress to the lives of the residents or to the local economy. They call a poisoned sea ‘progress’? They call beaches drying up and mountains levelled ‘progress’? And how could they say that they are helping residents when so many of us are jobless or underemployed? “
Untold story of Philex’s mine waste spill
By MARYA SALAMAT
Information being provided by Philex mines and the government on why the mine tailings pond spill happened and the devastation resulting from it are understated, nay sanitized, an independent mission discovered. It is “the worst mining disaster in the past two decades.”
Read also: Massive mine spill foreseen yet ignored by Philex, DENR?
Makati City gov’t demolishes homes, attacks Guatemala St. residents
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
“What use do I have for school if we lose our home? My parents work as vendors in Makati, I attend school in the nearby high school. If we lose our house, we will be forced to live on the streets. I’m here because I want to help defend our community. We’re poor, but we have dignity. They can’t just drive us out like we’re wild animals,” said Jeffrey, 17.
From wage freeze to wage cuts: Aquino government pilots two-tier wage system
By MARYA SALAMAT
“The labor department itself has maneuvered to deceive workers with a supposed wage hike whose determination the capitalists hold now even more firmly in their hands.” – PAMANTIK–KMU
2nd part: In Calabarzon, workers get first taste of wage cuts via two-tier wage system
Sidebar: Latest poverty measure: excluding the poor from the poverty count
SONA 2012: Reporting housekeeping and half-truths
By SONNY AFRICA/IBON Foundation
In closing the 2012 SONA, President Aquino asked rhetorically: “Isn’t the agenda for change moving forward?” Unfortunately after two years, there is clearly no fundamental change and no systematic economic reforms taking place.
SONA 2012: A chronicle of lies foretold
By MARYA SALAMAT
Aquino’s 90-minute speech, said to be one of the longest SONAs in recent memory, highlighted achievements that progressive groups shot down either as just a deception, a half-truth at best, or simply meaningless.
Sidebar: Groups press for release of activist, condemn violent dispersal of anti-SONA protests
Sidebar: Anti-SONA 2012 protests in regions against privatization, rights violations
Sidebar: Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon march vs land grabbing, militarization
YEARENDER: Elusive peace, stalled GPH-NDFP talks
By RONALYN V. OLEA
“Undermining [of previous agreements] is the strongest evidence that the Aquino regime has no desire or intention to engage in serious peace negotiations to address the roots of the armed conflict.” — NDFP peace panel chairman Luis Jalandoni