FACT FINDING MISSION AT MURCIA DISCLOSE INITIAL FINDINGS By: Owen Segovia Bayog

Members of militant organizations conducted a fact finding mission at Hacienda Ilimnan, Barangay Sta. Rosa, Murcia regarding the alleged dislocation of farmers in the area due to the procurement of land by the Provincial Government for its cattle and dairy farm.  Initial findings of the team also disclosed that the properties bought by the province are mostly lands that are under petition for land reform and most of farmers in the area have Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA).

In a phone interview by NDB, Bayan Negros – Secretary General Christian Tuayon said that the land is owned by Alfonso Arguelles Sr. and was divided to three of his siblings namely; Gloria, George and Alfonso Arguelles Jr.  The said property was declared by MARO of Murcia, Edwin Sanchez “unproductive” but the Fact Finding Team found otherwise as the land are planted with Sugar Cane and partials of land are being used as rice fields.  

23 houses of farmers were demolished during the procurement of the land and were promised to get a job from the province amounting to P6,000 a month but later on farmers were made to plant napier grass and received a salary P1,500 for two weeks of work, Tuayon said.  Only 17 workers were made to work for p58/day, Tuayon added.

Participating organizations that conducted the said Fact Finding Mission are; Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Negros, National Federation of Sugar Workers, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Gabriela.  The team will present the fact finding report as soon as they are done with the collation of date and will meet members of the media to present the Fact Finding report.

“ The initial data gathered by the fact finding team today shows a discrepancy on the procurement of the property and the province was not able to provide work for the demolished and dislocated farmers to pave way for this government project”, Tuayon pointed out.#osb

BAYAN SAYS PNOY MAY BE OUSTED By: Owen Segovia Bayog

Multi- sectoral alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Christian Tuayon says President Benigno Aquino III may be ousted by the Filipino people if he continues to dismay the people due to his inaction to the people’s plight against poverty, hunger, joblessness and landlessness.  Recent surveys reflecting the performance and trust rating of the president has shown that 75% of the people believe in the performance of Pnoy and 77% believes that his programs will bring forth progress to the nation.

Tuayon says that the trust ratings and performance rating of Pnoy does not reflect the situation of the Filipino people.  He cited that Filipinos continues to become homeless in their own country whereas Multi-National and Trans-National Corporations continue to come in and occupying the Philippine soil.  The activist also lamented on the fact that President Aquino has not step in to take action on the Oil Deregulation Law that has caused the sky-rocket prices of Oil and other commodities.

BAYAN also disclosed that a movement is shaping up to expose the present administration and forge larger unities with the people and oust a president if the present condition of the Filipino people continues to go down in poverty.  Tuayon also said that farmers in the countryside is asking for land but had been answered by military presence and harassments on the ranks of freedom fighters and organizers for the people’s cause.

“As long as the people dwell in the present irreversible crisis, their struggle for the rights will continue and may elevate to a higher level”, “Bayan cannot discount the people’s will if they will decide to oust a president that serves the interest of the few and the elite”, Tuayon added.#osb

CERES UNDERCHARGING FARE SAYS UNDOC By: Owen S. Bayog

Transport Center – United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC) says Ceres is undercharging fare and is killing small transport operators. Secretary General Jessie Ortega says they are calling for the public not to patronize Ceres as it gently takes away the food on the table for drivers and small operators plying the North bound route. 

Undoc calls on the passengers of Talisay, Silay and Victorias not to patronize Ceres Liner so as small operators and drivers may survive.  Orgtega also told NDB that this is also due to the move of the City Government, establishing terminals in the guise of reducing the number of vehicles so as not to cause traffic congestion in the City but favors a monopoly in the industry.

“How could drivers and small operators of jeepneys and mini-buses compete with the giant Ceres Liner who can afford to lower down fare and could still go on with their operations”, Ortega added.  The City Officials could not pressure the said company and allow these small players to get their share of the passengers and income to survive economically, says Ortega.

Last week a consumer’s alliance group also met and came with position exposing the interests behind the North Terminal and called the said move of the City Government as “Lopsided Development”.  “Development should serve the interest and benefits of the people, otherwise, such development is lopsided. We have witnessed many times how oppressive development can be if the welfare of the majority is disregarded”, says Maria Elena Lazarte of Consumers Alliance of Negros (CANE).

“The government, where authority is supposedly entrusted by the people, should promote and uphold the welfare of its broad constituents. Thus, the policies and resolutions it passes must be expressive of the desires and aspirations of the people it promised to serve”, Lazarte concluded.#osb 

NEVER AGAIN TO MARTIAL LAW – BAYAN by: Owen Segovia Bayog

Multi-Sectoral Center – Bagong Alyansang Makabayan – Negros along with other progressive and militant organizations held a rally in front of the Provincial Capitol yesterday afternoon to commemorate the 39^th year of the declaration of martial law.  Militants also called for Governor Freddie Marañon to address the problems of farmers being harassed and dislocated from the land they till in Sagay.

Karapatan Secretary General Fred Caña slams the Provincial Government for inaction over the recent harassments done to farmers at Sitio Tubigan, Sagay as alleged members of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army (RPA) who dismantled a farmers camp out in the area.  The people coming from Sagay joined the protest rally to appeal to Marañon to stop the hostilities and hear the plea for land and jobs.

Caña also disclosed the death of a political prisoner, Crisanto Fat who is a peasant leader of Naghiliusa nga mga mangunguma sa Barangay Quintin Remo which is an affiliate organization with the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP).  Fat was arrested of illegal possession of firearms and explosives in April 2009 and a year after he had been diagnosed to suffer a heart enlargement.  Human Rights groups requested for his release due to the false accusations and his health condition but they were not heard.

Bayan Negros, Secretary General Christian Tuayon blames the present administration for fabricating charges against militants and activists that were jailed due to criminal charges.  “This only comes to show that the Government is not sincere in talking about peace”, Tuayon said.  “What we have now is a Defacto Martial – Law where the people are being deceived by the Government by making them believe that what we have now is democracy”, Tuayon added.

Bayan scored the Aquino administration as a failure and is only concerned on serving the interests of the few, the ruling class and the elite.  “The people who are suffering from the crisis will stand up and topple a president if this should continue”, “History have proven it during the time of Marcos, the people will not hesitate to oust a president if he does not solve the economic and political problems that continues to haunt the people”, Tuayon concluded.#osb

RH BILL WITH SEVERAL AMMENDMENTS ON IT’S WAY, GABRIELA By: Owen Segovia Bayog

Representative Emi De Jesus – of Gabriela Women’s Partylist in a press conference at the Negros Media Center last Friday.*(Owen S. Bayog/NDB photo)

Gabriela Women’s Partylist Representative Emi De Jesus says a consolidated bill which is House Bill 4244 on RH is on its way for debate on Congress after the executive and legislative branches had given their observations regarding the Reproductive Health Bill.  De Jesus said that were no major revisions except on moving a certain provision of the bill saying that sexuality education on Grade 5 pupils will be moved to Grade 6. 

The executive branch of Congress also gave an opinion to retain the provision that came from the Gabriela Women’s Partylist version on the rights of the women workers who are pregnant.  Given the recent developments on RH Bill, De Jesus told members of the media that there might be a dramatic appreciation of the consolidated bill and so as to clear out certain points that RH Bill has no relation to population control.

The said bill had earned a large opposition from the church and pro-life groups in the province who had demonstrated against RH in Negros and had shaped up on a national scale to reject the said “Death Bill”. 

Gabriela on the otherhand says they are working on certain amendments after they will be meeting with the other authors of the House Bill. De Jesus further added that they are to change the provisions that stipulates on population control.  “There are other groups who are opposing for the passage of the bill”, “We are for the most number of women who want to access the Reproductive Health program that should be encompassing”, De Jesus further added.#osb 

KMU SLAMS FOUR DAY WORK WEEK By: Owen S. Bayog

Labor Center Kilusang Mayo Uno Negros slams the proposal of Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo which pushed for the “Four-Day Work Week Act of 2011” at the House of Representatives, seeking to achieve a “work-life balance” for workers and to lessen workers’ spending for food and transportation.

Ronald Ian Evidente, spokesperson of KMU Negros says – the workers immediate need is not a cut in the number of days and hours of work instead they need wage increases that could cope on the daily needs of the workers and their families amid the rising cost of Oil and basic commodities, education, shelter and food.

The Four-Day Work Week will push workers on extended hours and will add physical stress rather that have them work for 8 hours and give them the substantial wage and benefits so that they may attain the said balance between work and life, Evidente said.

The workers want the eight-hour work and significant wages to be legislated so as to temporarily relieve the workers on the ever increasing prices of oil and commodities, Evidente concluded.#osb

10 YEARS AFTER 9-11 By: Owen S. Bayog

[biofuelsdigest.com photo]

Ten years after the dreaded terrorist attack - I just hope there will be none today...

FLOODED CITY STREETS By: Owen S. Bayog

Rain poured down hard early this afternoon and it only took 1 hour and Bacolod has flooded City streets just like this on at SM City Bacolod. [osb photo]

MASSKARA 2011 EXPECTED TO DRAW MORE TOURISTS By: Owen S. Bayog

[Owen Segovia Bayog photo]

The MassKara Festival has not failed to draw tourists to come to the City of Bacolod since 2004.  Every year it is observed that it is increasing due to the Festival and other things that the City offers, according to Bacolod City Tourism Officer Imogene Kana-an.  Summer time also draw-in tourists as seminars, conventions and national gatherings are held in the City.

The street dance competition that in October is much awaited since groups will be the one to compose their music.  There are various festival areas to choose from the Plaza, Lacson Tourism Strip and at the New Government Center.  MassKara 2011 also enjoins the people not only for the merry making but being part of the history of the City.  Business establishments up to the street vendors enjoy the sales as tourists as well as the local roam the City streets during the festival.

This years’ MassKara Festival will be the time to showcase the City – the world renowned festival and was observed to be a peaceful gathering of people who celebrates the good life in the City.  The increasing population of Call Centers in Bacolod has also pulled up the tourist influx as investors come in first as tourists and when they have tested the amenities of the City – the Local Government and business environment, they come back and invest, said Kana-an.

The schedule of the festivity had been initially released and more events keep filling up and much more is in store for the people.  Tourism in the City continues to grow as local businesses thrive in a livable and peaceful environment brought about by the present leadership under Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia, Kana-an ended.#osb

RECYCLE By: Owen S. Bayog

The saying goes "May pera sa basura" - photos taken at Libertad Market after stores dispose rotten vegetables to the dump - here is a kid picking up these onions amid the garbage pile and later on sort those what they call "pwede pa" and sell it at market again.

I am not against people who want to earn a living during these hard times - but on who's table will these land?  Safe? Clean? Goodluck!