Workers in Japan Firms in the Philippines Also “Hit” By Disaster

Workers in Japan Firms in the Philippines Also “Hit” By Disaster

  “The Philippine government has been giving foreign companies, including Japanese firms, a lot of incentives and perks. We hope the government would also extend to us some help and immediate relief, especially now that hundreds to thousands of Filipino workers may be adversely affected by the disaster that hit their parent or supplier companies in Japan.” – Dexter Datu, chairman of Metalworkers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP)

By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com

CABUYAO, Laguna –- Some Japanese firms producing cars in the Philippines reportedly told their local employees here that if the situation in Japan continues to worsen in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, their operations here may eventually be affected by lack of raw materials starting next month. This could result in a shutdown and retrenchment of employees by May, further worsening the problem of joblessness in the country.

Dexter Datu, chairman of Metalworkers Alliance of the Philippines (MWAP) and president of the union of employees of International Wiring Systems, a Japanese-owned company based in Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac, told Bulatlat.com they would bring the suggestions they gathered from their members to Malacañang and to other government agencies such as the labor department in an effort to seek aid and relief as the disasters in Japan threaten now to cause layoffs and loss of employee benefits to workers in the Philippines.

(Contributed photo / bulatlat.com)

“The Philippine government has been giving foreign companies, including Japanese firms, a lot of incentives and perks. We hope the government would also extend to us some help and immediate relief, especially now that hundreds to thousands of Filipino workers may be adversely affected by the disaster that hit their parent or supplier companies in Japan,” Datu said. Their group has just concluded a consultation with workers in some Japanese-owned companies in Laguna. They are still about to hold other consultations with members in Central Luzon, as well as in the Visayas..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/04/08/workers-in-japan-firms-in-rp-also-%E2%80%9Chit%E2%80%9D-by-disaster/

Government Employees Call for P6,000 salary hike, Revocation of Executive Order No. 7

Government Employees Call for P6,000 salary hike, Revocation of Executive Order No. 7

 “Even if the remaining adjustments for 2012 under the SSL 3 is released this year, this will only mean a new minimum pay of P9,000 (US$209). This is not even half of the P29,000 (US$674) monthly cost of living. As it is, we have yet to receive the increase and yet the amount is already lost to inflation”. – Wage Fight! Alliance
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

Government employees from various line agencies and institutions vow to come out en masse on May 1, International Labor Day. In a rally in Mendiola last April 6, hundreds of government employees, public school teachers and public health workers united under the Wage Fight! Alliance called on President Benigno Aquino III to respond to their demand for a P6,000 (US$140).

Courage president Ferdinand Gaite said Malacañang cannot deny that employees of the bureaucracy are severely affected by the economic crisis.

“Of course when we say ‘government employees’ we do not include the thieving officials in the various offices of government. They are not affected by the crisis because they’re enjoying their ill-gotten wealth, money directly taken from public coffers. As they continue to wallow in their own corruption, the rank and file employees are all but attempting magic to stretch their small salaries,” he said.

JUDEA President and Wage Fight! Alliance Spokesperson Maurino Aguilar in the meantime condemned the government’s easy dismissal of the workers’ demand for a substantial wage increase..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/04/08/government-employees-call-for-p6000-salary-hike-revocation-of-executive-order-no-7/

Violations vs Children Continue under Aquino Administration

Violations vs Children Continue under Aquino Administration

 
“We fear that at the end of Aquino’s term, the Arroyo administration’s bad human rights record would be approximated, if not surpassed by the AFP,”—Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns
By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL
Bulatlat.com
 
MANILA – Asserting that the state is the primary violator of Filipino children’s rights, members of progressive women’s group Gabriela and Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns picketed the Department of National Defense (DND), April 5.

The groups said that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) should be held accountable for the grave violations committed against children as a result of its counterinsurgency programs. They also criticized President Benigno S. Aquino III’s internal security plan called the Oplan Bayanihan as the framework for these attacks.

The protest action was held in time for United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General (UN SRSG) for Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy’s meeting with the military and government officials.

Coomaraswamy’s visit in the country from April 3 to 7 is part of the monitoring and reporting mechanism of the UN Security Council on the commitment of countries listed in the Annex 2 of Paris Principles
.
“State violence against children must stop, the Aquino administration should scrap its counterinsurgency plan Oplan Bayanihan,” Gabriela said.

Violence against children continues under Aquino
 
Gert Ranjo-Libang, Gabriela deputy secretary general, said that Oplan Bayanihan has resulted to loss of children’s parents, forcible evacuation of children from their homes, illegal arrest, illegal recruitment of minors to paramilitary groups, torture, and rape..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat.com

URL: http://www.bulatlat.com/main

Is the Karma worth it? EDITORIAL 04/09/2011

Is the Karma worth it?

EDITORIAL

Click to enlarge

04/09/2011
No matter the denials from Malacañang that it is not specifically targeting the Arroyos and their allies by filing cases against them, it is fairly clear that it is — and even clearer that as of this time, Malacañang and its agencies — such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Department of Justice (DoJ) — still does not have the evidence with which to convict former presidential son, Mikey Arroyo.

The fact is that when BIR chief Kim Henares announced the filing of tax fraud charges against former presidential son, Rep. Mikey Arroyo, even when there has not as yet been a tax audit done, since the BIR letter was just two days old, and Mikey was given 10 days to reply, this already shows that there has not been a thorough investigation done as yet..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110409com1.html

Politics clouds gruesome mass grave in Zimbabwe focus 04/09/2011

Politics clouds gruesome mass grave in Zimbabwe

focus

04/09/2011
HARARE — Hundreds of bodies exhumed from a disused mine in Zimbabwe have turned into fodder for President Robert Mugabe’s propaganda, despite the mystery over the skeletons that may have lain for decades.

Since early March, state television has shown Mugabe supporters pulling bones from the mine and hauling them off in plastic bags and old sacks.

The pictures also show the site being used to encourage people to sign a petition against the travel ban and asset freeze on Mugabe and his inner circle.

Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party claims the remains are of victims of the 1970s liberation war against the white-minority Rhodesian regime led by Ian Smith, when an estimated 30,000 people died..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110409com3.html

Mas maraming poor ngayon, di mas maraming corrupt FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 04/09/2011

Mas maraming poor ngayon, di mas maraming corrupt

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

04/09/2011
Hunger and poverty are up under Noynoy Aquino’s administration, with a March 5 to 7 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey saying that some 20.5 percent of Filipinos or about 4.1 million families are going hungrier, up from 18.1 percent, estimated at 3.4 million families in November 2010 when the rate again began climbing from that year’s 15.9 percent low.

The survey also found that 51 percent, comprising 10.4 million familes, now consider themselves poor, up by two points from November’s 49 percent.

Translated, poverty and hunger increased under the term of Noynoy, and this deterioration comes even as Dinky Soliman has a P21 billion fund for the poor and presumably the hungry, as Noynoy began his term in June 2010 and the hunger rate in a prior survey was at a 15.9 percent, rising to 18.1 percent in November and rising further to 20.5 percent this time around.

And yet Noynoy claimed that some 400,000 poorest of the poor Filipinos have been added as beneficiaries of his and Dinky’s Conditional Cash Tranfer (CCT) doleout..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110409com2.html

UN finds 600 child combatants in RP 04/09/2011

UN finds 600 child combatants in RP

04/09/2011
The United Nations yesterday said it has so far registered 600 child soldiers, some as young as eight, fighting for armed groups in the Philippines and expected the final number to be in the thousands.

The country’s main Muslim rebel group, communist insurgents and al-Qaeda-linked extremists were all on the UN “list of shame” for recruiting boys and girls, UN representatives said.

“We have about 600 children registered (as soldiers) at the moment. We expect it to (eventually) be in the early thousands,” said Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN special representative for children and armed conflict..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110409hed6.html

Libya rebels unlikely to oust Kadhafi, says US general 04/09/2011

Libya rebels unlikely to oust Kadhafi, says US general

04/09/2011
WASHINGTON — A top US general has maintained that it was unlikely Libyan rebel forces could oust the regime’s leader Moammar Kadhafi, saying the conflict appeared to be turning into a stalemate.

Gen. Carter Ham, who led the first stage of the coalition air campaign in Libya, yesterday said the international bombing raids had succeeded in protecting civilians for the most part but that Kadhafi’s regime probably would not be removed by military means.

Asked at a Senate hearing about the chances that the opposition could “fight their way” to Tripoli and replace Kadhafi, Ham said: “Sir, I would assess that as a low likelihood.”

And when pressed by Sen. John McCain whether the situation was essentially a stalemate or an “emerging stalemate,” Ham said: “Senator, I would agree with that at present on the ground.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110409hed3.html

Put up or shut up, Mikey—Noy By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Charlie V. Manalo 04/09/2011

AS GMA SAYS AQUINO ISN’T PLAYING FAIR TO FAMILY

Put up or shut up, Mikey—Noy

By Aytch S. de la Cruz and Charlie V. Manalo 04/09/2011

Peeved at former President Gloria Arroyo saying in a TV interview that she and her family cannot expect President Aquino to treat them fairly, along with her son, Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo, charging that due process has been denied him on the announced tax fraud case filing as well his charge that Aquino has been targetting the Arroyos and their allies for political persecution, Aquino virtually told the Arroyos to put up or shut up.

Aquino told reporters that Mikey Arroyo should just show the Bureau of Internal (BIR) records that would prove he has filed his income tax returns (ITR) if he wants to get out of his P73.85-million tax fraud case.
Aquino yesterday said that Mikey should just refrain from airing his gripes and just pay the right amount of taxes he owes the government.

In a chance interview after his morning engagement in Rosales City, Pangasinan, Aquino.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110409hed1.html

Ex-Gov. Reyes: Ortega was a friend, not an enemy 04/09/2011

Ex-Gov. Reyes: Ortega was a friend, not an enemy

04/09/2011
Former Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes declared he had no motive to order the assassination of the late Dr. Gerry Ortega and that he had nothing to gain from his killing as his term as governor had ended seven months before the victim was shot dead in Puerto Princesa last January 24.

In the counter-affidavit he filed before Senior State Prosecutor Edwin Dayog last March 31, Reyes said there was no reason for him to have Ortega killed as he was not affected by the comments, allegations and tirades that the victim made in his radio program.

“Despite the fact that since 2001, he had been criticizing me, I still managed to win in three elections since that time. And at the time the plan to murder Dr. Ortega was allegedly conceived, I was already a private citizen without any elected position in the government,” Reyes explained. He said that if the accusation against him is to be believed, “I was risking my life, my reputation and my career to have something done for which I had nothing to gain.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110409nat5.html

Filipinos, not telcos, own airwaves — solon By Charlie V. Manalo 04/09/2011

Filipinos, not telcos, own airwaves — solon

By Charlie V. Manalo 04/09/2011

Another lawmaker yesterday joined the throngs of critics against the deal forged between the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Digitel saying they have no right to strike a deal between themselves alone over matters concerning telecommunication services saying the airwaves are owned by all Filipinos and therefore need a legislative approval.

“The spectrum or airwaves is patrimony hence it is owned by the Filipinos and the future generations of Filipinos. A Telco cannot buy into another or just merge without affecting services, pricing and consumer rights therefore Congress should review the grant of franchise to Digitel and the sudden increase in the total frequencies PLDT will corner with the merger and in another case, Globe cannot unilaterally cap bandwidth,” said Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile in reaction to the PLDT-Digitel merger as well as the plan of Globe Telecom to cap bandwidth to 1 GB a day for 3G and wimax..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110409nat3.html

P400-M scam at AFP under Noy to be investigated By Aytch S. de la Cruz 04/09/2011

P400-M scam at AFP under Noy to be investigated

By Aytch S. de la Cruz 04/09/2011

Malacañang has opted to defer comments when confronted yesterday of a potential first corruption scandal brewing at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) under the Aquino administration involving some P400-million worth of funds that were feared to have been anomalously converted.

In an interview with radio dzXL last Friday morning, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning (PCDSP) Secretary Ricky Carandang said the matter is already under investigation by the AFP as ordered by Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban.

The perceived anomaly in the AFP was allegedly committed during the leadership of Oban’s predecessor, retired Lt. Gen. and now Immigration chief Ricardo David to whom Malacañang is giving the benefit of the doubt..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110409nat9.html

‘Aquino’s ratings will plunge more with MRT-LRT fare hikes’ By Angie M. Rosales 04/09/2011

‘Aquino’s ratings will plunge more with MRT-LRT fare hikes’

By Angie M. Rosales 04/09/2011

Insistence of the government officials to now put in place the increase in fare rates of Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) could only bring down further the dipping popularity ratings of President Aquino.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said this yesterday, assailing the reported impending implementation of increase in fares of mass transit system in the metropolis as this will come in the wake of continuing oil price hikes and subsequent raise in the prices of basic goods and services.

“These MRT and LRT officials are proving themselves to be really stubborn. They have to justify first the called increase and they have to realize as well that almost all of the Metro rail systems in other countries are subsidized by their governments so their citizens can afford public transport..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110409met1.html

Afghanistan-bound OFWs off-loaded at NAIA 04/09/2011

Afghanistan-bound OFWs off-loaded at NAIA

04/09/2011
Returning Filipino workers to strife-torn Afghanistan are being off-loaded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by Immigration authorities despite obtaining clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) exempting them from the travel ban.

In a Feb. 11, 2011 memorandum, the Philippine Embassy in Pakistan informed contractors/sub contractors, non-government entities and other agencies employing Filipinos in US and Nato bases in Afghanistan that they are allowing the continued stay of Filipinos there until Dec. 31, 2011. Filipinos claiming to be newly hired workers in Afghanistan are covered by the ban.

The communication was sent to concerned Philippine agencies following an assessment team headed by then special envoy to the Middle East retired Gen. Roy Cimatu last January..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20110409met4.html