News
Drivers and operators strike
Drivers and operators waged public transport strikes, paralyzing Metro Cebu on February 10 and Bulacan province on February 16.
The strike in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue which was led by NADSU (Naghiusang Drayber sa Sugbo) paralyzed 98% of all transportation.
PISTON-Bulacan and the Bulacan Transportation Alliance (BATAS), meanwhile, led the transportation strike in Bulacan that almost completely paralyzed public transportation in the province. The striking drivers and operators demanded a fare increase. Almost all schools province-wide, from the primary to the college level, were forced to suspend classes. The strike extended all the way to Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.
The price of crude oil has gone up from P13.75 per liter in October 2000 to P18.41 per liter this February, without corresponding fare hikes. At the same time, the daily earnings of the average driver fell from P186.25 in 2000 to P119.75 the following year. The drivers demanded an additional P1.50 to P2.00 increase in the fares of public vehicles for the first five kilometers and beyond this, an additional 37 centavos in Metro Manila and 18 centavos in the provinces.
Silence on rape case assailed
MIGRANTE International assailed the silence, if not the complicity, of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) with the employer of a Filipino domestic helper in Taiwan accused of raping her. "Rose," a domestic helper, filed a case of rape against her employer Elmer Fung, a former Taiwanese legislator. Instead of aiding in the prosecution, MECO quietly supported the move to send Rose home immediately. There are suspicions that MECO was also aware of Fung's attempts to buy Rose's silence. The Philippine government has not even filed a diplomatic protest on the grounds that no diplomatic relations exist between the two countries.
Trade deficit swells
THE country's trade deficit has grown six-fold since 2002, swelling from $218 million to $1.697 billion. This is principally due to the increase in the country's imports. One of the items posting the largest increase was the importation of electronic parts used for the assembly of semi-manufactured exports.
CPA demands halt to Mining Act
THE Cordillera Peoples' Alliance (CPA) has challenged the Arroyo regime to immediately implement the Supreme Court decision on January 29 declaring major provisions of the Mining Act of 1995 unconstitutional. The Mining Act allows foreigners 100% ownership of mines. In this regard, the CPA demanded that all contracts entered into by the government with foreign mining corporations be nullified.
The court's decision runs counter to Executive Order 270 which the regime enacted to remove all impediments to the implementation of the Mining Act.
Bombo Radyo closure in Isabela strongly condemned
THE National Democratic Front-Northeastern Luzon (NDF-NEL) strongly condemned the Dy dynasty's closure of Radyo Bombo dzNC-Cauayan on February 17. In a statement, NDF-NEL spokesperson Salvador del Pueblo called the closure a travesty of the people's freedom and their right to free expression.
Hundreds of Isabela residents led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN-Isabela) marched to the city hall of Cauayan City on February 20 to show their strong opposition to the Dy family's suppression. BAYAN announced that other multisectoral groups will be carrying out a series of rallies to demand the reopening of the radio station.
Cauayan mayor Ceasar Dy claimed that he refused to grant an operating permit and gave orders for Bombo Radyo's closure for its failure to pay taxes and for violating certain ordinances. This is the second time that the mayor has ordered dzNC closed because of its intense attacks on the corruption, warlordism and authoritarianism of the Dy dynasty, which has long controlled reactionary politics in Isabela.
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