Monthly Archives: January 2013

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Urban poor hails veto of Baguio charter

January 27, 2013 in Baguio City, Featured

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Organisasyon dagiti Nakukurapay nga Umili ti Syudad-Kalipunan ng mga Damayang Mahihirap (Ornus-Kadamay) Secretary-General Daisy Bagni welcomes the veto of the proposed bill amending the over than a century old Baguio City Charter by President Benigno Aquino III on January 17.

Bagni said it deserves to be rejected. She reiterated their earlier views that House Bill 3759 or the Act of revising the Charter of Baguio City benefits only the rich people as they are the only ones who can afford to pay for the titling of the lands here.

She said that the Charter Change (Cha-Cha) will not really solve the land problems of Baguio. She added that it is good that the bill was not signed by the President as the provision of the disposition of alienable and disposable lands is not so clear.

In the decision of Malacañang, it was stated that while the objectives of HB 3759 relating to local government powers are laudable, the same provisions are all covered by the Local Government Code of 1991.

Aquino stated that section 45 of the charter is “ambiguous as to the entity that may dispose of alienable and disposable lands which are part of the town site reservation. In the mentioned section regarding the transfer of Town Site Sales Application (TSA) and Miscellaneous Sales Application (MSA) now pending with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), shall be transferred immediately to the secretariat upon the effectivity of the proposed act and shall be numbered accordingly.

The mentioned secretariat in the proposed bill is composed of the City assessor and necessary personnel from his office shall report to the awards committee. The awards body meanwhile under Section 43 of the bill shall be composed of the City Mayor as the chairman, the Regional Executive Director of the DENR-Cordillera Administrative Region as vice-chairman, the Chairman of Committee on Lands, Housing and Relocations of the City Council , the City planning and development Officer, the Registry of Deeds, the city assessor and the Provincial and Environmental resources Officer as members.

Baguio-based lawyer Edgar Avila said these provisions are dangerous as the City mayor could be the City’s chief executive forever. Avila sees the awarding of lots to so-called qualified individuals by the mayor, can be construed as a favor and may oblige them to feel indebted especially every election time.

In a press conference, Lawyer Jose Molintas and businessman Mark Go said that the decision of the president to veto HB 3759 is not stained with politics. According to Go, Aquino based the decision on their observations of its impact on the existing laws and the citizens of Baguio.

Molintas said the president also questioned the provision in the proposed amendment bill regarding the income from the land dispositions like the case of lands already transferred to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA). He said that in the decision, Aquino ruled that proceeds from the disposition of BCDA lands should accrue to the BCDA.

In a statement, Baguio Representative and HB 3759 author Bernardo M. Vergara said the president’s veto has thwarted the long-aspired, far-ranging socio-economic and political benefits for Baguio, especially in resolving the city’s land use problems.

“Our citizenry has been one in spirit with city officials like mayor Mauricio G. Domogan and I, working hard to update the city charter, enacted in 1909 by the American colonial government,” stated Vergara.

Domogan originally filed a bill seeking for the amending of the city charter in 2001 as the congressman that time. Vergara claimed that his HB 3759 was approved “with no objections” by the bicameral committee on November 20 last year.

Bagni challenged candidates who are seeking for positions in the city to look after the Baguio constituents’ welfare instead of making questionable laws that do not really help but encourage discord. # nordis.net

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Mankayan indigenous peoples celebrate one year of barricade

January 27, 2013 in Cordillera, Featured, land rights, mining

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — On January 23, 2012, residents of Sitio Madaymen, Tabio Mankayan set-up their barricade against the drilling activities of Far Southeast Gold resources Inc. (FSGRI) and Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company (LCMC) aimed at saving their remaining natural resources from the many decades of mining.

The community people invoked their rights to their land saying they were never consulted nor did they give any permit to mining companies to operate in their area. A month after, the residents of Tabio together with the other natives of the mining town established the Save Mankayan Movement (SMM) with the vow not to allow any mining expansions, explorations and surface drilling.

On January 27 of the same year, the indigenous people (IPs) of the municipality through the Teeng (natives) di Mankayan filed a petition of Writ of preliminary injunction on against the FSGRI before the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-Cordillera.

On March 9, NCIP Hearing Officer Brain Masweng ordered Indodrill Philippines, Inc. (IPI) as contracted by FSGRI to cease and desist from their drilling operations in response to the petition of Mankayan residents. The NCIP hearing officer saw it evident that the people of Mankayan will suffer grave and irreparable damage or injury and justified in the issued TRO that “It would seriously affect their social and economic activities should the on-going drilling and other related activities of the mining corporation within the ancestral lands and domain of the plaintiff if the TRO will not be issued.”

But on April 4, Masweng for unknown reasons reversed his March 9 order when the FSGRI filed a motion for reconsideration. In his resolution, he denied the Mankayan residents’ petition for a writ of preliminary injunction. He said that FSGRI had established its prior rights over the covered area of their Far Southeast Project pointing that the covered areas were alienated by residents to the LCMCO as early as the 1960s.

SMM members and officers defied the order and went on with their barricade.

January 26, yesterday, the Mankayan IPs particularly of Barangay Tabio held a program at the barricade to celebrate the anniversary of the start of their struggle against mining in their hometown. According to SMM President Marlo Pablo, the activities of the day include the assessment of their year-long barricade where they reviewed the chronology of their struggle against the drilling, and cull the lessons learned from the hardships and challenges they experienced until FSGRI pulled-out their drill rigs on January 7, 2013. He said there will also be a sharing on the present mining situation in the Cordillera Region and the rest of the Philippines.

Pablo recounted how the SMM members and Mankayan IPs stood their grounds despite attempts of the court sheriffs to carry out the order of the courts to lift their barricades. He said they will always remember how the Philippine National Police (PNP) served as escorts alongside with the security and personnel of FSGRI and LCMC clashed with the people who were only defending their land from further devastation brought by mining.

On May 9, 2012, LCMC filed a criminal case based on a provision of RA 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which allegedly criminalizes and sanctions an illegal obstruction to mine permitees or contractors.

The original number of residents sued was 123 but was reduced to 97 because some of the accused were already dead, one of them is even paralyzed thus making it impossible for him to have gone to the barricade and others who were not even there at all. The case was filed at the Mankayan MTC in the sala of Judge Jonathan Segundo.

The case was dismissed by Judge Jonathan Segundo in November due to lack of jurisdiction.

On October last year, SMM with members of the Mankayan Ancestral Domain Indigenous Peoples Organization (MADIPO) protested the community consultative assembly (CCA) hosted by NCIP on the conversion of the existing Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) into a Financial Technical Assistance Agreement (FTAA) that according to the Mankayan IPs will eventually give more freedom to mining companies especially FSGRI to mine out their land. The same CCA was foiled on November 15, 2012.

That day, police handcuffed the gate of the venue of the supposed CCA after SMM and MADIPO members assereted their rights to be part of the consultation as the NCIP imposed that some residents are not allowed to participate because they are not residing in the FTAA covered area. The residents tried to break the handcuffs using an iron pipe.

Days after, the police filed a criminal case against the residents claiming they were assaulted and was injured with. According to Kilaan, the case was dismissed on January 18 by Benguet Deputy Provincial Prosecutor Andres Gondayao because of the absence of probable cause and evidence. He said it was proven that the people were just expressing their right to peaceful assembly.

Kilaan said at the anniversary program of the barricade, “although the drill rigs were pulled-out, it does not mean that the struggle is over. SMM will always stand by its main objective of guarding Mankayan against mining expansion until the total rejection of corporate mining in the municipality is respected.”

Katribu Party List President and 1st nominee Beverly Longid meanwhile congratulated SMM and the Mankayan people. She said that the struggle of the people of Mankayan is a shining example in perseverance and assertion of their rights to ancestral land and self-determination.

She said they shall serve as an inspiration as they were able to hurdle many obstacles in their fight that would have weakened them yet they showed the power of their collective actions. # nordis.net

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Vegetable supply in Benguet not affected by frost

January 27, 2013 in agriculture, Cordillera, Featured

By DELIA BAGNI
www.nordis.net

LA TRINIDAD — According to Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan, the total production of vegetable in Benguet is not affected by the low temperature the province is currently experiencing.

He said that occurances of frost in Benguet are isolated cases and vegetable crops this season were not destroyed by the prevailing very cold weather. “The low temperature did not affect even half of one percent of the present total production,” he said.

Fongwan added that incidents of frost happen in open areas which do not have any windbreakers to combat the cold during these months and Benguet farmers know better, this is not the only time frost occurs.

Fongwan stressed that farmers find ways to protect their crops either with early morning watering of crops or with wind breakers to prevent possible damage brought by the frost. Benguet experiences a much colder weather considering it lies at a higher altitude.

Fongwan stated that vegetable price lowered because of the supply which is more than the demand. He encourages farmers to join the Benguet Farmers Marketing Cooperative (BFMC) which will ensure farmers are advised on what crops to produce during these months and where to market them.

He added that the BFMC will also take care of programs to ensure that there will be no oversupply and produce crops needed by the market. # nordis.net

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Philex and CPA agree mine tailings dam collapse spell disaster

January 27, 2013 in Cordillera, mining

By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — A top official of Philex Mining Corporation agreed with the earlier pronouncements of Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) that a greater disaster would happen if tailings pond 3 (TP3) collapses.

PHILEX TP3 SPILLWAY. As part of the decommissioning process Philex Mining Corporation is currently constructing a giant spill way at level 596 meters of tailings pond 3 (TP3). This will serve as passage way for excess water from TP3 which will flow down to Balog Creek. The company claims that water from TP3 will not harm the river. Photo by Kimberlie Ngabit-Quitasol

It can be recalled that CPA leaders call for the decommissioning of Philex mines’ TP3 pointing out that the damhas outlived its lifespan and poses greater disaster should it collapse. The group said if the tailings dam collapses now, it will cause irreversible damage to the Agno River and may cover a major area if not all of Pangasinan with silt.

CPA Deputy Secretary General Abigail Anongos in an earlier interview reiterated that Philex should not be allowed to resume operations until it has a new tailings dam. She stressed that there is no better facility to contain the silt recovered from the Balog Creek but the TP3. She added that putting back the silt at TP3 is the most logical thing to do as the said facility was built mainly to contain mine wastes.

This, Philex Vice President for Operations Libby Ricafort disclosed during the media walk through Balog Creek last January 23. “Kung bumigay ang dam, uwian na,” (If the dam collapses, it’s goodbye) he exclaimed.

Ricafort pointed out that preventing a dam collapse is the main reason why they submitted a request to resume operations to the MGB. He added that they need to resume operations to be able to remove the water in the crater at TP3 created by the silt spill. He said they will use the mine wastes produced during the resumed operations to displace the water and seal the crater.

He further explained that the water if not removed might cause the collapse of the dike which may result to greater disaster. He said they will need 3.5 million metric tons of mine waste to seal the crater at TP3. He added that given the 25,000 metric tons of mine wastes produced per day during regular mine operations, it will take the company around five months to fill the crater.

The Philex official also stressed that sealing the crater should be done before the rainy days sets in. He explained that the accumulated water is very near the main dike and that the water will seep to the dike and might cause a collapse. He pointed out that the dam was made to hold solid silt and not water.

“Let us keep our fingers crossed that the dike will hold,” he added.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Cordillera endorsed Philex’s request for a temporary lifting of the ban on their operations issued after the tailings pond 3 (TP3) failure that spewed 20 million metric tons of mine waste into the Balog Creek and Agno River in 2012.

MGB Mines and Environment Safety Division Chief Engr. Zards Gacad said MGB Cordillera favorably endorsed Philex proposal to the national office and is awaiting the latter’s decision. # nordis.net

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Pollution board slaps Philex with new fines

January 27, 2013 in Cordillera, mining

By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Philex Mining Corporation is slapped with another fine by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) after it recently agreed to cooperate with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on the P1.034 billion fine over the 2012 tailings pond 3 spill.

National news reports showed that Philex received on January 23 a November 28, 2012 PAB resolution ordering the company to cease and desist from using tailings pond 3 and to pay P92.8 million fine over a violation of the Clear Water Act.

It can be recalled that the mine spill in August of 2012 discharged over 20 million metric tons of mine wastes and polluted the Balog Creek and Agno River.

The same reports showed that the PAB P92.8 million fine is broken down as follows: first violation, P15.2 million covering the period of August 3, 2012 to October 17, 2012 “the date before the company complied with the Effluent Standards”; second violation, P30.4 million covering the period from August 3, 2012 to October 17, 2012 covering 76 days for two counts of violation of the Water Quality Criteria per section 27a of the Clean Water Act; and third violation: initial amount of P47.2 million covering the period August 3, 2012 to Nov. 28, 2012 for two counts of violation of Section 27.a of the Clean Water Act.

The PAB order also gave Philex 15 days upon receipt of the notice to comply and stated that a fine of P200,000 per day will be added should it fail to pay the fees.

Philex Senior Vice President for Finance in one of his interviews stated that the company has still to evaluate its position on the new PAB fines.

Meanwhile in an earlier press release, Philex Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs Michael Toledo said the company welcomes the MGB’s decision to use the P1.034 billion fine for the rehabilitation of the affected areas and compensate affected families.

MGB Acting Director Leo Jasareno explained that the money will be remitted to the Mine Wastes and Tailings Reserve Fund which will be used to compensate for the damages caused by the spill and rehabilitate the affected areas identified by the agency.

The company also has a pending request for the lifting of the suspension order with the MGB. # nordis.net

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Project Save 182 back to the streets

January 27, 2013 in Baguio City, environment, social concerns

By DELIA BAGNI
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Just as promised, Project Save 182 (PS 182) leads environment activists, church people, students and concerned citizens in a series of protest actions reiterating their opposition to the expansion project of a giant mall that is detrimental to some 182 Benguet Pine and Alnus trees here in the City of Pines this January.

CUT THE GREED NOT THE TREES. Various groups and individuals opposed to the earthballing of old grown trees at Luneta Hill to give way to SM’s expansion project staged a march rally that ended in a short program at the Post Office Loop on January 21. Photo by Annalyn Rebecca M. Eisma

The series of protest actions is also in observance of the first year anniversary of the group’s unwavering commitment to protect the pine trees from the mall expansion. Save 182 was founded in January 20 last year when around 5,000 citizens marched down Session Road in a bid to stop the expansion building of SM City mall that will result to removal of 182 trees in Luneta Hill.

Among the other groups that participated in the said activities include the Diocese of Baguio, Association of Women Religious (Baguio-Benguet), Notri Dame, Benguet People’s Alliance, Bantay Baguio, House of Prayer, Saint Louis University, Saint Vincent Elementary Learning Center, Northridge, Dapayan ti Kultura iti Kordilyera (DKK), Vocas Artists, University of the Philippines Baguio, Gabriela-Innabuyog, Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA), Kabataan Partylist, National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL) and A Tree a Day.

The series of protest actions was launched January 19 where the protesters marched down from Baguio Cathedral to Malcolm Square.

According to PS 182 Spokesperson Karlo Altamonte, they will exhaust all possible legal means to stop the SM expansion even after the lower court dismissed their case in December 12, 2012 stating that the cutting of trees or earth-balling of the 182 trees in Luneta Hill will not cause irreparable injury to the environment.

Bishop Carlito Cenzon of the Diocese of Baguio asked forgiveness to the youth and next generation for the plight of the trees but pointed out that it is not yet too late to act and prevent corporate greed from destroying the environment. He said they will not allow the trees to die as he encouraged everyone to join the fight against SM.

Cordillera Ecological Center (CEC) director Michael Bengwayan said that the 49 trees which are already earth-balled are already dead and others which are not yet removed from Luneta hill are in their deteriorating condition. He added that it is not yet too late to save the 133 left trees.

A concert dubbed as Remember Luneta Hill\a Tribute Concert was staged at the Post Office Loop on January 20. The said activity was a tribute to the remaining trees at Luneta Hill.

On January 21, the tree huggers marched from Igorot Park up to SM and then gathered at the Post Office loop for a short program to air their demands.

Sister Fidelis Estrada of the AWR pointed out that social status will not matter when the environment is destroyed. She stressed that everyone whether poor, middle class or rich will all be goners when the environment becomes toxic.

“The environment is not a matter of paper, it’s a matter of social conscience. We are not here because we hate SM, we are here because we care for the environment,” she reiterated.

She also shared that they stopped buying from SM which makes it more difficult for them because they have to go to several stores instead of having the one stop shop convenience at the mall. “But if you really care, any sacrifice is worth it,” she added.

CPA Secretary General Abigail Anongos lauded everyone who joined the fight to save the trees at Luneta Hill. She pointed out that the people are the true victors from the very start because they are fighting for what is right.

Anongos also challenged all Baguio citisens to study the other issues affecting the city that include the garbage problem and privatization of the Baguio General Hospital and other public facilities. She encouraged everyone to stand against corporate greed. # nordis.net

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Envi advocates, Save 182 celebrate 1st year

January 27, 2013 in Baguio City, environment, social concerns

By ANNALYN REBECCA M. EISMA
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Despite a dismissed case in the local courts, Project Save 182 movement, environment advocates and local bands held a concert at the Post Office Loop, to celebrate the first anniversary of their campaign against SM City Baguio’s expansion project last January 20.

Some athletes ran through and biked around the SM lot carrying “cut the greed, not the trees” posters to remind the people of Baguio that said mall has a “deterrent move that will endanger the city years after the expansion” at 4:00 PM in the afternoon, on the said day.

In the opening number, the artists thanked International renowned artist Sting for acknowledging the campaign of the Baguio people against business tycoon Henry Sy and SM Development Corporation. The artist moved his concert from the Mall of Asia to Smart Araneta Coliseum in cooperation with the Save 182 campaign.

Save 182 Spokesperson Karlo Altamonte shared the victories of the said movement and declared that they will appeal the case to the Court of Appeals for reconsideration.

Altamonte also thanked the 33,000 people who supported the movement’s signature campaign to save the trees. The signature campaign was launched two days before the concert was held and garnered such number of supporters aside from those who signed online.

“The signature campaign is still on going and will be presented in the Court of Appeals as Save 182 continue the campaign here in Baguio city, nationwide, internationally, online and offline,” he said.

Twelve local bands and several solo artists including a stage performer were highlighted in the concert staged at the park few meters away from the said mall. Renditions of songs for the environment and some individual alternatives were featured alongside solidarity messages from students, young professionals, church people and other Baguio citizens.

Altamonte ended the program with a challenge for the participants to stay in the movement, discuss the Save 182 cause in the household and everywhere they go and be rewarded as they gain success through the campaign. # nordis.net

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Cordi vermi center set in Loakan

January 27, 2013 in agriculture, Cordillera, environment, social concerns

By DELIA BAGNI
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio Vermi Growers (BVG) set Loakan Vermi Center here to be the vermi growing and composting center not only for the city of Baguio but in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as well during their meeting, January 25, 2013.

WORM TECHNOLOGY. Moren Macay of the Baguio Vermi Growers (BVG) explains how vermifarming contributes to the garbage problem of the City of Baguio during the launching of the vermi culture center in Barangay Loakan. Photo by Aldwin Quitasol

According to Organisas-yon dagiti Nakurapay nga Umili ti Syudad (Ornus) Secretary General Daisy Bagni, Loakan Vermi Center serves as the center for vermi growing in barangay Loakan but they aim to make it the center for the replication of vermiculture in the entire region.

Moren Macay, a vermi grower and overseer of the Loakan center said that vermiworms really helped in reducing household wastes and explained the value and steps of vermicomposting. He also shared his vermiculture experiences to the audience of local residents, enthusiasts and pig raisers.

Macay added that vermi growers are already increasing in number. Besides groups in Baguio, Rosales, Pangasinan, Isabela, Laguna and Makati are also engaged in vermi growing.

In raising vermi, he stated that interested growers must know which kind of worm to raise. He said that there are many worm species out in the market. There are worms introduced by Department of Agriculutre (DA) called Benita which for every kilo of worms consume only a kilo of biodegradables in 6 months. While a kilo of African Nightcrawlers or Eugene, short for Eudrilus euginiae eats a kilo of biodageradables in a day.

He added that vermi are taken cared of for different purposes, such as reducing wastes, and cleaning machineries.

Eugene wieghs just a gram each, they can eat the equivalent of their weight in organic materials a day. It can thrive in a wide range of environments that duplicate its ideal living conditions and it has a high reproductive rate.

Christopher, a former worker of Good Shepherd convent, shared that before the vermiworms were introduced to them biodegradable materials from the production site piled up until it reached 7 feet. He said that customers complain of the smell of the stocked decaying left overs of fruits left from the process. Now they are using the worms to lessen the biodegradables left and the vermicompost are used as fertilizer in their plantation of bluberries in Atok Benguet.

Vermiculture is the use of a particular specie of earthworms (African Nightcrawlers) to make useful compost out of rotting materials, traditionally used as fertilizers. African Nightcrawlers work faster than our ordinary local species. Aside from the compost, vermi worms also excrete “worm tea”, a very potent liquid fertilizer for use in farms and gardens.

Present in the meeting were Councilor Joel Alangsab, Ornus, Tetebba and members of the religious sector. Baguio Vermi Growers conduct formal trainings on vermiculture, demonstration and consultancy services. # nordis.net

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54 cities, towns to receive P15M each under BUB

January 27, 2013 in budget, Cordillera

By GWEN GAONGEN
www.nordis.net

SAGADA, Mt. Province — Fifty two towns and two cities in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are among 1,233 nationwide focal areas for the Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) approach for fiscal year 2014.

Each beneficiary LGU shall receive Php15M for its anti-poverty reduction plan in 2014. The policy guidelines and procedures in the implementation of BUB is in the DBM-DILG-DSWD-NAPC Joint Memorandum Circular No. 3, Series of 2012 (may be downloaded from DILG website).

The areas chosen nationwide are based on the following criteria. These are: 1) areas with poverty incidence of at least 20% based on the 2009 Small Area Estimates and with a poor population of at least 5,000 individuals based on NSO 2010 data; 2) large number of poor population exposed to high geohazard risks identified by MGB; 3) high economic potential areas with high poor population as identified by NAPC.

The BUB has 12 national government agencies participating. These are the DENR, DOH, DILG, DOLE, DSWD, DOT, DTI, TESDA, DAR, DA, DepEd, DOE, NAE. Oversight agencies shall be the DBM, DILG, DSWD, NAPC and NEDA.

Local Poverty Reduction Action Teams (LPRAT) shall be formed with a composition of 50% civil society organizations (CSOs) and 50% local government officials and government agency representatives. The mayor shall chair the team with a co-chair to be selected by the CSOs among themselves.

A Local Poverty Reduction Action Plan (LPRAP) shall be drafted through a process requiring CSO participation and endorsement and adoption of the Sangguniang Bayan. These plans shall be submitted to the RPRAT by February 15, 2013. These will be consolidated by the DILG RO and then submitted to NAPC which will submit it to the oversight agencies and then to the DBM.

All budgets will be incorporated in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) and will be downloaded to appropriate national line agencies. LGU concerned who pass requirements may also implement their BUB projects (Seal of Good Housekeeping; passing Public Financial Management; technical capacity; no unliquidated cash advances from participating agencies).

All these identified projects cannot be duplicated in the regular programs or budgets in the government agencies or in the PAMANA project or in the case of ARMM- its Stimulus Fund. The projects in-eligible for the BUB are the following: 1) Expansion of 4Ps beneficiaries; 2) Housing projects due to its substantial cost requirements; 3) Major flood control; 4) Vaccination Programs; 5) Philhealth; 6) Projects for law enforcement, fire protection and jail management; 7) Construction of new school building, classrooms and teacher deployment; 8) Purchase of motor vehicles and 9) International trainings or scholarships.

The following are the CAR cities and towns identified as focal areas in the BUB 2014: Abra 18-Bangued, Boliney, Bucay, Bucloc, Daguioman, Dolores, La Paz, Lacub, Lagangilang, Licuan-Baay, Luba, Malibcong, Pidigan, Pilar, Sallapadan, San Juan, Tayum, Tubo; Apayao 4-Conner, Kabugao, Luna, Pudtol; Benguet 8-Bakun, buguias, Kabayan, Kapangan, Kibungan, Mankayan, Tuba, Tublay; Ifugao 9-Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Asipulo, Banaue, Hingyon, Hungduan, Lamut, Mayoyao, Tinoc; Kalinga 6-Balbalan, Lubuagan, Pasil, Pinukpuk, Tanudan, Tinglayan; Mt. Provijce 6-Bauko, Bontoc, Paracelis, Sadanga, Sagada and Tadian. Baguio City and Tabuk City in Kalinga are the two cities included in the Cordillera. # nordis.net

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Comelec reso needed for media to vote early

January 27, 2013 in Cordillera, elections

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Commission on Elections (Comelec) Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros said their national office has yet to come up with a resolution or Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) on the absentee voting particularly for members of the media, workers and staff even if the petition to vote earlier is already approved.

On Tuesday, January 22 members of the Senate and the House of Congress ratified the bicameral conference report allowing media members to vote earlier than the scheduled May 13 elections. The report will be submitted to Malacañang to be signed and approved into law by President Benigno Aquino III.

Members of the media filed a petition last October of 2012 to vote early. Comelec heads voted 5-1 favoring the request entitling the media the same privileges enjoyed by soldiers, policemen, government officials as well as employees performing election duties under the local absentee voting.

According to Mendros, once the resolution is done, the media members can vote somewhere in the month of April that will be scheduled by the Comelec. Under House Bill 4241 or “An act providing for early voting to qualified members of the media,” media practitioners will be allowed to vote within 14 working days before the day of elections. He said however that they are only allowed to vote for national candidates and party lists. Furthermore, the media will no longer be allowed to vote on any day other than the scheduled date.

Mendros added that members of the media must be accredited by Comelec. He said they should first be recommended by their media outfit. He also said they are only to vote on the days and place scheduled for them or in the areas where their outfit set their satellite offices.

Meanwhile, Mendros announced that they will designate express lanes intended for people-with-disabilities and the elderly at the different voting precincts. # nordis.net

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CHRA, partners meet with Canadian ambassador

January 27, 2013 in human rights, international

By CORDILLERA HUMAN RIGHTS ALLIANCE (PR)

BAGUIO CITY — The Beaconsfield Initiative and its partner, the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) met with Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines, Christopher Thornley and his staff, Ms. Karra-Lee Geritts and Mr. Benoit Girouard on human rights concerns in the Philippines.

Representatives of various human rights groups met with Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornley (fifth from left). (From left) Honorio Guerrero (CPSHR), Audrey Beltran (CHRA), Jude Baggo (CHRA), Beth Dollaga (UCC and CPSHR), Tess Tesalona (CPC), and Benoit Girouard (Canadian Embassy). Photo courtesy of CHRA

Representatives from both groups encouraged the Embassy to look into the cases, and to extend support for the promotion and respect of human rights in the Philippines.

Cases of human rights violations in the Philippines brought to his attention were the subject of concern of different Canadian institutions and organizations such as the United Church of Canada (UCC), KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights, the Center for Philippine Concerns, the Philippine Network on Justice and Peace (Toronto) and the Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines.

Different letters to President Benigno Aquino III were issued by the said groups in response to the CHRA Urgent Action Alert since November last year. The Urgent Action Alert was prompted by human rights violations perpetrated by the 86th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (IBPA) in Tinoc, Ifugao including the discovery of their “Target List” containing the names of 28 members and leaders of different people’s organizations in the region including Jude Baggo, Secretary General of the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance.

In the letter of concern issued by the United Church of Canada (UCC) signed by The Right Reverend Gary James Paterson, Moderator of the United Church of Canada, the UCC urged President Aquino to ensure the safety of the listed individuals and to conduct an independent, thorough and prompt investigation into the threats made against the individuals listed.

The UCC letter stated that “The labeling and political vilification of CPA and CHRA unjustly make them open targets of various human rights violations…The United Church upholds the rights and dignity of persons as an integral part of our Christian faith and the common mission we share with partners around the world.

The Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA) and its human rights arm, the CHRA, have been partners of the United Church for over 25 years. Those individuals labeled in the military document as “supporters of the New Peoples Army” are leaders and members of indigenous communities who work in community development and education, policy development and human rights advocacy that the United Church has collaborated with and supported.”

The delegation presented its views on the reported human rights abuses in Zamboanga del Sur, area of operation of TVI Resource Development (Phils), Inc. (TVIRD), a subsidiary of the Canadian mining company TVI Pacific Inc. The cases were submitted during a hearing by the Committee on Human Rights by the House of Representatives of the Philippine government last November. The perpetrators named in the cases belong to the 53rd Infantry Battalion and the Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units Active Auxiliaries (SCAA) from the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army but placed under the command of the TVIRD’s Balabag site officer-in-charge and Security Manager, retired Army Col. Valentino Edang.

Human rights concerns in the Philippines have been consistently brought to the attention of the Canadian government through series of delegations and visits by church and human rights leaders to Canada. Last October 30, 2012, Representative Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna and president of the National Union of People’s Lawyers addressed the Subcommittee on International Human Rights of the House of Commons on their 54th meeting. Representative Colmenares invited the Subcommittee to conduct a study mission in the Philippines to look into these cases and come out with recommendations to both the Canadian and Philippine government in strengthening human rights protection.

Ambassador Thornley said he would welcome the possibility of a Canadian Parliament Study Mission to the Philippines.

The meeting took place last January 16, 2012 at the Canadian Embassy in Makati City and was attended by Beth Dollaga of the United Church of Canada and the Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR), Honorio Guerrero, also of the CPSHR, Tess Tesalona of the Centre for Philippine Concerns (CPC), Jude Baggo and Audrey Beltran of the CHRA. # nordis.net

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Red Cross to tap a million volunteers for run

January 27, 2013 in national

By ANNALYN REBECCA M. EISMA
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — As the national headquarters of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) gears up for the upcoming Million Volunteer Run (MVR) with 95% of its chapters participating, one of its technical consultants, Joar Salvador joined a press conference headed by Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, Baguio Red Cross chapter Chairman last January 17 here.

All six provinces of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) will be participating in the national coordinated activity MVR 2013 themed: I choose to run to save lives of the PRC on February 10.

Targeting 17,716 volunteer runners, the six provinces and Baguio City have an ambitious target of doubling last 2011 MVR participants in the region. Generally, registration fee is pegged at P150, and an additional P100 will be collected for the MVR campaign shirt.

According to Oscar Paris, PRC Benguet Chapter Administrator, “With the participative and warm culture of the Cordillerans, we are confident that the whole CAR will deliver and indeed we are very much prepared for the MVR 2013 this February.”

“The said activity is not only a fun run but a cause-oriented, national coordinated activity that is why PRC has targeted around 1% of the total resident population, especially in the key municipalities and in Baguio City,” Paris explained.

Proceeds of the MVR will be alloted for the respective PRC chapters for humanitarian actions implementation such as volunteers training and purchasing of basic equipment.

In line with this, PRC also has a nationwide campaign to have at least one trained team leader and 43 volunteers for every barangay for cases of emergency. Every team will be provided a first aid kit and other necessary apparatus.

Moreover, Manuel James Laygo of Red Cross- Abra shared that they will be holding disaster preparedness seminars in far-flung communities in their province. “We are actually doing the fun run for those in the grass root communities, that’s why we are asking for more sponsors and volunteers to take part,” he ended. # nordis.net

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Abra stateman’s home declared a national historical site

January 27, 2013 in Cordillera, people

By ACE ALEGRE

BAGUIO CITY — Abra grand old man—Don Quintin Paredes’ home in Bangued, the province’s capital town was declared a National Historical Site.

The inauguration and laying of the cornerstone is set on February 23, 2013.

Descendants of the late Paredes are now undertaking preparations for this historical event in partnership with the National Historical Institute (NHI), the government-run Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Bangued local government unit.

The 15th Congress through Senate Resolution No. 380 adopted on December 12, 2012 declared Paredes Residence in Bangued as a heritage in honor of the late Quintin Paredes.

The declaration came one year after Senator Loren Legarda introduced Senate Resolution 136 declaring the birthplace of the late Paredes as a historical site.

Paredes was a statesman who served the Filipino nation with distinction and who championed the international cause for civil liberties, foremost of which is the inherent right of every man to freedom, life and the pursuit of happiness.

Lawyer Quintin Paredes III, one of the direct descendants of the late Paredes , expressed grateful appreciation to Mayor Ryan S. Luna upon learning his all-out support. The mayor approved that the laying of the cornerstone by the NHI at the Paredes Residence be the highlight of the Miki Festival of this capital town next month.

The Bangued mayor said, “we must all be proud to have this as a heritage in Bangued because it will put our province in the map because we will be recognized as a source of a Great Man in the history of our country. Moreover, this will be a come-on for our tourism industry.”

Luna has met with the Paredes clan represented by Ms. Socorro Valera-Guzman, former mayor of Dolores town and sister of former Gov. Vicente Valera, a staunch political foe of Mayor Luna and his clan. # nordis.net

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Abra mayor’s men first gun ban violators

January 27, 2013 in Cordillera, criminality

By ACE ALEGRE

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — Two “men” working for an Abra town mayor are listed as the first gun ban violators in the Cordillera region.

Cordillera Police Director Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong said Reynaldo Baruela, 49; and Jun Palecpec, 51; both of barangay Malapa-ao, Langiden are in hot waters after policemen led by Supt. Mario Mayam-es and Supt. Virgilio Pascua seized two caliber 45 pistols from the duo at a barangay fiesta in Langiden town on Sunday, January 20.

According to police reports the two are “men” of Langiden town, Abra Mayor Noel Castillo, formerly Abra province’s provincial jail warden.

Magalong said pre-positioned policemen who were earlier tipped of the duo, sealed all exits and succeeded in trapping both while they were about to elude arrest.

The duo were the first to fall in the gun ban operations in the province and all over the region ahead of the 2013 polls.

This as Cordillera policemen intensified their mobile checkpoints as early as the first week of December, said Magalong. “We have an average of 52 checkpoints a day,” the police official said.

The low number of apprehensions on gun ban violations, Magalong attributes to the people’s awareness.

Since January 13, these two were the only “violators” so far nabbed in the whole region. # nordis.net

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PNoy ignores land reform as Hacienda Luisita, Nueva Ecija lands still undistributed

January 27, 2013 in land rights, national

By ALYANSA NG MGA MAGBUBUKID SA GITNANG LUSON (PR)

NUEVA ECIJA — Farmers of the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (Amgl, Farmers’ Alliance in Central Luzon), particularly its member organizations Amgl-Nueva Ecija and Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) joined the call for justice for the victims of 1986 Mendiola Massacre.

And criticized President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, for ignoring land reform as an agenda and promotes lands to remain undistributed to poor farmers. The groups are referring to the highly disputed Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac and productive ricelands in Nueva Ecija.

“Aquino has affirmed his landlord class as he continues to keep farmers landless, farmworkers in Hacienda Luisita are yet to be benefit to the land distribution as his controlled-land reform department delays the process. While in our rice granary province Nueva Ecija, the government revokes land distribution, taking back lands from poor farmers such as the case of former Hacienda Davis in barangay Manggang Marikit, Bagong Barrio and Yuson (Mambayu) in Guimba town,” Joseph Canlas said, Amgl chairperson and Anakpawis Partylist Central Luzon Regional Coordinator.

The groups said that after a long and gruelling legal battle at the Supreme Court, farmworkers in Hacienda Luisita has yet to concretely benefit from Aquino’s commitment to abide by the high court decision. The farmers believe that the Dept. of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is deliberately delaying the land distribution process and would guarantee that their list of farmworker-beneficiaries (FWBs) would be crammed by Cojuangco-Aquino lackeys, to keep their control over the land.

In Nueva Ecija, where Manila sources its rice supply, productive rice lands are now being threatened to be converted, as local offices of DAR and land grabbers are ganging up against poor farmers and literally attempting to snatch lands from them such as the case of Mambayu.

The 82-hectare disputed land is formerly part of Hacienda Davis which was acquired by DAR, but leased to Philippine Cotton, a Taiwan-owned agro-corporation. 

The company abandoned the land, subsequently poor farmers cultivated them in 1992. After more than a decade of peaceful cultivation, the local office of DAR made up ListaSaka or list of farmer-beneficiaries in 2007. ListaSaka listed those who are known as lackeys of land grabbers and excluded the poor farmers of Mambayu. 

Since then, “There were many attempts by land grabbers, backed up by police and military to physically take away lands such as blocking farmers to work on their lands, attempting to fence around it and putting a ‘no trespassing’ sign. They were always thwarted by the resistance of many local farmers,” Canlas said.

The latest attempt was on December 6. About 200 elements of the Phil. National Police (PNP) 307th company and Nueva Ecija police and military belonging to 7th Infantry Division of the Phil. Army loaded in 2 six-by-six trucks and paid lackeys of land grabbers tried to occupy the lands and set up camp but Mambayu farmers were able to block the police and military, as well as dismantle their tents.

Mambayu farmers did so as it is obviously illegal as the case was pending at the DAR central office, where officials initially claimed that the certificate of land ownership awards (CLOA) being used by ListaSaka are questionable.

Amgl and Amgl-NE are also opposing the conversion of productive rice lands to give way to the Central Luzon Expressway (CLEx). The construction of CLEx phase 1 from Tarlac City to Cabanatuan City are to eject farmers from Zaragosa, Aliaga, and Quezon towns.

“If productive rice lands in Nueva Ecija are subjected to land use conversions, Manila and other parts of the country would be affected by the decline of rice supply coming from the province. We would be eating poor quality imported rice if LUC in the province pushes through, it is a problem that concerns all of us,” Canlas said.

“Aquino is protecting the interests of the rich landlord class and abandoning the poor farmers. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) prolonged by CARP Extension with ‘Reforms’ is already 24 years old but poor farmers remain landless. There was injustice in Mendiola Massacre and a repeat in Hacienda Luisita Massacre in 2004,” Canlas said.

To call for justice for the victims of Mendiola Massacre and drum up their issue, Hacienda Luisita farworkers and Amgl-NE farmers joined the protest on Tuesday at Mendiola, led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Anakpawis Partylist. # nordis.net

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Civil Service Commission announces exam dates

January 27, 2013 in national

By CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION (PR)

QUEZON CITY — The Civil Service Commission (CSC) will administer various examinations this year to screen prospective job applicants in government.

The CSC will conduct the written Career Service Examinations (CSE), both for Professional and Sub-Professional levels, on April 14 and October 13. For the April 14 schedule, applicants are being accepted at CSC Regional and Field Offices nationwide until February 28.

The CSE are general ability tests designed to measure verbal, analytical, numerical, and clerical skills. Passing the CSE entitles one to either a Professional or Sub-Professional eligibility which, along with education, experience and training requirements, is needed for permanent appointment to corresponding positions in the government career service.

It is open to Filipino citizens, regardless of educational attainment, who are at least 18 years old at the time of filing of application and who have not taken the same level of examination in less than three months. However, taking different levels of examination within the said period is allowed.

Other examinations to be administered for the year include the Foreign Service Officer Examination (FSOE) Qualifying Test and the Fire Officer Examination (FOE) on March 10; the Local Scholarship Program-Modified (LSP) Written Examination and the Penology Officer Examination (POE) on August 11.

The FSOE Qualifying Test will be conducted in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). It aims to recruit candidates for appointment to the position of Foreign Service Officer, Class IV to work for Philippine embassies and consulates.

The FOE results in the Conferment of the Fire Officer Eligibility considered appropriate for appointment to second level ranks in the fire protection service and functionally related positions, except ranks under the Philippine National Police (PNP). The LSP offers scholarship opportunities to qualified government employees.

The POE results in the conferment of the Penology Officer Eligibility considered appropriate for appointment to second level ranks in the jail and penology and to functionally related services, except ranks under the PNP.

The CSC advises interested applicants of the said government examinations to visit the CSC website at www.csc.gov.ph regularly for admission qualifications, application period, requirements, procedure, and other related information. # nordis.net

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Editorial: Genuine Freedom of Information Bill

January 27, 2013 in editorials, Featured, human rights, law, media, national, opinion

www.nordis.net

In the interest of good journalism and an informed community, the progress of the bill on Freedom of Information in congress is watched and covered by your community paper, especially on these last session days of the 15th Congress.

Last week just when the momentum for a final push for the bill was high, the principal sponsors of the bill withdrew their authorship after Malacaang entered its provisions. One of sponsors said, “It’s no longer Freedom of Information but Freedom of Exemption.”

The consolidated bill HB 6766 listed ten points of exemptions from public access among which include those pertaining to national security or defense, information that refers to the foreign affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, records of minutes during decision-making and policy-formulation, including the opinions and advice given then, are not to be disclosed. Drafts of resolution, order, memorandum or audit reports of any branch of government are also to be exempted from access.

The number and breadth of coverage of the said exemptions would, at a whim, restrict public access to information. Information that would limit the public’s capability to decide intelligently even on matters that has bearing on their day to day lives and perspectives as a community.

The already alarming situation of corruption both in government and in the ranks of the 4th estate remains a big threat to our democracy. These exemptions in an FOI bill is an articulation of politician’s wish to add restrictions over the peoples’ freedom to be informed and an attempt to legitimize violations of the masses’ basic human rights.

It is responsible and but right that the Makabayan bloc of progressive partylist groups in Congress withdraw their authorship from that mangled up copy of an FOI bill as much as it is but right for them to keep up their best to represent the people’s aspiration for a genuine Freedom of Information Bill. # nordis.net

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From Under This Hat: Baguio charter bill vetoed

January 27, 2013 in Baguio City, columns, Featured, land rights, opinion

By KATHLEEN T. OKUBO
www.nordis.net

I for one received it as good news that the President heard some solid advice enough to veto the drafted and deliberated bill amending the 104 year old Charter of Baguio City. I do believe in what Atty. Pablito Sanidad, Sr. said when he campaigned to represent the city in Congress longtime ago that it is hightime the City Charter be amended. This, I guess, was picked up by the elected congressman and made part of his program in the House of Representatives. But then, proposed amendments can be made to serve the needs of the people of the city or it can also be made in the name of the city to serve vested interests.

The news report described the vetoed bill as a “bill updating the 1909 Baguio City Charter, which the American colonial government enacted 104 years ago;” in a way that suggested the incumbent representative was fretting about it being vetoed. He was quoted to have said, “I spent a year and six months talking to every senator about the amended charter of the summer capital. The veto shocks me.”

In November last year, the bill was passed at the committee level in Congress “with no objections” not even from our City Councilors, and it was quietly moving in to become a law after it passed the Bicameral Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives last January 18. But thanks for the veto, Mr. President, it may allow the people of this city to read more of or on historical injustice and “to get their acts together.”

History records that the Baguio Charter was made under the American colonial rule (September 1909). It has also been written that earlier, then Governor General Cameron Forbes, an American, took interest into building this mountain ranch of the Ibaloi peoples into an American rest, recreation, and troop recuperation area. It was around this time that an order specified one mile radius from Mateo Cariño’s house was (unjustly) expropriated to form the city centre, while his pasture lands were transformed into the John Hay Air Base, the Bureau of Animal Industry and vast tracts of other Ibaloi’s lands were declared as government reservations (PMA, Teachers Camp, Busol, Pacdal, etc.). Rapid urbanization displaced the Ibaloi from their ancestral lands and opened the gates for migrant settlers. Today, the Ibaloi are a marginalized minority in Baguio City.

Ironically, some seven months before (February 23, 1909) the charter was made public, the US Supreme Court in a landmark decision penned by Oliver Wendell Holmes, upheld the land rights of Mateo Cariño over the area of Camp Johhn Hay and ruled that “Whatever may have been the technical position of Spain, it does not follow that in the view of the United States, he had lost all rights and was a mere trespasser when the present government seized his lands. The argument to that effect seems to amount to a denial of native titles, throughout an important part of the island of Luzon. … when as far back as testimony or memory goes, that land has been held by individuals under a claim of private ownership, it will be presumed to have been held in the same way from before the Spanish conquest, and never to have been public land.”

The Supreme Court decision, or Doctrine of native title, established a legal doctrine which is in fact the foundation of the Philippine Indigenous People’s Rights Act (IPRA), passed in 1997.The law recognizes ancestral domain, or ownership of land established through collective memories and custom law.

In a layman’s view, that old charter of Baguio was used by the colonial officials with the US army behind them and their local stooges in front, to legitimaze the grabbing of the Igorot lands, and the selling of these lands. To build their dream vacation city and line their pockets, they (the colonial government) deprived the Igorots of their traditional livelihood and practice of their culture. Any piecemeal amendment of the charter is not enough (as exhibited by the content of the vetoed bill) but a betrayal of the peoples trust. It should be completely revamped and rewritten to also reflect the correcting of the historical injustices the original charter cloaked and perpetrated against the Igorot tribes. # nordis.net

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Labor Watch: The good news for now

January 27, 2013 in columns, Featured, general welfare, law, opinion, workers

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

“O snail, Climb Mount Fuji. But slowly, slowly!” — Kobayashi Issa

Last week, the Committee of Labor and Employment (COLE) of the House of Representatives (HOR) headed by 2nd District of Northern Samar Representative and COLE Chairman Emil Ong spearheaded the Luzon wide consultation on the P125 legislated wage hike or the House Bill 375. The hearing was facilitated by Benguet Congressman Ronald Cosalan who is also the Vice-Chairman of COLE. The event was attended by representatives of progressive party lists and members of national and local organizations, unions and workers’ associations. Incidentally, nobody from the employers or business sector showed up to register their opposition to any wage increase as they did every time a public hearing on wage relief takes place.

During the hearing, Chairman Ong told the people that he heard that he prioritized going to the boxing match of two internationally famous boxing champs. He justified his presence at the ringside of that event saying he was there to show support to an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who was carrying the pride of the country. To other of his followers, it was reasonable. To many workers who are impoverished and can barely feed their families and send their children to school, such is shameful.

The representatives from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and particularly the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) of the Cordillera Region were there. They aired their side by saying they are not actually against any wage hike but they are seeing to it that any increase is fairly balanced to the employers and investors. They also say that increases are based on every region’s standard of living. A representative of the workers raised a valid concern, what if the worker works in a region where wages set by the local regional wage board is low and he lives in another region with a higher cost of living? And is it not that businessmen buy (import) their products from the National Capital Region or any central source of produce in bulk and sell it in the provinces at higher prices to ensure profit and return of capital? A simple rule in the business world. So the effect is that prices will be higher in some places.

The P125 wage hike demand started way back mid-1999, that is over a decade ago by Filipino workers and their families who want to make their daily wage cope with the rising of prices and cost of services. Many labor leaders, union members and heroes who struggled alongside with fellow workers and Filipinos died not knowing where this fight has gone to.

For over 14 years the poor Filipino workers waited for the approval of the P125 while witnessing and taking in the brunt of unhampered rise of prices and the cost of living. Though a sub-committee will have to make reports of the approval of the wage hike demand from the public hearing at La Trinidad, Benguet, the people were relieved and their hopes raised that the bill will be tackled in the remaining sessions of Congress.

For the members of the Congress who are seeking re-election, now is the time to impress the workers and seriously pass the P125 wage hike demand. And if that is done, the Filipino workers always know how to return favors despite the many centuries that capitalists used their brain and brawn without any gratitude. # nordis.net

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Women’s Front: SM and Baguio’s preservation

January 27, 2013 in Baguio City, columns, environment, Featured, opinion

By INNABUYOG-GABRIELA
www.nordis.net

It has been one year when the people of Baguio united against one enemy- the SM Mall. In January 2012, Baguio people were shocked when news broke out that SM Mall was going to earth-ball 182 fully grown pine trees from its lot. This is to make way for an extension of their parking lot. SM defended its actions stating that the people and the local government have no concern over the expansion of SM because the lot is privately owned by SM. A case was filed against SM management, but the courts dismissed this, citing there was no case.

SM being located in the central business area of the city is situated on a highly polluted and urbanized area. Air pollution is concentrated here. The minute number of trees surrounding the CBD is most helpful in alleviating the pollution. The trees also have a role in preventing flood in Session Road. Even as SM insists that the 182 trees will be earthballed and relocated into another area in Baguio, it is in Session where it is most needed and useful. Besides, it is not an assurance that the trees will continue to live and serve its purpose.

But beyond the environmental and aesthetic concerns, there are other concerns that must be highlighted and become major concerns for us, citizens of Baguio. First, we have to realize that SM Mall is trampling on small and local businesses of Baguio City. Since it operated, many small entrepreneurs were forced to close their business due to tough competition with SM. Baguio as a tourist destination, its economy lies mainly on seasonal tourism. Souvenirs, novelty items indigenous to Cordillera and food establishments that cater to tourists are great sources of income for the locals of Baguio. But these businesses are slowing down due to SM. Nowadays, SM itself has become a major tourist spot in Baguio. The competition between the local businesses and SM is tough. The once flourishing bazaars and small shopping complexes face bankruptcy. Baguio’s local businesses will constantly be threatened by the larger corporate SM. This is the way of corporate greed.

Another major concern that should be put out there is the welfare of SM Shopping Mall’s employees. Innabuyog itself has received clients with complaints of unjust treatment from the mall. There are complaints of unjust remuneration, inexplicable salary cuts and job insecurity because of contractualization. Rather than investing on expansion and infrastructures, SM must focus on developing and protecting the welfare of its workers, of whom half are women. If this would be a major source of employment for the people of Baguio, SM must at least ensure that their employees are guaranteed just compensation.

We, the Innabuyog-Gabriela urge the Bgauio citizens to defend this city from corporate greed. Let us unite against this act of disrespect for our beautiful city. Let us stop SM from destroying our trees and sacrifice our natural environs. We must unite on encouraging our Local Government to act on this problem and prohibit the destruction of our city. We must urge our LGU to create legislations that would protect small and local businesses. On the other hand, we must also urge the management of SM Malls to respect the people of Baguio and the land. We have to urge them to respect the Baguio people’s clamour to preserve a healthy Baguio City. And most of all, we must open our eyes and fight corporate greed.

Stop the SM expansion!
Protect all local enterprises!
Defend Baguio from corporate greed! # nordis.net

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