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The MWSS and the water companies did not give the consumers' groups documents or explanations of the basis of raising water rates. Representatives of consumers’ groups repeatedly asked to no avail.
“Small-scale miners actually attempted to apply for regulations via an application for a ‘Minahang Bayan.’ But Benguet Corp., as tenement holder of the area, opposed this to maintain their control over the area’s mineral resources.”
If the government is looking for someone to blame for the inflation and increasing prices of basic commodities as rice and fish, it is its own neglect to subsidize agricultural producers when other countries have been actively doing so, and its tax and investment policies that hit the agricultural producers and consumers hard.
“Instead of promoting golden rice, the government must conduct researches on the nutritional values of indigenous vegetables and fruits.”
Such additional tax burden is enough to buy one to three kilos of rice (P27 per kilo of regular NFA rice or P37 a kilo of regular commercial rice) for their family's consumption.
Corporate income tax recovery comprised 31 percent and 26 percent of the rates charged to consumers by Manila Water and Maynilad, respectively, in 2008 and 2012.
“This is a test case for the Duterte administration to bare its resolve in ending contractualization through strong intervention.”
“Why did the ERC allow Meralco to increase its rates when it can’t even tell us the kind of alternative fuels that were used, its cost per unit and the quantity used during the two and a half week shutdown?”
"ERC is subjecting consumers once again to the presumably overpriced negotiated prices between Meralco and its affiliated generation companies.”
“The administration must have clear and concrete policies that would ban all contractual
employment schemes and force capitalists to respect workers’ rights to regular jobs.”
“We are unjustly overtaxed and underserved. Lowering income tax must not be reduced to a mere revenue issue.”
PH labor laws say that employees performing tasks that are “necessary and desirable to the usual business of the company” are considered regular employees.
Science and technology advocates want the government to take action in modernizing local agriculture.
'There is currently a disconnect between science research outputs and the needs of local industries.'
A proposed law threatens to further privatize social services through government deals with profit-driven companies.
“It is apparent that Chinabank and Planters Development Bank intend to ease out regular employees as certain bank functions in Chinabank Savings are already outsourced or being handled by contractual employees."
BULATLAT SPECIAL REPORT:
“To generate profits, Apec and other similar chains, employ fewer and unqualified teachers and provide facilities which do not comply to standards. What’s quite regrettable in this regard, and almost scandalous, is that the government has waived regulations that exist in the provision of education, to satisfy the business interests of Pearson and Ayala.”
“In 1996, President Fidel Ramos said Apec will bring development, and will make us a Tiger Economy. Now, we can’t even meow like a kitten.”
“Cementing this kind of neoliberalism requires repression and we’ve seen that repeatedly.”
The Philippine Coconut Authority’s (PCA) 2014 to 2023 road map has identified about a million hectares of potential oil palm farms. Ninety eight percent of these areas are in Mindanao.
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