Watch out for “opportunist groups.”
Malacañang aired this warning as it called on groups planning a justice march for the martyred 44 commandos of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) this Sunday to remain vigilant against the possible infiltration by a desperate few instigating a military-backed uprising against President Aquino.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the government upholds the people’s freedom of expression but would not tolerate any action that violates the Constitution.
“While we join the commemoration of the heroism of the PNP-SAF44, it is important to be vigilant and watchful of groups that want to take advantage of the grief and use the opportunity to pursue their dubious goal,” Coloma said in a press briefing.
“Let’s observe that in the past days, there have been calls for the resignation of the President coupled with coup threats and other destabilization efforts. These opportunist groups have even used the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution as an occasion to call on the public to wield people power against the government,” he added.
The Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PNPAAAI) had earlier announced plans to hold a “March for Justice for SAF 44” on March 8. The organizers have already issued guidelines to keep the nationwide activity non-partisan and focus on the demand for justice for the slain troopers.
During the EDSA anniversary rites, President Aquino lashed out at desperate groups riding on the Mamasapano incident to derail the peace process.
He lamented that these groups merely criticize the government but do not present alternative solutions to the problem.
Coloma said these groups do not want peace because they will benefit from chaos and violence.
“The government appeals anew for calm and reason.”
‘DAY OF HEALING’
At the Lower House, a group of lawmakers filed House Resolution No. 1952 seeking to declare March 6, 2015, a National Day of Healing for Unity and All-Out-Peace, All-Out-Justice in commemoration of the 40th day of the Mamasapano massacre.
Led by former Justice Secretary and 1-BAP partylist Rep. Silvestre Bello III, the group asked the 290-man Lower Chamber “to lead this nation’s call for calm and sobriety amidst these troubled times, and in unity with the independent efforts of our peace-loving citizens’ peace advocacies and to commemorate the thousands of lives lost from decades of armed conflict in Mindanao.”
“This unfortunate incident has likewise caused a national divide threatening to polarize the country and its peace-loving people, with some sections issuing condemnation, hasty judgment and espousing bloody retaliation and all-out war,” the three-page resolution said.
Joining Bello in filing the resolution are AKBAYAN partylist Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez III, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, Zambales Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla, Gabriela Rep. Luz Ilagan, Sorsogon Rep. Deogracias Ramos Jr., Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor Gerona Robredo, AMIN party-list Rep. Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, and Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong.
The lawmakers cited that civil society groups, peace movements and communites across the country have started to unify in a gathering of peace advocates calling for “All-Out-Peace, All-Out-Justice,” which will culminate on the 40th day of the tragic Mamasapano anti-terror raid last Jan. 25.
“In order to maintain calm and sobriety in these tension-filled times and arrive at an objective and impartial result to the ongoing investigation on the Mamasapano incident, there is an imperative and urgent need to pause and re-assess our common aspirations to bring peaceful solutions to our nation’s problems,” the group said. -by Genalyn D. Kabiling & Charissa M. Luci , Manila Bulletin
Friday, March 6, 2015
No wage hike in MM till end of moratorium
This was underscored by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte as the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) filed a petition for a P136 wage increase for workers in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Metro Manila is covered by NCR (National Capital Region) and because it’s only March, the last increase was given sometime in May. Necessarily, any figure that they propose would have to be scrutinized by Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board,” Valte said.
“Normally, mga late May yung naalala ko nung huli so you would have to wait for the RTWPBs to convene,” she added.
The first public hearing on the wage petition filed by TUCP was held yesterday.
The TUCP is asking for an additional P136 to the current minimum wage in the metropolis on top of the current P466 minimum wage. - by Madel Sabater - Namit , Manila Bulletin
Labor center to demand new minimum wage
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)-Nagkaisa will demand for a new minimum living wage when the government wage board holds its first public hearing on Friday at Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City.
TUCP spokesperson, Alan Tanjusay, said they are going to petition P136 on top of the current P466 minimum wage.
“Our economy has been improving and continues to perform better than its peers in the region but the Filipino workers, who largely contributed to that growth, are falling through the cracks and being left behind. Many minimum wage earners are falling by the day and they are being ignored by government,” Tanjusay said.
Tanjusay said workers in Metro Manila, numbering around 800,000, currently receives a nominal wage of P466 a day “but due to inflation and mandatory salary deductions, a worker only receives a real wage of P299.”
He cited an International Labour Organization (ILO) provision that said that remuneration received for a standard 40-hour work week by a worker in a particular place would be sufficient to afford a decent standard of living for the worker and his or her family. - Davao Today
Higher fares, broken down trains
A COMMUTER group on Thursday rejected the government’s claim that low fares led to the deterioration of Metro Manila’s commuter train system.
The Riles Laan sa Sambayanan or Riles Network blamed the deterioration instead on the privatization of the Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit .
“The Aquino administration should stop [its] baseless [excuses] to justify the privatization and burdensome fare hike, said Sammy Malunes, Riles Network spokesman.
Melquiades Robles, former Light Rail Transit Authority administrator, said the ridership of LRT 1 has dropped by 80,000 commuters per day because of the fare hike.
“There are fewer trains and a longer loop time now since they took over in 2010,” he told The Standard.
He attributed poor train service to mismanagement.
“A fare increase is not the response to improve the service,” he added.
Malunes said the fare hike would only benefit the train operators and the Pangilinan-Ayala consortium, and not the 600,000 riders since the proceeds from the increase will go to paying the P5 billion subsidy and to pay off the 15 percent return on investment guaranteed to the MRT Corp. from 2000 to 2025.
The LRT and MRT fares in the past years have been more than enough to maintain and sustain the train operation, he said.
He also criticized the Aquino administration for a recent spate of accidents on the MRT line, saying that the private maintenance service provider, APT Global, continues to earn profits while neglecting the safety and protection of commuters. – With Vito Barcelo and Macon R.Araneta
“The government’s PPP contract with the consortium is lopsided. The LRTA and MRT have defeated their mandate to provide safe, reliable and affordable mass transport service,” Malunes said.
One-sided provisions in the contract gave the concessionaire guaranteed profits despite the poor service.
The inclusion of the LRT1 operations and maintenance in the LRT 1 under the Public-Private Partnership program would give the winning bidder a tremendous advantage, he said.
“What is frightening is the power wielded by the winning bidder. The Ayala-Metro Pacific consortium would eventually control Line 1 operations, the automated fare collection system, and the construct ion of the Line 1 extension. Metro Pacific also controls part of the MRT 3. Moreover, the consortium also intends to bid on the privatization of the LRT2 system. This is a virtual monopoly in the train line, which will remove any possible checks and balances regarding its performance and give them tremendous control to dictate fares,” Riles said.
The Transportation Department on Thursday said the rehabilitation of 63 toilets in 13 MRT stations were underway.
“One of the basic necessities of an MRT-3 rider are functioning and decent comfort rooms. Alongside our improvement projects for train operations is this toilet rehabilitation project, which responds to the call of our commuters for better passenger comfort and convenience,” a department statement said.
This project began Feb. 26 and is scheduled for completion in September.
Opposition Senator Jospeh Victor Ejercito said the public transport system was in disarray, with long lines and breakdowns in the commuter train system, and delayed flights in the country’s airports, and a mismanagement of seaports.
The state of deterioration prompted him, as chairman of the Senate committee on economic affairs, to call a hearing on the transportation sector and the PPP program.
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP), meanwhile, demanded a P136 wage increase because of the erosion of workers’ buying power amid rising prices, including those for transportation, water and power.
“Our economy has been improving and continues to perform better than its peers in the region but the Filipino workers who largely contributed to that growth are falling through the cracks and being left behind. Working people also deserved a share of the pie that only a few are privileged to have. Many minimum wage earners are falling by the day and they are being ignored by government,” TUCP spokesperson Alan Tanjusay said.
He said they are also going to file a wage increase petition of P136 on top of the current P466 minimum wage before the Regional Tripartite Wage And Productivity Board for Metro Manila. – By Rio N. Araja With Vito Barcelo and Macon Ramos-Araneta - Manila Standard Today
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)