ChaCha protests intensify

(published on August 22, 2008 in Philippine Collegian)
by Richard Jacob Dy

Opposition continues to intensify against the Arroyo government's renewed plans for Charter Change (ChaCha), which the administration claimed would bring lasting peace in Mindanao and national development through a federal system of government.

"Arroyo's ground for federalism are not intended for Mindanao's peace progress but for her term extension," said Anakbayan National Chairperson Ken Ramos in a youth-led demonstration of some five hundred protesters in Welcome Rotonda on August 15.

Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), said in the protest, "Arroyo is taking advantage of the issue in Mindanao. She uses it for her political motive to [be realized] and that is for her to stay in office beyond 2010." He added that Arroyo is desperate to stay in power so that she could maintain immunity from possible lawsuits on graft and corruption after 2010.

"We condemn the Arroyo administration's malicious maneuvering of the Mindanao conflict to resurrect [her] unpopular bid for charter change," said Ramos in a statement.

According to IBON Foundation's April survey, 68 percent of the respondents are not in favor of Arroyo's plans for ChaCha among the 69 percent who are aware of the proposal.

Arroyo previously said that federalism, which grants more power and autonomy to local government units, is the key to uphold the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's demands for self-rule.

Ramos, however, said federalism through ChaCha will only strengthen the control of Arroyo and her allies over the provinces they govern. He added that Arroyo's allies comprise most of the representatives who will have the power to vote for the prime minister in a parliamentary-federal system which may possibly be included in the ChaCha proposal.

Reyes said aside from the administration's efforts to change the constitution and maintain Arroyo's hold on power through a parliamentary-federal government, the president also seeks to allow the United States' (US) presence in Mindanao.

Carol Araullo, chairperson of Bayan, said the US government already expanded their intervention in Bangsamoro affairs with a $30-million fund for the US Institute of Peace (USIP) to supposedly solve Mindanao conflict.

"Dahil sa mga pagluluwag sa [pinaplanong] ChaCha, mas magiging investment-friendly para sa US ang Mindanao," she said. She added that USIP will instigate US control on oil fields and other geopolitical resources of Mindanao.

Ramos said the earlier gathering is a build-up for a larger protest and student walkout against ChaCha on August 22.

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Maroons' loss to Archers limits chance for final four

(published on August 15, 2008 in Philippine Collegian)
by Richard Jacob Dy
...
After suffering its seventh loss, the UP Fighting Maroons is holding on to dear life and will have to win its five remaining games to cop a slot in the final four of the UAAP basketball tournament.
....

The Maroons endured its second defeat to the De La Salle Green Archers in the second round of the games on August 10 at the PhilSports Arena.

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In the first three minutes of the UP-La Salle game, big man Magi Sison gave an impressive swat on an Archer attempting a facial shot. Four minutes gone, the bout resumed after timeout with back-to-back two-point shots by guard Martin Reyes for UP's early lead 7-5. Less than a minute left, however, the Archers ran a good defense and shot nonstop drops to own the quarter with a 12-point lead. Sison finished the period with a buzzer-beater, 9-19.

...

Following a poor starter, the Maroons gained momentum in the second quarter with Kevin Astorga's consecutive two-point drives to basket. Forward Woodward Co and Reyes attempted to sustain the force but fell short with two missed shots. A three-pointer by Reyes impressively cut the lead to four ending the second half with a close 30-34.

...

Reyes and guard Arvin Braganza worked impressive shots in the first three minutes of the third canto, but the Archers retaliated with more rebounds and a better defense, widening its lead to 9 points. Around five minutes remaining, Reyes scored a three-pointer to bring the scores to 38-45. Yet again, the Archers' counter-offensive three point shots matched Maroon guard Paul Sorongon's and team captain Jay Agabayani's two-point knockdowns to slam the period, 59-48.

...

The last quarter saw Sorongon missing a lay-up midway and mishandling the ball outside the court twice during the period, limiting the chance for the Maroons to redeem itself. The team relied much on Reyes' two three-point shots for the last three minutes. The Maroons, however, missed another drop and the Archers shot an off-the-backboard for the last-minute play to end the game, 61-81.

...

"We are the youngest team. [But] after a year, we are going to be a really tough team. We just have to continue getting better," said Coach Aboy Castro of the team's loss, adding that winning the last five games may still give them an elusive final-four slot..

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For their remaining games, the UP ballers are up against veteran teams from the University of the East, AdamsonUniversity, Ateneo De Manila University, Far Eastern University, and University of Santo Tomas.

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The Maroons suffered an earlier defeat in the August 7 game with the National University (NU) Bulldogs, 59-72.

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State of Denial

(published on August 7, 2008 in Philippine Collegian)
by Richard Jacob Dy

Arroyo's SONA: Polls on self-rated poverty down to a 20-year low in 2007
People's SONA: Self-rated poverty jumps to 59 percent in the 2nd quarter of 2008 (Social Weather Station)

Arroyo's SONA: Funds for high school and college scholarships have quadrupled
People's SONA: Government spending per student has declined since 2001 by 2.4 percent annually

Arroyo's SONA: Creation of a million new jobs in 2007
People's SONA: 16 million Filipinos in the labor force are unemployed or underemployed; 8.7 million Filipinos work abroad as of 2007 (IBON Foundation Inc.)

Arroyo's SONA: Low inflation rate in 2007
People's SONA: 11.4 percent inflation rate recorded in June, the highest in 14 years

Arroyo's SONA: Value added tax (VAT) on oil contributes P80 billion in government revenues
People's SONA: VAT nonsensical, as revenue uncollected from smuggling amounts to P140 billion (Senator Francis Escudero)

Arroyo's SONA: Allocation of more than P3 billion for anti-graft fund
People's SONA: Office of Ombudsman 2008 budget was only P991 million

Arroyo's SONA: We import 10 percent of the rice we consume
People's SONA: 14 percent of yearly rice necessity was imported in 2007 (AGHAM)

Arroyo's SONA: P32/kg-commercial rice addresses existing food problem
People's SONA: Cost of commercial rice up to P39 as of July (National Food Authority)

Arroyo's SONA: Natural family planning limited population growth to 2.04 percent annually during her administration
People's SONA: Most Filipinos prefer artificial over natural methods (2006 Family Planning Survey, National Statistics Office)

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Chancy selection for three campuses underway

(published on August 7, 2008 in Philippine Collegian)
by: Richard Jacob Dy

Issues on representation and transparency in the process yet again hound the ongoing search for the next chancellors of UP units in Visayas (UPV), Los Banos (UPLB), and Manila (UPM).

Mae Therese Anglopez, University Student Council (USC) chair of UPV, said the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and Tacloban College were unable to participate in the nomination for the members of the unit's search committee (SC).

Anglopez said the memo calling for nominations to the SC was ignored by former dean Ebonia Seraspe. "All colleges from Tacloban to Miagao were informed of the nomination. But CAS student council did not even know about it until last July 28 after all SC seats were taken," she added.

Seraspe could not be reached as of press time.

Dr. Erlinda Palaganas, national president of the All-UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU), also said SC reports should be made available to the public. "Search committee reports are no exemption to the democratic process and transparency valued in the university," she said.

Currently, SC reports are submitted only to UP President Emerlinda Roman, who will then recommend a nominee to the Board of Reagents (BOR).

Leo Fuentes, UPLB-USC chair, meanwhile, said the next chancellor should look at education as a right, and uphold the democratic rights of students by conducting consultations when implementing new policies.

The deadline for nominations is set on August 12, after which a series of interviews and consultations with the nominees will be held until September 5. Roman will endorse a nominee in the BOR meeting on September 29.

"The challenge for the committees is to conduct as much as possible comprehensive consultations (with) all constituents and colleges. Active participation of [all] constituents is necessary," says Student Regent Shahana Abdulwahid.

There are no nominees yet in the three units as of press time.

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Overworked

(published on July 28, 2008 in Philippine Collegian)
by: Richard Jacob Dy

Unemployment rate as of April, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO): 8 percent
Number of unemployed Filipinos: 2.9 million
Number of underemployed, or those working less than 40 hours a week: 6.6 million

Number of employed Filipinos: 33.5 million
Percentage of workers in the services sector: 49.6 percent or 16.6 million
Percentage of workers in the agriculture sector: 33.5 percent or 11.9 million
Percentage of workers in the industry sector: 14.9 percent or 5 million

Daily minimum wage nationwide, except in the National Capital Region (NCR): P285 to P320
Daily minimum wage in NCR: P382
Actual minimum daily wage in Central Visayas, according to the National Wages and Productivity Commission: P156.25
Amount of minimum wage increase in Central Visayas effective June: P17

Total number of labor unions: 17,021 with 1,918,000 members
Number of labor unions that were able to secure collective bargaining agreements in 2007: 1,542
Total amount of minimum wage increase demanded by labor unions: P80 to P125

Total number of Filipinos abroad in 2007: 8.7 million
Number of overseas Filipino workers (OFW): 5 million
Number of Filipinos leaving everyday to work abroad: 3,000
Total amount of OFW remittances from January to May 2008: $6.8 billion or about P300 billion

Percentage increase in the prices of basic goods and commodities since 2001: 37.5 percent
Percentage increase in minimum wage since Gloria Arroyo assumed office in 2001: 18.6 percent

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