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By MARYA SALAMAT
When President Aquino sought US support for joining the Trans Pacific Partnership during his US visit, the US Ambassador to the Philippines Harry K. Thomas Jr. declared…“[we] have to change laws, issue executive orders and frankly, introduce amendments to the Constitution.”
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.
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
By MARYA SALAMAT
“The final, long awaited EO makes it clear that Malacañang has addressed only the concerns of foreign business but brushed away legitimate concerns of mining affected communities and environmental groups.” – Kalikasan Party-list
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“Our call is for the government to provide immediate relief to the lowly state workers who are reeling not just from the rising cost of basic commodities but also from the effects of the taking away by the government of our hard-earned benefits.”
By JANESS ANN J. ELLAO
“We directly pin the blame on Aquino’s relentless drive to retool all services under the Public Private Partnership, which is really just privatization.” – Gabriela
By MARYA SALAMAT
Almost a year in the making, the EO is being criticized for lacking in substance in terms of environmental protection and people’s welfare, focusing mainly in the paltry increase in government revenues.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño urges his fellow lawmakers to withdraw support from privatization of public hospitals.
By SONNY AFRICA
The administration is hard-pressed to provide similar glowing accounts of sustainable development on the ground because there are still no such gains to speak of.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Child labor arises in the Philippines because of the government’s failure in generating decent jobs. – KMU
By MARYA SALAMAT
The Philippines is still a debtor nation, and as Ibon Foundation said, this ‘lending’ to the IMF used to be a sensibly un-hyped part of “management of any country’s international reserves.”
Stories from CCT communities give us a picture that is different from how government describes the positive impact of its anti-poverty program.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
The so-called 'Green economy' will intensify the plunder of the world's remaining natural wealth and the privatization of critical services, technologies and products through Public-Private Partnerships and similar market-driven mechanisms." – Frances Quimpo, Kaliakasan Partylist
By MARYA SALAMAT
VECO workers are being asked to explain why they had taken part in the May Day rally wearing their uniforms, and why they had hurled tomatoes at the picture of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III during the May 1 program.
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