Archive for February 3rd, 2009
Bulacan, Rizal communities up in arms against landfills
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
January 28, 2009
An environment group and local residents of two towns near Metro Manila are opposing the construction of two landfills, which, they claim, are both located in watershed or forest areas.
Environment group Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE) and local groups from San Mateo town in Rizal province and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan province told reporters in a forum Wednesday that the landfills constructed in these towns would pose risks to residents and to nearby watershed areas.
Fr. Anacleto Ignacio, one of the leaders of those who oppose the landfill in Barangay Minuyan Proper in San Jose del Monte, said the local government allowed the construction of the landfill despite the health risks it poses to the residents.
“We are saddened by the fact that there are government officials and businessmen who will risk the life of our people and destroy the environment for the sake of profit,” Ignacio said, adding that the landfill is in Barangay Minuyan Proper, which is also the site of the water treatment plant of the town.
Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of Kalikasan-PNE, added that the San Jose del Monte landfill still does not have an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
Similarly, residents of Barangay Guinayang in San Mateo town in Rizal are calling for the closing of the landfill project in their area. Tony Balute, a local resident and member of Coalition for Garbage-Free San Mateo, said that aside from the dangers it pose to their health, there are anomalies surrounding how operators obtained the legal requirements.
BPOs can absorb laid off workers–but they should be trained first
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
January 23, 2009
Workers who have been affected or will be affected by lay offs triggered by the global economic crisis can be re-trained so they can be absorbed by the business process outsourcing and information technology industries, outsourcing experts and industry players said.
During the pre-event press conference for the 2009 e-Services Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition to be held in February, industry experts said that retrenched workers from the manufacturing sectors are welcome to join the BPO industry as long as they meet the skills needed by the outsourcing firms.
The statement came after news that 1,800 workers of Intel Corp., the world’s largest manufacturer of micro-processors, will lose their jobs as the company is set to shut down its plant in Cavite.
“BPO and IT industry are looking forward to basically absorb them,” said Lauro Vives, chief executive officer of information and communications techonology research firm XMG Asia Pacific.
Vives, however, said that not all workers are suited to jobs in the BPO and IT sector and the government should help them by providing them training. (abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak)
Former intel chief Danga’s appointment to NPO stains election process–Namfrel
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
January 27, 2009
Election watchdog head Henrietta de Villa of the National Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) expressed her worry over the recent appointment of a retired military officer involved in the controversial Hello Garci scandal as head of the National Printing Office (NPO).
Speaking during the launch of the election database Web site of NAMFREL in Manila, de Villa slammed the appointment of retired general and former head of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) Tirso Danga as head of the agency that will print the ballots for the 2010 elections.
“We are very concerned over the new appointment of the president for the chief of the National Printing Office,” de Villa told reporters.
Danga was the head of ISAFP during the 2004 elections, when its agents allegedly intercepted and bugged telephone conversations between President Arroyo and former Commission on Elections commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. The wiretapped conversations, popularly called Garci tapes, hinted on rigging the results of the election in favor of Arroyo. (abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak)
Who is Tirso Danga?
By Jesus F. Llanto
Researcher, Newsbreak
February 2, 2009
President Gloria Arroyo’s appointment of retired Rear Admiral Tirso Danga as head of the National Printing Office (NPO) was met with criticism by government officials and the head of a poll watchdog.
Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. likened his appointment as chief of the agency that will print the ballots for the 2010 elections to placing a “forger as governor of the Central Bank” because of his involvement in the “Hello Garci” scandal.
Danga, a Philippine Military Academy 1975 graduate, was appointed to replace Enrique Agana, who was accused of raping a girl.
“The swiftness with which the Palace removed Agana from his post and installed Rear Admiral Danga as his replacement clearly show an administration effort to put the National Printing Office under the control of a man whom it can trust despite his sullied reputation. But this only raises suspicion that this is part of a sinister agenda to manipulate the 2010 elections to keep administration forces in power,” Pimentel said in a statement.
Henrietta de Villa, head of the National Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL), said that his appointment would taint the results of the 2010 elections. (abs-cbnNews.com/Newsbreak)
