Consumers Domain
A stew of social injustices
"Stepped out of the line, like a sheep runs from the herd
Marching out of time, to my own beat now
The only way I know..."
-- From "Minority" by the Green Day
DENR recently granted the proposed coal-fired power plant in Concepcion, Iloilo an ECC (Environmental Compliance Certificate). This despite the fact that the proposed project was never endorsed by the communities and other stakeholders. Surely some shadowy forces are working behind the scenes to have this accomplished. It seems that the proponent is hell-bent to have the dirty coal plant railroaded down our shores.
DENR is a department mandated to protect our environment yet it has in several occasions taken the side of the plunderer of our natural resources. While there is a price to pay for development, the dangers and hazards of a coal-plant in our midst is a very high price that no amount of "development" can ever suffice. And whoever said that development could never be in harmony with nature?
Melvin Purzuelo, Coordinator of Green Forum and RISE (Responsible Ilonggos for Sustainable Energy) asked "Why is DENR allowing this dirty coal plant that has not been endorsed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Regional Development Council, nor the Department of Energy (DoE)?"
Calling all Ilonggos to again unite to oppose the railroading of this coal plant project and resist this myopic solution to our electric power needs. Let us show our force once again!
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This column joins the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) in highlighting once again the continuing social and economic crimes committed against us Filipinos. What we are referring to here is the burden that we continue to carry as our government continue to honor crony loans and illegitimate debts. The billions of pesos of resources paid to these loans could have gone to much more important social and economic services such as more school buildings, more medicine supplies, more farm to market roads and many others.
In a recently released statement, FDC "decries the recent lamentable developments pertaining to the Marcos legacy of plunder. These include the Court of Appeals' approval of the PNCC-Radstock compromise deal, the unfreezing of the $40-M Disini Swiss account and the report on final payment of the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) debts. These not only showcase government's ineptitude in obtaining social justice for the Filipinos, but moreso highlights the defective debt policies that result in continuing unjust burden borne by the Filipinos."
"The Freedom from Debt Coalition calls on the newly elected lawmakers to muster the political will for a Congressional Debt Audit to once and for all unravel the web of corruption and plunder that is the country's debt quagmire. FDC calls on the people's representatives to categorically delineate debts that are not owed by the people and therefore should not be paid by the people."
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I have read an article from a national daily a few weeks back that really hit me hard. While election fever has subsided I can't help but still react and give my piece pertaining to that story. The article is entitled "Bohol towns to get Palace reward for 12-0. TU sweep". Gloria Arroyo is giving out goodies in the form of P2 million worth of projects as a reward from Malacañang to those who delivered a 12-0 sweep for her party's senatorial slate. This is tantamount to flaunting corruption!
What Arroyo is doing is bribing local officials. Her message is that every time you support my interest, I will dole out some prices. Our fake president is using our own money to keep her trapo (traditional politician) ilk in line and be obedient to Malacañang!
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