Ayon kay H.B. Stowe, isang sikat na manunulat, ang kababaihan ang tunay na arkitekto ng lipunan. Mula sa pagiging ilaw ng tahanan ay kayang pagalawin ng kababaihan ang isang kilusang mapagpabago at mapagpalaya.
Gamay din ng mga kababaihan ang lahat ng kanto ng kusina. At hindi lang sila ang nakakonsumo ng mga produkto ng Nutri Asia. At kasing halaga ng papel na ginagampanan ng mga kababaihan sa kusina ang papel ng mga manggagawang kababaihan sa loob ng pagawaan nito.
Pero sa sinapit nila ng ilang dekada ay hindi.
Halos kalahati sa mga manggagawang natanggal sa NutriAsia ay kababaihan. “Hindi naman kami kriminal, pero kung tratuhin nila kami parang kriminal,” matapang na paglalahad ni Elena Francisco, isa sa 14 na nahuli noong nagkaroon ng marahas na dispersal sa kanilang piketlayn sa labas ng pagawaan. Anim na araw at pitong gabing nasa kulungan si Elena.
Ayon pa sa kaniya, nag iiba ang trato ng mga pulis kapag may media na darating upang kumuha ng video sa kalagayan nila. Pero ang totoo ay napakahirap ng kanilang kalagayan doon. May pagkakataon pa na noong ibinyahe sila ay pinosasan sila nang sobrang higpit na nagkulay-violet na ang kanilang mga kamay pero di pa rin niluluwagan ng mga pulis.
Si Elena ay walong taon nang nagtatrabaho bilang isang labeler at mula nang magtrabaho ay hindi niya naranasang maging regular. Tubong Bacolod ngunit dahil mahirap ang buhay sa probinsya ay nakipagsapalaran siya sa Maynila noong 2010.
Bukod sa walong taong pagiging kontraktwal ni Elena ay kulang kulang din ang pasahod at benepisyong natatanggap niya. Pero ito ay tiniis niya sa mahabang panahon dahil siya na lamang ang inaasahan ng kaniyang magulang na magbibigay ng panggastos sa kanila.
Ngunit ang pagtitiis niya ay humantong na sa pagtatapos nang matanggal siya matapos ang pagsama niya sa noise barage na isinagawa ng nagsama-samang mga manggagawa ng NutriAsia. Sa kagustuhan niyang mabalik sa trabaho kasama ng iba pang natanggal ay naglunsad sila ng strike sa labas ng pagawaan ngunit ito ay hindi nagustuhan ng kompanya at nagpadala sila ng mga pulis upang buwagin ang kanilang piketlayn.
“Ang gusto lang namin ay maibalik kami sa trabaho. Hindi kasi tama na basta basta na lang kami tatanggalin ng ganun”, ani Elena.
Hanggang ngayon ay patuloy ang kanilang welga hanggang sa makamit nila ang kanilang mga lehitimong karapatan. Matibay ang kanilang paninindigan na hindi mali ang lumaban, may mali kaya sila lumalaban.
The Water for the People Network (WPN) is dismayed that the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System – Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) would not readily reveal the numbers involving water companies’ petitions for tariff increases in public consultations that the MWSS-RO itself convened this week. The group said that by doing so, the government agency effectively hindered the consumers’ right to know. Instead of genuinely consulting the people, it seemed to be conditioning the public to blindly accept the impending rate hikes based on the petitions of the Manila Water Company (Manila Water) and Maynilad Water Services Inc. (Maynilad), said the group.
A concession agreement (CA) between government and water concessionaires warrants the rate rebasing process every five years. The process pertains to the determination of new tariffs based on the Manila Water and Maynilad’s past and future expenses, as well as a rate of return that will allow the firms to recover their investments. The MWSS-RO has conducted public consultations before and during the past rate rebasing periods purportedly to grasp the public pulse with regard to the implementation of new tariffs. The private companies’ petitions have historically been approved, resulting in water rates increasing manyfold through the years, except during the 2013 rate rebasing period.
In September 2013, the MWSS prohibited Maynilad and Manila Water to collect their corporate income taxes and company incentives such as recreation and travel expenses through pass-on charges. Hence, the rate rebasing results reflected amounts lower than both companies’ petitioned rates.
Teddy Casiño, WPN spokesperson, said, “Show us the numbers. If water regulators truly prioritize public interest and want consumers involved in the rate rebasing process, they should make information in Maynilad and Manila Water’s petitions readily available to the public. Otherwise, these public consultations are a PR gimmick.”
During this period’s rate rebasing public consultations, water regulators and the consultants they hired to review water concessionaries’ proposals were reluctant to share pertinent details such as the rate increases requested and basis for the rates such as company earnings, expenditures, and future expenses. They were also hesitant to answer if questionable charges prohibited in the 2013 rate rebasing process were also included.
WPN said that without vital rate rebasing information from the MWSS-RO, water consumers will be left in the dark and made vulnerable to the water companies’ onerous fees.
The group urged water regulators to uphold their mandate to protect public interest and ensure that Maynilad and Manila Water will not pass on unwarranted expenses to already burdened water consumers. ###
The Water for the People Network (WPN) is composed of groups and individuals promoting people’s control over water services and resources
The militant peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas expressed doubt as to the availability of cheap rice from the National Food Authority in retail markets as earlier announced by the government.
Sunud-sunod na nagsisiputukan ang piket ng manggagawa sa iba’t-ibang pagawaan at iisa lang ang dahilan ng kanilang patuloy na pagsigaw sa kanilang mga panawagan — wakasan ang kontraktwalisasyon. Dumaranas sila ng matinding paglabag sa kanilang mga karapatan na sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin at paghirap ng buhay ay hindi na makaampat ang kanilang matagal na pagtitiis sa kalam ng sikmura.
“Manggagawang kontraktwal, gawing regular!” naririnig natin sa mga pagkilos ng mga manggagawa kamakailan. Mula sa Middleby sa Laguna Technopark, NutriAsia sa Bulacan, Pepsi Cola sa Muntinlupa, Jollibee commissary sa Parañaque hanggang sa pagawaan ng Uni-Pak Sardines sa Navotas Fish Port Complex—talamak ang kontraktwalisasyon at pang-aapi sa mga manggagawa.
Marami silang dumaraing—1,400 sa NutriAsia, 400 sa Jollibee commissary, pero nasa 7,000 sa mga tindahan nito, higit 1,000 sa Pepsi Cola, 350 sa Uni-Pak—pero iilan pa lang sila sa mga kontraktwal na pinahihirapan ng ganitong sistema bagaman bawal umano sa batas ang kontraktwalisasyon sa mga trabahong esensyal sa kumpanya. Tinataya rin ng Kilusang Mayo Uno Metro Manila na walo sa sampung manggagawa sa Kamaynilaan ay mga kontraktwal.
Sila iyong pinapasahod ng mababa sa nakatakda rin sa batas na minimum na sahod—bagaman mababa na ito sa tinatayang pangangailangan ng isang pamilya na P1,038 kada araw. Mababa rin ang sahod nila kaysa sa tinakdang napakababang ‘poverty line’ ng Philippine Statistics Authority na P9,000 o ‘di kaya’y sa minsa’y sambit ng NEDA na nasa P10,000 na sapat na para mabuhay ng disente.
Sila iyong walang benepisyo at pinagbabawalan na mag-organisa ng unyon na maaaring magtanggol ng kanilang karapatan.
Hindi nalalayo diyan ang kalagayan ni Marilou “Malou” Torreda, 56 taong gulang, ina sa anim na anak at isang manggagawa mula sa Slord Development Corporation o Slord. Halos magta-tatlong dekada na siyang filler o tagalagay ng isda sa lata pero siya ay nananatiling ‘extra regular’ pa rin.
Slord ay sinasabing pagmamay-ari ni Pedro Yap at ang prodyuser at distributor ng Uni-Pak Sardines. Sila rin ay toll packer ng iba pang brand ng mga delatang sardinas.
Binanggit niya sa amin ang iba’t-ibang uri ng mga manggagawa na namamasukan sa Slord: ang manggagawang extra ay sumasahod lamang ng P350, para sa manggagawang katulad niya na extra regular ay P370 at ang sinasahod ng isang supervisor kada araw ay P400. Hindi maikukubli na mas mababa pa sa minimum ang sahod niya at ng iba pang manggagawa sa pagawaan.
Dagdag pa niya na noong una siyang namasukan sa Slord ay P65 lang ang kanyang sinusweldo kada araw.
Kinakaltas pa sa kanilang kakarampot na sweldo ang kagamitan at uniporme na kanilang ginagamit sa pagpasok at wala pang mga benepisyo katulad ng SSS, Philhealth at PAG-IBIG.
Higit pa doon, hindi pa sagot ng kumpanya ang anumang pinsala na maaaring maidulot sa kanila ng pagtatrabaho.
Bukod dito, ikinuwento niya din sa amin na umaamoy sila ng mga isdang may formalin na nanggagaling sa steamer. Sinasabi nila Malou na mapanganib sa kalusugan, pero maraming oras nila itong ginagawa sa bawat araw ng paggawa.
Tinanggal si Malou at kanyang mga kasamahan matapos silang magprotesta sa naunang pagtatanggal ng kanilang mga kasamahan na bahagi ng mga nagbuo ng samahan ng kontraktwal na manggagawa sa Slord. Mula sa pagtatayo ng samahan, pagsasampa nila ng reklamo sa Department of Labor and Employment sa hindi maayos na kalagayan sa paggawa at pagpapatupad ng iligal na labor-only contracting sa paggawaan, sunod-sunod na umano ang panghaharas ng management sa mga nagpoprotestang manggagawa.
Ang alam nila Malou, necessary and desirable ang kanilang paggawa sa loob ng paggawaan. Paano magkakaroon ng isda sa lata kung hindi nila pipilian ang mga isdang ilalagay at mismong isisilid ang mga ito sa lata? Ginagawa nila ito sa loog ng walo hanggang 12 oras. Ngunit nakatakas ang may-ari ng Slord sa halos tatlong dekada sa barya-baryang pasahod at walang benepisyo sa mga manggagawa, habang kumakamal ng milyon-milyong tubo.
Simple ang panawagan ni Malou at ng 43 na kasamahan niyang manggagawang tinanggal ng Slord: makamit ng lahat ng manggagawa ang minimum na sahod, maging regular ang lahat at maibalik sa trabaho ang mga manggagawang tinanggal.
Kami ay pinaghihila at kung mahila ang aming kasamahan,
Kanilang ihahagis sa kapulisan at pupusasan.
Dumating na nausog kami sa dakong unahan
Mga supporters ay nagdagsaan.
Nagkaroon ng tulakan,
Dahil sa pagkuha ng video ng aming kasamahan
Pulis ay nakipag-pukpukan,
Sa arnis niyang hawak
Kasabay ng shield na panangga
Kaya’y baro’t nagliparan.
Marami sa aming kasamahan ay duguan,
Sugatan at puno ng pasa sa katawan.
Kahit ang sigaw ay “Sir hindi kami lalaban”
Kami ba ay kriminal?
Mali ba na ipaglaban ang natitira naming karapatan?
Karapatan na niyurakan.
Para sa amin ito ay hindi mali
Hindi mali na ipaglaban.
Ipaglaban ang karapatan!
At magising sa katotohanan.
Kaya aking panawagan,
Manggagawa tayo ay lalaban!
Bunso sa apat na magkakapatid si Marissa L. Momo. Tubong Calbayog City, Western Samar ay nakipagsapalaran siya sa Bulacan sa pag-asang mas makakatulong siya sa kaniyang pamilya kung dito maghahanapbuhay.
Mula September 2008 ay kontraktwal na si Marissa sa NutriAsia bilang isang labeler ng mga export vinegar sa porma ng piece rate na sahuran. Taon taong pinapapirma ang mga manggagawang tulad niya sa isang kontratang hindi ipinaliwanag sa kanila ang laman at wala silang pagkakataong alamin ito dahil mabilisan ang pagpapapirma pagtapos ng kanilang General Assembly.
1.75 pesos sa kada isang kahong bote ng export vinegar ang ibinabayad sa kanila. Mano-mano nilang idinidikit ang pangalan at nutri facts ng mga produktong ito. Ang kanilang kabuuang sahod kada araw ay depende sa bilang ng kahon ng produktong ibabagsak sa kanila.
Ngunit nitong September 1, 2017 ay bigla na lang daw silang hindi pinapasok ng mga gwardiya ng NutriAsia kasama ang onse pang nasa Labeling Department dahil sa ‘di umano ay wala na silang schedule ng trabaho sa pagawaan.
“Bigla na lang kaming ‘di pinapasok ng mga mga guard, nawalan daw ng schedule tapos ang sabi ng B-MIRK management decision lang daw. Nag iyakan na kami kasi ang tagal na namin do’n, e” ani Marissa.
Nagsampa sila ng kaso sa DOLE dahil sa illegal dismissal at isinama na rin nila ang hindi pagbibigay ng13th month pay, Service Incentive Leave (SIL) at holiday pay.
Habang iprinoproseso nila ang kaso ay hindi nila pinabayaan ang kanilang mga kasamahan sa loob ng pagawaan at naglunsad ng mga seminar katulong ang Workers Movement for Change at iba pang mga sektor upang mailahad ang mga lehitimong karapatan ng bawat magggagawa.
Ngunit sa takot ng NutriAsia na dumami ang mga miyembro ng unyon ay gumawa sila ng iba’t ibang porma ng “union busting” tulad ng pag-aalok ng mas mataas na sahod at posisyon kapalit ng pagpirma na hindi sila kailanman sasali sa anumang unyon. Ngunit hindi pumirma ang mga manggagagawa at sa halip ay nagsagawa pa sila ng noise barage bilang protesta sa pagkakatanggal sa kanilang mga kasamahan. At bilang ganti dito ay tinanggal ang mahigit 70 manggagawang sumali sa protesta.
Ito ang nag udyok upang magfile ng isang notice of strike ang mga manggagawang iligal na tinanggal. At sa ikalawang linggo ng kanilang strike ay nagpadala na ng mga kapulisan ang kompanya kasama ang mga gwardiya at eskerol upang buwagin ang piketlayn ng mga manggagagawa.
Si Marissa Momo ay isa lamang sa napakarami pang manggagagawa ng Nutri Asia at ng ibang naglalakihang pabrika at pagawaan sa buong bansa na pinagsasamantalahan at niloloko sa iba’t ibang paraan upang kumamal ng mas malaking tubo sa negosyo. Hangad lamang niya ay isang disenteng trabaho at sahod na pupuno sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin niya at ng kaniyang pamilya.
Dissatisfied with the nature of the fourth rate rebasing public consultation held Wednesday, consumer network Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI) urged the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System Regulatory Office (MWSS-RO) to conduct a genuine consultation and exercise in transparency in presenting the data used to justify the proposed water rate hike.
“As an ordinary citizen, I expected a real public consultation,” said SUKI convenor and Alerto Mamimili spokesperson Lolit Donato during public consultations held jointly by the MWSS-RO and the Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) and the Manila Water Company. “Instead, they merely fed us information that was insufficient,” she said.
According to reports, Maynilad is petitioning for a Php11 per cubic meter increase, while Manila Water is asking for Php8.30 per cubic meter. But according to Donato, the consultation lacked data as to the companies’ earnings, expenditures, future expenses and rates of return, which were explained to supposedly be the basis of the new rates.
Donato said that the concession agreement between the water firms and the government, which allowed the companies to pass on to consumers through water bills their corporate income tax (CIT) and company incentives such as vacations and sports activities, is grossly unfair to consumers. “What I pay for incentives and taxes I take out from my income. I don’t charge that from my clients,” said Donato, who is in the catering business.
“Charging clients for future projects will also bloat the tariffs and be burdensome to consumers,” she added, as the companies frontloaded these before asking the audience to be supportive by agreeing to the concessionaires’ petitioned rates.
Donato also pointed out that Manila Water and Maynilad practically monopolize water and sanitation services delivery in Metro Manila and the greater Manila area, thus leaving the public with no choice but to avail of the companies’ services and pay however much they demand. According to the MWSS-RO, water and sewerage service rate increases will allow the concessionaire to recover the cost of operation, capital maintenance and investment expenditures.
“Their lack of transparency could leave us consumers vulnerable to high rates,” said Donato. “I may be earning more than Php500 a day, but I have a hard time paying for enormous bills. How much more difficult would it be for majority of the people who earn less?” Donato said. “I hope that on the next consultation, the public will be part of the decision-making process by being shown the basis for the rate rebasing.”
SUKI challenged the MWSS-RO to ensure a more transparent process as part of safeguarding the interest of its stakeholders while upholding its mission to provide quality and affordable water and sewerage services to the public.
Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan or SUKI is an advocacy network seeking to amplify the voice of Filipino consumers for food security, and accessible, affordable, safe and sufficient public services and utilities.
Detained National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) consultant Rafael Baylosis filed a petition for indirect contempt Friday against the warden of the Metro Manila District Jail-4 for refusing to release him despite a court order. In his petition filed at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC-RTC), Baylosis said Jail Chief Inspector Jojie Jonathan […]
Higaonon ‘bakwits’ in Cagayan de Oro find it ironic that the national government is holding its first Mindanao-wide indigenous peoples summit in the city when only IP groups from Caraga and Southern Mindanao cooperative of the government are invited.
Barely a mile away from the summit’s venue is their ‘bakwit camp’, where stories of the real plight of the Lumad could be heard.
For the fourth time in six years, residents of Sitio Camansi in Barangay Banglay, Lagonglong Town, Misamis Oriental once again fled to the Provincial Capitol grounds in Cagayan de Oro, away from soldiers encamped in their community.
Thirty-eight Higaonon families were forcibly evacuated on May 26 following a series of threat and harassment incidents by members of the Philippine Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion.
But unlike the previous years, the families are doubtful if they could return to their homes as the soldiers are building a detachment in Sitio Camansig.
Higaonon ‘bakwits’, including women, children, and the elderly, had to endure the long journey down from their upland communities to reach the Capitol grounds. Photo by Erika Cruz.Photo by Jade dela Cuadra.Photo by Jade dela Cuadra.Families are cramped up in makeshift quarters set up at the Provincial Capitol grounds. Photo by Erika Cruz.Photo by Jade dela Cuadra.A Higaonon woman folds her family’s newly washed clothes. Families have been staying at the Capitol grounds for almost a month now. Photo by Erika Cruz.
Almost four weeks ago, military men began arriving in Sitio Camansi while the villagers were busy tending to their farms. Datu Reynaldo Ayuma, chairperson of Tagtabulon Lumad Organization, and other elders immediately advised community members to prepare for evacuation.
With help from the local government unit and from the families, they managed to hire jeepneys to transport them to the Capitol, but not without difficulty. They were barred at military checkpoints five times, with soldiers saying their vehicles could not pass through. But the ‘bakwits’ were determined to get to Cagayan de Oro, even deciding to leave the vehicles and continue on their journey by foot. They arrived at the Capitol on June 3 in the evening.
The Higaonon families’ diet in the camp consist mostly of food donations like canned food and noodles. Photo by Erika Cruz.‘Bakwits’ put up with lack of water and sanitation at the Capitol grounds. Photo by Erika Cruz.
Higaonon representatives and the military, together with provincial officers held a dialogue on June 8 where government assured the villagers that a military detachment will not be constructed. But to their dismay, soldiers had already started building the detachment in Sitio Camansi.
A timeline of events posted at the ‘bakwit camp’. Photo by Erika Cruz.
Another group of Higaonon families arrived at the Capitol grounds this week, also seeking sanctuary from elements of the 58th Infantry Battalion who have occupied their homes.
Fifteen families from Sitio Anahaw, Brgy. Bantaawan in Gingoog City fled their community after soldiers threatened to tag villagers as members of the NPA (New People’s Army) if they “continued to support” the armed organization.
Business interests behind military presence
While the military claims that their encampment is only warranted by their construction of a bridge and concrete road, the Higaonon assert that they are used as instruments to facilitate the entry of big business developers.
Lagonglong is known for its hot springs produced by the adjacent Mount Balatukan. It is said that the mountain and the lake in Barangay Bantawan in Gingoog City are rich in gold deposits.
In a December 2107 report, the (DOE) Department of Energy has awarded Energy Development Corporation the Balatukan-Balingasag Geothermal Project with a potential capacity of 20.00 MWe. The project includes 14 cities and municipalities in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, including Lagonglong.
Rights groups see the military as ‘investment defense forces’ to hasten the ingress of big capitalist ventures such as mining, logging, and export plantations. Through a so-called counter-insurgency program spearheaded by the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines), soldiers justify harassment, threat, and extrajudicial killings of Lumad peoples.
Cases of Lumad killings in Northern Mindanao include Jimmy Liguyon, a village chief in Bukidnon, who refused the takeover of indigenous lands in San Fernando; Gilbert Paborada, who resisted A Brown’s palm oil plantation in Opol; and Renato Anglao, who was shot in the head three times for defending the ancestral lands of the Manobo-Pulangihon tribe in Quezon Town, Bukidnon.
Datu Reynaldo and the Higaonon of Sitio Camansi remain wary of their precarious situation, even so that martial law is in effect until the end of the year. “Soldiers tell us that under martial law, it is their orders that must be obeyed. Our demands and concerns fall on the military’s deaf ears,” he said.
However difficult their situation at the ‘bakwit camp’ may be, the Higaonon are resolute in staying. It is by protesting in the city that their wish to return to their communities could be fulfilled.
“We Higaonon always welcome development. But we have to be critical of so-called development projects that would drive the Lumad away from their ancestral lands,” said Datu Reynaldo.
“If that is the case, then resistance is the only response.”
