Groups Say Aquino’s First 100 Days a Failure

“It has been 100 days and we don’t see any major achievement or results as far as genuine change is concerned. There is plenty of rhetoric but too few accomplishments that could be felt by the poor.”– Bagong Alyansang Makabayan


By ANNE MARXZE D. UMIL

Bulatlat.com ^[1]


MANILA – Contrary to the passing grade Aquino has received from a survey, farmers, workers, urban poor, students, migrants and other sectors gave Aquino a failing grade in his first 100 days of governance.

Members of progressive groups led by the umbrella group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) marched to Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) bridge Oct. 8, to mark the 100 days of Aquino in office. The groups protested what they call as a continuing absence of any meaningful reform under Aquino, and his failure to address issues such as human rights, the prosecution of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, land reform and pro-people economic development.

Two men who lived, fought for the 'masa'

Two men who lived, fought for the 'masa'
AT GROUND LEVEL By Satur C. Ocampo (The Philippine Star) Updated September 11, 2010

Two days apart last week, two hardy men, one young, one elderly, passed away quietly. The young man’s death on September 3 spurred a torrent of messages of sympathy and paeans mostly from young poets, writers and activists, through their blogs and Facebook pages. The elderly man’s passing on September 5, on the other hand, spawned the onrush of memories about the anti-martial law struggle among his surviving colleagues, including myself.

Solons call for probe of alleged P2M jueteng payola of two Aquino aides

House members today called for an investigation into the claim of retired Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz that two close and trusted officials of President Benigno Aquino are receiving a minimum of P2 million in monthly jueteng payola.

Rep. Teodoro Casino (Party-list, Bayan Muna) said Cruz's allegations are serious enough to merit an investigation by Congress. "If his claims are true, then the officials concerned should be sanctioned and charged appropriately."

Bloated by patronage funds, proposed 2011 budget prone to corruption

Bloated by patronage funds, proposed 2011 budget prone to corruption

There is a marked increase in the 2011 national government (NG) budget submitted to Congress, making the proposed budget alarmingly patronage-rich, says research group IBON.

The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in the proposed 2011 budget has increased by Php13.9 billion or 128.5% from Php10.9 billion in 2010 to Php24.8 billion.

Itigil ang Pagnanakaw ng GSIS sa kanyang mga Miyembro - Privilege Speech ni Rep. Antonio Tinio, ACT TEACHERS Partylist_8/16/2010

Nitong nakaraang mga buwan, sa panahon ng kampanya para sa pambansang eleksyon ng Mayo, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong umikot sa iba’t ibang probinsya ng ating kapuluan upang makapanayam ang mga public school teachers at mapag-usapan ang kanilang kalagayan at mga hinaing. Saan man ako magpunta, iisa ang kanilang pambungad. Dapat daw tugunan ang kanilang mga problema sa GSIS (Government Service Insurance System).

Morong 43′s New Mom Asserts Her Rights and That of Her Child

Twenty armed men in three vehicles took her from her hospital room in handcuffs. She was separated from her baby. They took her away swiftly while her mother was settling her hospital bills. This detainee is not a high profile, dangerous criminal, but a health worker and political detainee.

Morong 43′s New Mom Asserts Her Rights and That of Her Child
By RONALYN OLEA
Bulatlat.com [1]

“I felt like I am an Ampatuan,” Carina Judilyn Oliveros blurted out as she described how the guards of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) took her and her baby out of the hospital on Aug. 18.

Sa kabila ng pagkakapiit ng Morong 43: Manggagawang pangkalusugan tuloy sa paglilingkod

By Darius Galang

Hindi natatakot ang mga panggagawang pangkalusugan sa bansa na maglingkod sa mga maralita sa kabila ng pagdukot at pagpapahirap ng militar ang tinaguriang “Morong 43.”

Ito ang napatunayan ng Council for Health and Development (CHD) matapos matagumpay na nakapaglunsad ang organisasyon ng kanilang ika-10 General Assembly of Community-Based Health Programs (CHBP) in the Philippines.

All Eyes Today on SC as Farm Workers, Cojuangco-Aquinos Battle Over Luisita

Lawmaker says Supreme Court itself will be on trial. “The Hacienda Luisita land dispute is the first acid test of the Supreme Court under the Aquino administration. The Cojuangco-Aquinos have put the Supreme Court on trial here,” says Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano.

Teachers to PNoy: Justice for farmers and farm workers of Hacienda Luisita!

“The thorny issue of land distribution is once again awaiting a decisive action by PNoy. He should remember, that it was hailed then as a landmark law during her mother’s term as president of this land. So what are you waiting for Pnoy?”, said Ms.France Castro, Secretary-general of Alliance of Concerned Teachers. “Those farmers have waited for more than twenty years and so justice must be served,” she added.

Bukas na ang Interactive Website ng Pangulo sa Taong-bayan

Bukas na ang Interactive Website ng Pangulo sa Taong-bayan

Binuksan na ng Malakanyang ang isang bagong interactive website na magbibigay ng pagka-kataon sa taong bayan na malaman ang official events ng Pangulong Benigno S. Aquino III at upang magsilbi ring makabuluhang feedback mechanism na gamit ang digital media.

Inilunsad ni Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma ang opisyal na website ng Palasyo na “www.president.gov.ph” sa media briefing sa Malakanyang noong Lunes, ika-16 ng Agosto.

Under Aquino III: Promoting Ties of Dependency with the U.S.?

Under Aquino III: Promoting Ties of Dependency with the U.S.?
By the Policy Study, Publication, and Advocacy
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
August 14, 2010

Those who are watching the first 100 days of the new administration can now start focusing their lens on President Benigno S. Aquino III’s coming visit to the United States in September - his first major official foreign trip. The decision to make the U.S. as his maiden foreign destination is not only symbolic but will have far-reaching implications not only on foreign policy but also on the so-called special relationship between a former colony and a superpower. In the long run, it will have broad implications on the Filipino people.

Lawmakers hit P-Noy for SK abolition

Two youthful legislators today lambasted the proposal of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections for its failure to be functional and effective in the delivery of public services under the Local Government Code.

Rep. Raymond V. Palatino (Party-list, Kabataan) said the aim of the Sangguinang Kabataan is to encourage the youth to take active part in governance and to serve as an educational experience for them. It should contribute to the political education of the youth, Palatino said.

DOLE affirms commitment to promote gender equality in workplace

Responding to the ever changing need for gender equality in the workplace, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) today said it will continue to evolve its policies and align itself to the demands of the Filipino workforce, especially on the need to address issues concerning gender and discrimination against women, lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs)

KMU to Lucio Tan: heed PAL workers’ demands

Amidst a brewing strike by the Philippine Airlines’ ground employees and cabin crew, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno called on PAL owner Lucio Tan today to immediately heed the PAL workers’ demands, saying Tan has clearly gone overboard in implementing his anti-worker policies.

Teachers oppose 12-year basic education program

Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) opposed the Department of Education (DepEd) 12-year basic education program.

ACT Secretary General France Castro said that adding years to the basic education program is not the solution to the crisis in Phil. Education. “We say NO to this plan being pushed by the DepEd and P-Noy. The 12- year basic education program will further deepen the chronic crisis of Philippine education which is caused and reflection of the chronic crisis of poverty and corrupt politics in the Philippines,” said Castro.

The militant teacher organization said that the problems in the country's education is not in the number of years, but inherent to its content and character as colonial, feudal, repressive and commercialized that cares and serve the colonial subservient character and backward economic system of the Philippines.

"State of the Climate"

Senator Loren Legarda in her "State of the Climate" privilege speech today called for the synchronized implementation of the following laws - Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Climate Change Act of 2009 and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010;

"Never before in history have humans proactively worked together to avert a global catastrophe, as what we now attempt to achieve with the threatening challenge of climate change."

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Climate change asserted, "Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is impossible to achieve without taking extensive measures to minimize the impacts of recurring floods, droughts, and other hazards that push Filipinos back into poverty. "

"It is time to recognize that disasters, turbocharged by a changing climate, have undone years of development gains, and that unsound and short-sighted development practices themselves are playing a significant role in worsening disaster risk, " Legarda cautioned.

The Strength of the PCS: COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS

by Dr. Jeanette Silao, FPCS

Congratulations to the Philippine College of Surgeons on its 75th Anniversary! In human years, one is usually thankful to God for having been given a long life. These twilight years are usually spent reminiscing the highlights of a fruitful life. The highlights of one's life, as everyone will agree, are what you have done for others.

In institution years, 75 years of existence is just a few decades from inception. Each year is seen as a milestone of growth and further strength, the development of newer programs and reaching greater heights. An institution’s growth is derived from good governance, while its strength is equivalent to the breath of the foundation it has laid down. A solid foundation is as solid as its programs. The PCS' foundation is nothing less than solid as its programs are directed to benefit the community.

Volunteerism in the Service of the Underserved

by Eric SM Talens, MD, MS, FPCS, FACS


“To serve the underserved”, is the motto of the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, the volunteer service of the University of the Philippines. Alive and well, volunteerism thrives in the midst of the bustling patient care in the Philippine General Hospital and the academe of UP-Manila.

In counter-response to the perception that the UP had “lost its soul”, the Ugnayan ng Pahinungod was established in September 1996 by then UP President Emil Javier, institutionalizing volunteerism within the university.

Pahinugod, a Cebuano term for ‘offering oneself’, became the moniker for the UP-deployed volunteer. Various projects from educational assistance programs (tutorial services, teacher development, Gurong Pahinungod), to hospital and community health programs (ER volunteer program, health missions, health training), to social welfare programs (program for street children, disaster response and preparedness program), as well as to volunteer advocacy and research programs, had been regular activities of the volunteer service. In the previous year, Ugnayan ng Pahinujngod of UP-Manila deployed a total of 1252 volunteers in 128 underserved communities.

KMU to Aquino: Investigate Lucio Tan’s Profits, Anti-labor Schemes

KMU to Aquino: Investigate Lucio Tan’s Profits, Anti-labor Schemes

As the controversy over the mass resignation of Philippine Airlines’ pilots since last Saturday rages on, labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno called on President Aquino to investigate PAL owner Lucio Tan’s profits and anti-labor schemes, saying labor issues are behind the recent imbroglio in the national flag carrier.

KMU made the call in a picket in front of PAL’s corporate office in Ayala Avenue this morning, where the labor center condemned the business tycoon for “intensifying the exploitation and causing the lay-off of workers” in the airline company.

Attending the picket were members of the PAL Employees’ Union or Palea, the union of PAL’s ground employees, the Laban ng Bagong Palea, KMU, and Anakpawis partylist.

Pagbabalik ng ROTC haharangin ng kabataan

Pagbabalik ng ROTC haharangin ng kabataan
Darius Galang, Pinoy Weekly

Tinututulan ng iba’t ibang grupo ng kabataan, maging ng kabataang kinatawan sa Kamara, ang panukala sa Kamara na ibalik ang Reserved Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) sa mga estudyante sa kolehiyo.

“Tinuturuan ng ROTC na magbulag-bulagan at walang-imik ang mga estudyante. Ginagamit pa ng AFP ang programa sa red-baiting laban sa progresibong mga grupong pang-estudyante, sa pamamagitan ng mga lektura nila sa ROTC na ang mga aktibistang grupo na ito ay may-ugnay sa rebeldeng New People’s Army,” ayon kay Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino.

Iminungkahi ni Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas sa Kamara na ibalik ang mandatory na (ROTC) at lusawin ang National Service Training Program (NSTP) para sa mga mag-aaral ng mga kolehiyo at unibersidad. Bahagi raw kasi ng programa ng ROTC, na pinamumunuan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ang pagtuturo ng patriyotismo sa mga kabataan.