PROTEST VS. CYBER-ATTACKS. Various alternative media groups, digital rights activists and their supporters marked the World Day Against Cyber-Censorship last March 12 with a protest action in front of the De­partment of Infor­ma­ti­on and Com­mu­nica­ti­ons Techno­logy.

The protesters condemned the agency’s inaction over the demand of the groups to address the attacks on their websites, and said that that this pushes them to believe that the offensives are sanctioned by the regime. Millions of pesos are spent on funding the simultaneous attacks to take down or block the said websites. Alternative media groups already filed a case against the company behind the attacks.

PROTEST VS. OIL PRICE HIKES. Valenzuela City residents participated in a protest action spearheaded by Defend Job Philippines in front of the Shell gasoline station in General T. De Leon on March 19. The group criticized the successive oil price increases in the past seven weeks which have resulted in higher prices of basic commodities and further impoverish the people. Amid this and the drought currently experienced across the country, the regime was compelled to admit that prices will further increase in the coming months.

PROTESTS VS. ILLEGAL TERMINATION. In Laguna, members of the Kai­sa­han ng mga Mang­ga­ga­wang Ili­gal na Ti­nang­gal sa Ca­bu­yao staged a picket protest last March 17 to culminate their 2nd congress. Along with the Sout­hern Ta­ga­log La­bor Vo­te Alliance, they called on the people to vote wisely this coming election.

Meanwhile, over 100 workers of Holcim Philippines Inc., Davao Plant protested on March 4 after they were laid off by their contractor Fort Ste­el Car­go Integrators Inc. despite the issuance of a regularization by the Department of Labor and Employment.

COASTAL CLEAN-UP. Environmental groups including Nilad and Earth Island Insti­tu­te Phi­lip­pi­nes, along with PAMALAKAYA and Baseco People’s Alliance, conducted a coastal-clean up drive in Baseco, Manila last March 18. They opposed the pro-foreign and pro-capitalist Manila Bay Reclamation Project.