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Public health vs ‘humanitarian mission’ to Iraq 

With Severely Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hitting the Philippines, health and government officials have to face squarely the real health situation in the Philippines, doctors, nurses and medical workers from the Health Alliance for Democracy (Head) said last week.

In a statement, Head, an alliance of doctors, nurses, dentists and other health workers, assailed government’s P1.5 billion allocation for SARS.  The group said the amount pales in comparison to its planned allocation of more than P3 million a day for a 500-man humanitarian mission to Iraq. 

“It costs a minimum of P100,000 to construct a negative pressure isolation room,” said Dr. Joseph Carabeo, Head secretary general. “There are not enough masks and gloves and other safety gadgets to protect hospital personnel handling possible SARS patients.”

Before the SARS case, Carabeo said government hospitals including the referral centers for infectious diseases San Lazaro Hospital and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine have had difficulty in their operations.

The entire Department of Health budget for this year is only P9.9 billion of the P804 billion national budget. 

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NCR gives Arroyo -10.44% rating

Residents in the national capital region (NCR) seem to have become increasingly dissatisfied with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s performance in running the government, as they gave the Edsa Dos president a net satisfaction rating of negative -10.44 percent in the latest IBON Survey conducted between March 17 and 27 in Metro Manila.

The figure is the second negative rating for performance President Arroyo registered in the IBON Survey.  In the last quarter of 2001, the president got a -6.67 percent rating.

Answering the question, “How would you assess the performance of President Arroyo in running her administration?,” 47.78 percent of those polled rated her “poor,” while the rest thought she was either “very good” (1.56%) or “good” (35.78%). A total of 24 percent had no opinion.

The negative net rating was computed by subtracting the percentage of those who answered “poor” from the percentage of those who answered “very good” and “good” to the survey question.

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Lady solon scores anti-women Adan 2004
 
Bayan Muna Partylist Rep. Liza Largoza Maza dismissed as SILLY or "Samahan ng mga Insecure na Lalaki Lang Yan!" (Association of Insecure Men) a supposed group of men identifying themselves as “Adan 2004” or “Ayaw Dumami Ang Nimpa 2004.”

A letter stating Adan's position against the participation of women in politics was circulated in the House last week. It criticizes women who, Adan claims, intend to run in the 2004 elections including Maza, media personalities Korina Sanchez and Mel Tiangco, as well as Sen. Loren Legarda and Rep. Imee Marcos.

Maza, also secretary general of Gabriela, said the leadership and participation of women in Philippine politics has been recognized even by men and it is ridiculous that groups like Adan mushroom and bring up this issue to this very day. “They need to have their heads and their history checked," said Maza.

Adan 2004 claims that leadership of women in government has brought woes to the country.

"Adan is barking at the wrong tree and turning a blind eye to the real reasons of our people's poverty,” retorted Maza. “Leaders of our country - whether male or female - have been toeing the line of foreign dictates and implementing policies that favor big businesses and the elite over impoverished Filipinos for centuries." 

Maza said that on the contrary, more women should get involved in politics and take government and leadership positions. 

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Bill to proclaim labor leader national hero filed

On the eve of International Labor Day, Bayan Muna Rep. Crispin Beltran filed a bill declaring Crisanto Evangelista, "Father of the Filipino labor movement,” a national hero.

The National Heroes Committee formed in 1993 through Executive Order No. 75 set the criteria for national heroes: those who have a concept of nation and thereafter aspire and struggle for the nation's freedom; those who define and contribute to a system or life of freedom and order for a nation; those who contribute to the quality of life and destiny of a nation.

Beltran said Evangelista, the recognized Father of Militant Filipino Unionism, meets more than the criteria. “His life and deeds were completely devoted to serving the Filipino worker and the people, as well as the cause of genuine national liberation and democracy,” Beltran said. 

Evangelista was born on Nov. 1, 1888 in the small, provincial town of Meycauayan, Bulacan. His life was witness to two major social upheavals in Philippine history: the Philippine revolution against Spanish colonization and the Filipino-American war.

  Bulatlat.com

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