Bullets from a .45 caliber pistol claimed the life of yet another journalist, the 74th since 1986 when democracy was supposedly restored in the country. By Bulatlat.com Eliseo “Ely” Binoya, station manager and commentator of the Manila Broadcasting Corp. affiliate Radyo Natin (Our Redio) in General Santos City in southern Philippines was shot dead June…
Month: June 2004
2004 Polls Most Fraudulent, Most Violent
Just how widespread was fraud and violence in the recently held national and local elections? Data gathered by the Patriots revealed the credibility of the elections is now questionable and that the proclamation of supposed winning presidential and vice presidential candidates, if and when it happens, would not reflect the people’s mandate. By Alexander Martin…
Iraq Handover Just Like Philippine `Independence’ – NCCP Leader
The fate of Iraq is now being compared to what the Philippines had gone through in the hands of the U.S. Despite the expected fanfare amid the U.S. handover of sovereignty to Iraq on June 30, peace advocates are repudiating this event as nothing more than “window-dressing.” They believe that Iraq will remain “a colony…
Gov’t Destroys .5 M Jobs, Record 5 M Jobless
The just released April 2004 employment figures, including nearly 5 million Filipinos without work, affirm the dismal failure of government economic policy. By Sandra Nicolas Bulatlat.com When the National Statistics Office released the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) on June 15, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri seemed to be talking from another planet. He said,…
Reversing Oil Deregulation: Nationalization as an Urgent Necessity
In the age of globalization, nationalization is seen as anathema to “development.” However, the current spate of oil price hikes warrants a re-examination of the concept of nationalization of the downstream oil industry to ensure affordability and accessibility of a very important product. By DANILO ARAÑA ARAO Bulatlat.com The spate of oil price hikes can…
Bridge Program: Added Cargo for Overworked, Underpaid Teachers
Teachers trained under Makabayan subjects, who are “not well-equipped with teaching competencies in Math, Science and English,” are being assigned to the controversial Bridge Program, a teacher leader reveals. “Paano magagawa ng Bridge Program ang pagpapahusay sa mga estudyante kung ang mga magtuturo nito ay ibang aralin naman ang itinuturo” (How can the Bridge program…
DepEd Not Ready for June 21 Opening – LFS High School: Students to walk out on Day 1
Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus admits that shortages in classrooms and teachers throughout the country have increased to 42,641 and 51,319, respectively. Fifty percent of public schools, he said, have no principals at all. Meanwhile, students threaten to walk out on school opening June 21 to protest government neglect. By Ronalyn V. Olea Bulatlat.com The…
NUJP Hosts IFJ Tolerance Prize for Southeast Asia
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines will host the Tolerance Prize for Southeast Asia administered by the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The awarding will be held on June 25 at the Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila. A forum on media and its role in reporting racial and ethnic issues will…
Power Consumers ‘Electrocuted’ with False Promise, New Rate Hikes
During the February-May campaign period, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promised power consumers the lowest electricity rates in Southeast Asia. But with the impending increases in Meralco rates and Napocor generating charges, and the forthcoming removal of the inter-class cross subsidy, power consumers might as well consider themselves nakuryente, a vernacular slang term meaning fooled. By ALEXANDER…
Bridge Program Means More Dropouts – ACT
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) says that another year in high school could cost a family from P8,000 to P10,000 ($143.16 to $178.95, based on an exchange rate of P55.88 for every U.S. dollar). Computed for 10 months or 205 days with classes, a student would spend P39 to P48 ($0.70 to $0.86) a…
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 Northern Dispatch Posted by Bulatlat.com BAGUIO CITY — Philex Mining Corporation (PMC) in Padcal, Tuba, Benguet in northern Philippines has barred children of…