The EcoWaste Coalition, an advocacy group for a zero waste and toxics-free society, has appealed to all households to cut down on trash produced and disposed of during the novel coronavirus contagion. While the volume of commercial waste has declined as expected due to the closure of most establishments in a bid to keep the…
Labor federation Solidarity of Unions in the Philippines for Empowerment and Reforms (SUPER) released March 28 its first list of employers who have engaged in “unjust” practices, such as “no work, no pay” schemes, layoff/retrenchment, and “endo” during the Luzon-wide lockdown arising from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a labor survey conducted between March 19…
Aside from being the first among the local government units (LGUs) to have Covid-19 testing facility, the city of Marikina is also the first to adopt a labor-protection ordinance aimed at mitigating the negative impact of the current pandemic among workers. Sponsored by Councilor Renato Magtubo, City Ordinance No. 027 Series of 2020, also known…
24 March 2020, Quezon City. The chemical safety watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition urged consumers to be vigilant when buying rubbing alcohol and hand sanitizer products during this period of public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “Consumers should be on their guard against the spread of unregistered rubbing alcohol and unnotified hand…
“We fear to die from starvation more than the virus itself,” said Librada Isidro, a Mangyan leader from Oriental Mindoro. Indigenous women from Nueva Vizcaya, Saranggani, Palawan, Oriental Mindoro, Zambales and Quezon call for help as the community quarantine or lockdown ordered by the national and local governments bring food crisis among indigenous and rural…
(Group cites ways how a grateful nation can show appreciation to COVID-19 frontliners) 22 March 2020, Quezon City. As many cities and municipalities are placed under strict quarantine amid threats posed by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an environmental health group has cited ways as to how the general public can show their appreciation to…
Labor NGO Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) calls on the government to implement pro-poor policies and clearer guidelines as the month-long lockdown continues. According to EILER, the Duterte administration has taken measures focused on preventing the spread of COVID-19, but the policies and guidelines remain lacking, unclear, and insensitive to the extremely…
18 March 2020, Quezon City. Groups belonging to the informal waste sector (IWS) appealed for the speedy provision of much-needed support as they directly feel the pinch of the enhanced community quarantine to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Together with the environmental health group EcoWaste Coalition, IWS groups clamored for attention…
The EcoWaste Coalition, a zero waste advocacy group, urged national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs) and private service providers to provide ample protection to workers handling waste as the authorities step up preventive measures to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “It’s a common knowledge that workers who handle, collect…
Militant labor group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) criticized the prescriptions provided by both the Trade and Labor departments for workers during the month-long period Metro Manila will remain on lockdown which the group claimed were inconsiderate, grossly anti-poor and arithmetically improbable. DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez stipulated in a press conference Friday that the more…
The labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) asked that guarantees be put in place in the so-called ‘community quarantine’ imposed on Metro Manila in order to protect workers’ welfare and civil liberties. “President Duterte’s order to lockdown Metro Manila for 30 days opens the way for workers’ rights and civil liberties to be violated. Freedom of…
Labor NGO Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research (EILER) expresses alarm as more and more corporations are laying off employees, contributing to the number growing of joblessness in the country. EILER noted that already at least 2,626 employees are part of layoffs since the beginning of 2020 as specific divisions of Honda Cars Philippines,…
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) thru its national chairperson Benjo Basas reminded the DepEd of its obligation to provide a free medical examination to the country’s public school teachers. The group argued that it is mandated under the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (RA 4670), a 1966 vintage law. “It is clear that medical…
The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) welcomes the idea of using ‘Sablay’ instead of ‘Toga’ as a ceremonial dress for the end of the school year rites, moving-up or graduation ceremonies in basic education. The TDC agrees “that ‘Sablay’ is more representative of the Filipino culture and could boost the DepEd’s mandate to instill patriotism among…
25 February 2020, Quezon City. Environmental health groups promoting a comprehensive approach to the plastic pollution crisis challenged the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) to lead the nation in promoting innovative alternative product packaging and delivery models and systems to cut dependence on single-use plastics (SUPs). Reacting to the recent adoption of NSWMC Resolution…
“The sudden closure of Honda Cars Phils. Inc. (HCPI), without informing its workers is irresponsible, unjust and illegal. The management and the workers thru their union are bound by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and yet everyone was caught by surprise. It is the workers’ right to be informed of such drastic actions, especially as…
PhilRights’ report The Killing State: 2019 Philippine Human Rights Situationer describes a worsening human rights situation creating a hostile environment for ordinary Filipinos. QUEZON CITY – President Duterte’s real legacy is the full-scale assault on people’s basic rights and the dismantling of democratic guarantees of Filipinos, the Philippine Human Rights Information Center (PhilRights) asserted. “If…
The Philippine National Police (PNP), including its commander-in-chief, the President, cannot infringe on the right of workers to form unions. Doing so will be a clear violation of the Constitution, the Labor Code and international conventions that guarantee freedom of association (FOA), the labor group Partido Manggagawa (PM) said in a statement sent to media.…
(Groups Insist: Mindanao Dili Basurahan, Bar Waste Imports, Ratify the Basel Ban Amendment) 19 January 2020, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental/Davao City/Quezon City. Environmental health and justice advocates called for greater vigilance against waste imports as they cheer over the re-exportation of the remaining illegal South Korean waste shipments to their origin starting today. At the jubilant…
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…
