April | 2007 | Northern Dispatch (nordis) Weekly

Labor Watch: Making grievance procedures work

April 28, 2007 in columns, general, opinion

By ALDWIN QUITASOL

As much as possible, settling a labor dispute should be more beneficial to the worker, but sometimes, the worker should also have good strategies to win their cases. Here is a case of a worker which is “grievable” (unionist’s term of winning a case in a grievance procedure). It lost ground because of technicality.

Aldo is working as one of the senior technicians in a productions company. One day, he was accused of stealing company property. The management said that one of his colleagues saw him put something on his bag. Read the rest of this entry →

Letters and Statement: We shall never stop fighting

April 28, 2007 in general, opinion, statements

By Kilusang Mayo Uno — Cordillera
April 27, 2007

The worsening economic crisis in the country makes the lives of every poor Filipino unlivable everyday. Every year, the economic status of the people especially the impoverished workers hardly cope with the continuously rising prices of basic commodities and social services. It is now difficult to imagine how a poor worker survives such situation.

Unemployment rose because of massive job displacements and the scarcity of jobs . According to the data of the National Statistics Office as of January 2007, the unemployement rate is 7.8% while underemployment is 21.5% of the total labor force of the country. The number of employed people seldom goes high but always slides down because of the government-backed contractualization scheme creating temporary jobs. Employment benefits and incentives as well as compensations are no longer in the vocabulary of workers inside the workplaces. Read the rest of this entry →

Weekly Reflections: A theology of the politics of change

April 28, 2007 in columns, general, opinion

By REV. LUNA L. DINGAYAN

“Today I give you authority over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to otherthrow, to build and to plant.” — Jeremiah 1:10

Politics of change

Politics can be defined theologically as the stewardship of power. How we make use of the power and authority entrusted to us is our politics. There are those who make use of the power and authority in their hands to dominate other people and preserve the status quo. They have to make people toe the line of the present establishment and follow the politics of domination and preservation. Read the rest of this entry →

Burburtia Krokis: 29 April 2007 (Puzzle)

April 28, 2007 in general

By ART B. BELISARIO

ACROSS
1 ekspresyon sa Ilokano, hawig sa “kaya?” o “ano na?”;
5 balikatin (Ilok var);
11 ayon sa kasabihan, ito ang nakakahuli ng bulate (Eng 2 salita); Read the rest of this entry →

Take advantage of summer

April 28, 2007 in Cordillera, general, Ilocos

By CHERIE ANN NONONG-CALAPIS

This year, why not take advantage of the summer energy to take your planned summer activities for the kids. Let the symbols and images of the season inspire you: Have a real vacation.

ASIN SWIMMING. Locals enjoy a dip at the Asin river to refresh against the summer heat of the summer season. Photo courtesy of Redjie Melvic Cawis/PIA

Take time off from work. One month would be great, but probably not feasible for most of us. One week would do wonders… Still not possible? Even one weekend or one day free of your usual responsibilities would be terrific. Read the rest of this entry →

Poetry: The End Product

April 28, 2007 in general, literary

By CHESTER STONE P. BATNAG
aka “BLIND POET”

Muscles hit their limits on roads of ambition
The nobility heard flows in songs of vision
Within great needs for wealth, goal’s plated for auction
Means won’t be held yet yields an equation Read the rest of this entry →

Makan a la Pinoy: Pininyaan a manok

April 28, 2007 in food, general

By BRENDA S. DACPANO

Daytoy a putahe ket kombinasyon ti adobo ken apritada a manok.

Read the rest of this entry →

Salun-at tayo, biag tayo: Dagiti kadawyan a sakit ti ubbing

April 28, 2007 in general, health

German Measles
Ti German measles ket saan a nakaro a sakit a maigapu iti virus. Maiyakar daytoy babaen iti angin no ti masakit ket aguyek wenno agbaen.

Dagiti sinyales ken sintomas
1. saan a nangato a gurigor
2. lumteg a salsalamagi iti likudan ti tengnged, lapayag ken sellang Read the rest of this entry →

Mining protest goes to England

April 22, 2007 in general, international, mining

IP leaders register opposition to CEXI

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 20) — Two representatives of Filipino indigenous peoples from the Cordillera traveled to London recently and attended the Anglo American annual general meeting on April 17 to register their opposition to the company’s mining activities in the region.

Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) Deputy Secretary-general Santos Mero and Save Apayao Peoples Organization (SAPO) Chairperson Rupina “Tina” Moyaen demanded for the pull out and cancellation of the mining applications of Anglo-American’s subsidiaries Cordillera Exploration Inc. (CEXI) and Northern Luzon Exploration Mining Company Inc. (NLEMCI) over ancestral lands in the Cordillera. Read the rest of this entry →

Urban issues takes center stage in Cordillera Day

April 22, 2007 in Cordillera, general

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 18) — Highlighting the plight of the city’s urban poor, the 23rd Cordillera Day formally opens on Monday, April 24, at Melvin Jones in Burnham Park here, with some 3,000 delegates not only from the six Cordillera provinces but also from all over the country.

As in the past, the festive yet militant observance of the 27th death anniversary of Macliing Dulag will highlight the Cordillera peoples’ continuing struggle, officials of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) disclosed in a press conference here. Read the rest of this entry →

Not just another outstanding woman

April 22, 2007 in Baguio City, elections, general, people, politics

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 19) — Not just another prospective woman legislator for the city, Jeannette Taga Ribaya-Cawiding is not just another new face to watch. She has more to her name, more than just fame as one of the ten most outstanding women the city awarded this year.

Her campaign leaflet carries her personal conviction to pass programs to enhance the quality of education primarily in public elementary and high schools. “I will work for the efficient and effective delivery of basic social services,” she added. She said she would push for an in-depth research that would help address the long-standing land problem in the city. Finally, she also promised to resolutely advance women, children and indigenous people’s rights. Read the rest of this entry →

Know the Baguio mayoralty candidate: Peter Rey Bautista

April 22, 2007 in Baguio City, elections, general, politics

By ROBERT A. PAMBID and PRINCESS HONEYLET A. TEJARES

Q1. What is your position on demolition of ‘squatters’ structures?

We have to understand that with regards to property, it is very important that people know that there are some portions of land that are private. If titles have been given to these property-owners then that should always be respected. What is theirs, is theirs. There are many kinds of demolitions such as summary demolitions. These are demolitions that are supposed to be implemented immediately by the implementing officer, which is the mayor. Read the rest of this entry →

Know the Baguio mayoralty candidate: Virgilio Bautista

April 22, 2007 in Baguio City, elections, general, politics

By ROBERT A. PAMBID and PRINCESS HONEYLET A. TEJARES

Q1. What is your position on demolition of ‘squatters’ structures?

We abide by the law. So those illegal properties should be demolished if that is the order of the court. Read the rest of this entry →

Know the Baguio mayoralty candidate: Guillermo Hernandez

April 22, 2007 in Baguio City, elections, general, politics

By ROBERT A. PAMBID and PRINCESS HONEYLET A. TEJARES

Q1. What is your position on demolition of ‘squatters’ structures?

It depends on the decision of the court about demolition, if this area should be demolished then I will ask for a go signal with regards to the law. Read the rest of this entry →

Know the Baguio mayoralty candidate: Elmo Nevada

April 22, 2007 in Baguio City, elections, general, politics

By ROBERT A. PAMBID and PRINCESS HONEYLET A. TEJARES

Q1. What is your position on demolition of ‘squatters’ structures?

Well, the case is in the court only when we have lawful court orders then I think the executive cannot do anything but to enforce the local orders of the court. Read the rest of this entry →

Know the Baguio mayorlaty candidate: Leandro Yangot Jr.

April 22, 2007 in Baguio City, elections, general, politics

By ROBERT A. PAMBID and PRINCESS HONEYLET A. TEJARES

Q1. What is your position on demolition of ‘squatters’ structures?

Demolition is a very general term. We have the Urban Development Housing Act or Republic Act 7279, which is very clear in the matter that for old structures, there is a process that should be followed so that one of those which are covered by the said law should not be the subject of summary demolitions. In fact, there is a provision for relocation for those who squat in private properties. They should be appropriately relocated; the owner should give a relocation site for those who squatted on their private properties. There are many cases here in Baguio involving private properties, there is a process for that. Read the rest of this entry →

Know the Baguio mayoralty candidate: Braulio Yaranon

April 22, 2007 in Baguio City, elections, general, politics

By ROBERT A. PAMBID and PRINCESS HONEYLET A. TEJARES

Q1. What is your position on demolition of ‘squatters’ structures?

The position is clear. We have to abide by the law. Under the Lina law is a provision that if an informal settler has been there since July 1, 1992, you cannot remove them unless there is a relocation site. That has to be applied. Then when there is a land dispute… The title is not validated, that means the properties have to be the subject again of proceedings before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the DENR has a chance to resolve the dispute. That is our position. We will not demolish because of the absence of a building permit. We have to apply the law, whether rich or poor. Read the rest of this entry →

Baguio City Mayoralty candidates speak on their platform

April 22, 2007 in Baguio City, elections, general, politics

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 16) — Seven out of the nine mayoral candidates attended the “Magandang Baguio, Decision ’07, Mayoral Candidates Forum initiated by the Baguio Community Volunteers Movement (BCVM) at the Baguio Convention Center, yesterday.

The participating candidates are former Councilor Virgilio Bautista, suspended Mayor Braulio Yaranon, former Mayor Bernardo Vergara, Acting Vice-mayor Leandro Yangot Jr., former Councilor Elmo Nevada, Engr. Willie Hernandez and Acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. Only Ramon Labo and Felipe Ramos did not show up at the said forum. Read the rest of this entry →

Local media challenge GMA to act on killings

April 22, 2007 in general, human rights, national

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 20) — Local journalists here challenge Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to do a singular act that will prove that her administration is not abetting what their group considers as a climate of impunity as one of their colleagues was killed in an ambush while another was injured in separate incidents for the past two days.

They condemn the latest killing of a Nueva Ecija radio reporter and the attempted killings of two journalists in Lucena City, where media practitioners will lead a indignation rally on Wednesday, April 25, to condemn what they considered a climate of impunity. Other media organizations nationwide will join the nationally coordinated action against media killings, Nordis learned from Artemio Dumlao Jr., chairperson of the local National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP). Read the rest of this entry →

Aim for solidarity unites Asian indigenous youth

April 22, 2007 in general, indigenous, international, youth

BAGUIO CITY (Apr. 18) — “Long live international solidarity!,” hailed more than 70 delegates from 10 countries including the Philippines, as they gathered for the opening program of the founding conference of the Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network (APIYN).

The delegates, mostly youth from Japan, India, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Thailand and the Philippines are here for a five-day conference held at the various universities and venues here. The conference aims to further unite and uphold the rights of indigenous youth. Read the rest of this entry →