A group of women protesters yesterday took to the streets of Quezon City and Manila in their continuing fight against poverty and globalization in preparation of a series of street protests in time for the opening of the 6th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Meeting in Hong Kong on Dec. 13.
Women’s organizations which participated in the street protest said that since President Arroyo signed the Philippines to the WTO in 1995, the living conditions of Filipinos have worsened.
Women’s March Against Poverty and Globalization, an alliance of more than 50 women’s organizations, stressed that since Mrs. Arroyo signed the WTO agreement, there has been an incessant increase in the prices of commodities because of deregulation; inept yet expensive public services due to privatization and re-channeling of public funds to pay huge debts; and contractualization, retrenchments, and closure of factories owing to the liberalization of industry and agriculture.
The protest, dubbed as "Unang Yanig!" (initial tremor), started at 10 a.m. from Delta on Quezon Ave. corner West Ave. in Quezon City, ending in Plaza Miranda in Manila. The group stressed that most Filipino women do not have a job nor a source of income.
"This is especially true for women in the countryside," they said. "Negligence and misplaced priorities have left them a dying agricultural sector. On the other hand, for those women who are employed, most of them have to contend with the scourge of "6 months-6 months" employment contracts.
Mercedes Fabros, national coordinator of the Women’s March against Poverty and Globalization, had said that since the country became a member of the WTO in 1995, living conditions in the country worsened, forcing women to either leave their family and work abroad even under poor conditions to earn a living, and worse, enter prostitution. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)
Decline of health industry seen
Representatives of the health sector yesterday lamented the continued deterioration of the health industry which they fear will worsen when government pushes globalization further at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference in Hong Kong next week.
In a statement, Dr. Gene Alzona Nisperos, secretary general of the Health Alliance for Democracy (HEAD), said globalization has become more of a burden for Filipinos, particularly those working in the health sector. He cited the prices of medicines in the country that remain "prohibitively" high.
Nisperos said the high prices of medicines is a result of the continued monopoly of transnational (TNC) and multinational companies (MNC) in the pharmaceutical industry here.
He said 95 percent of pharmaceutical companies here are owned by TNCs and MNCs and that the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement in the WTO "will only ensure this stranglehold of TNCs and MNCs in the local drug industry."
Aside from the sky-high prices of medicines here, HEAD also said that health care remains one of the least priorities of the government as evidenced by the measly budget allocated for government hospitals. (Jenny F. Manongdo)
Chief Justice Awards today
The awarding ceremonies for the six winners of the 2005 Chief Justice Awards for Outstanding Service in the Judiciary will be held today, Friday, Dec. 9, 9 a.m., at the New Session Hall of the Supreme Court in Manila.
Leading the awardees is Milagros S. Ong, SC Senior Chief Staff Officer of the Library Services.
The other awardees from the appellate and lower court categories are Carmencita C. Angelo, Chief Judicial Staff Officer, Court of Appeals; Walter A. Cabelis, Information Systems Analyst II, Sandiganbayan; Judith V. Laroco, Financial Management Officer I, Court of Tax Appeals; Melita C. Salinas, Clerk III, Regional Trial Court, Branch 4, Baguio City (Second Level Courts); and Rowena S. Ruiz, Cashier I, Metropolitan Trial Court, Caloocan City (First Level Courts — MeTC and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts).
Each winner will receive a cash prize of R30,000, a trophy, and a certificate of recognition. They will also be given priority in promotion, entitlement to study grants, training courses, and other benefits.
Civic club marks 14th year
Socio-civic organization Marinduqueño Inc. is celebrating its 14th year of sharing, caring, and serving the underprivileged on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Kalayaan Hall of the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, Metro Manila starting at 7 p.m.
Founded in 1991 by the late Judge Manuel Villamayor, Club Marinduqueño has been embarking on improving the quality of life of the underserved by conducting health missions, academic scholarship program, and ensuring existence of potable water in remote barangays of Marinduque.
CMI president Roberto Rejano enjoins all Marinduqueños to be one in this annual event, and support its worthy causes.
Inquiries may be coursed through 5212493 (Robert Rejano), 9202797 (Atty. Nancy Belarmino Tee), and 3307208 (Susan Solmirano Palor).
