9 December 2019, Quezon City. In conjunction with the observance of Human Rights Day on December 10, a waste and pollution watchdog group appealed to all sectors to uphold the citizens’ right to chemical safety. “As Human Rights Day is commemorated, we appeal to all stakeholders, especially duty-bearers from the government and the industry, to…
Villar also an oligarch, Duterte told to not repeat FVR’s boo-boo BMP rejects PrimeWater, proposes a consumer-owned Metro Manila Water Cooperative Metro Manila – Labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) reminded President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday that his ally, former Senate President and 2nd richest Filipino Manny Villar, is also an “oligarch”, saying that…
The environmental health watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition deplored the entry into the country of some 53,000 metric tons of radioactive phosphogypsum from South Korea that government agents intercepted last Friday. The group also scored the importation of electronic waste, or e-waste, from South Korea in one 40-foot container that was falsely declared as used television…
Consumer and environmental protection groups today reminded the public to be watchful for hazardous toys in the market that can bring harm rather than a joy to children. At a press briefing held on November 24, the EcoWaste Coalition and the Laban Konsyumer, Inc. rallied consumers to exercise their rights to product information and product…
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) proposes several measures to end “teacher-shaming” as they welcome the Department of Education (DepEd) investigation on the incident involving a Manila public school teacher being embarrassed on a live TV. Benjo Basas, the group’s national chairperson said, “This and other incidents should be taken seriously by the DepEd. We call…
The country’s biggest labor coalition, Nagkaisa!, is demanding a tripartite investigation over the simultaneous raids and mass arrests conducted by security forces Thursday night against members of militant labor and women groups in Bacolod City to protect workers’ right to self-organization. “We won’t let this assault on freedom pass without demanding accountability from authorities who…
A labor group, Partido Manggagawa (PM), on Wednesday called on the government to consider re-nationalizing public utilities involved in the delivery of essential services in the face of deteriorating condition particularly in water and power services. The call was in response to President Duterte’s pronouncement that he may utilize his emergency powers, which include taking…
“Sisirain ng dam ang aming mga buhay. Sa aming lupain kami kumukuha ng aming makakain. Ito ang aming kabuhayan. Ang kanilang sapilitang pag-angkin sa aming mga lupain ay kanila na ring pag-angkin sa aming mga buhay [It will destroy our lives. Our land is where we get our food. It is our livelihood. They are…
Labor rights NGO, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) denounces the consecutive brutal attacks against teacher-unionists in the country. Just a few days after the celebration of the World Teachers’ Day, wherein teachers in the country ‘celebrated’ through a huge protest nationwide to demand their call for living wage or the P30,000 entry-level…
20 October 2019, Quezon City, Philippines. High levels of lead, a potent neurotoxin, have been discovered on public playground equipment in several cities across the country. The painted play equipment containing dangerous amounts of lead poses a serious lead poisoning risk for young children, prompting environmental health advocates to call for the effective enforcement of…
KASIBU, NUEVA VIZCAYA – Nationwide members and partners of Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) visit Barangay Didipio in solidarity with the barricade of DESAMA to call the immediate removal of OceanaGold Philippines Inc. (OGPI) operations in the area. A day after the expiration of the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) of OGPI in 2019, farmers…
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya – Provincial Governor Carlos Padilla, local communities, indigenous people, and church organizations sustained strong opposition on the Financial and Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) renewal of Oceanagold Philippines Inc (OGPI) in a dialogue held today at Saint Mary’s University. The Bishops-LGU-Community dialogue activity was co-hosted by Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao of the Diocese…
Weeks before the National Correctional Consciousness Week (NACOCOW), human rights groups gather together and liken to the game-show “Laban o Bawi?,” President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to recall the release of Persons Deprived of their Liberties (PDL) because of the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) mess. In a forum entitled “Laya o Bawi?” on October 11,…
Several lawyers, artists, Church people, members of the academe and labor rights advocates launched the Labor Rights Defender Network (LaRD-Net) on October 9, 2019. The formation of this new network is a response to the growing need to consolidate the ranks of labor rights defenders in support of workers in the midst of continuing violation…
“While we are thankful for the P1, 000 Teachers’ Day incentive for we consider this as a birthday gift, we ask the DepEd to raise the level of our teachers by providing for long-term solutions to our socio-economic woes.” Benjo Basas, the National Chairperson of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) said amidst the scheduled release…
Quezon City, Philippines – Premiering on the eve of the 47th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration, the 7th edition of Active Vista International Human Rights Film Festival presented last Sept 20, 2019 to around 1,000 invited audiences at the Cine Adarna of the University of the Philippines Film Center the much-awaited screening of the…
QUEZON CITY – Two hundred people from Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice and Power 4 People Coalition assemble in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office; highlighting the current state of human rights violations and killings of environmental defenders. According to the Global Witness Report in…
(Groups vow to keep up the pressure against dumping of foreign wastes in PH) 19 September 2019, Quezon City. As the authorities grapple with the repacking of over 5,000 tons of illegal waste cargoes stranded in Misamis Oriental for re-export to South Korea, environmental health and justice groups vow to keep up the pressure to…
Workers initiated the series of protests today commemorating the anniversary of the declaration of martial law at the DOLE, denouncing intensified repression and violence by both capitalists and the government. Led by the socialist political center, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), workers from Cosmic Enterprises Inc., Zagu Foods, Megacem, Pacific Plaza Towers, and Bestank raised…
What’s in Negros Island that killings, violence and poverty keep on pounding the province and its people seems to have not known peace in their lives? Why is the State is using it as a laboratory or testing ground for something so dangerous that they seem desiring for the entire country? The series of extrajudicial…
