Alleba Politics

While the US Presidential Elections are already heating up with caucuses, debates, and rallies everywhere, the 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections is also starting to get serious attention on the internet via the Filipino blogosphere.

Right now, the media has given a lot of focus on the selection of candidates, of both the administration and the opposition (not to mention the many others in between). Meanwhile, Janette Toral has tagged several bloggers to tackle the issues they feel should be included in the 2010 Agenda.

Off the top of my head, I can easily point out several, no, many issues that should be in the agenda of the candidates. But I feel like there are some that should be given more attention. Right now, here’s my short list:

1. Environment
2. Social Welfare and Health Care
3. Local Government Code and IRA

Read the rest of this entry »

Tess Termulo, a doctor, explains in her blog why some doctors are against the Cheaper Medicines Bill provision that requires doctors to prescribe only generic names of drugs. While I am all for the enactment of the Cheaper Medicines Bill, I also agree with Dr. Termulo’s points.

She asserts that:

the provision to restrict the use of brand names and to only allow prescription with generic names ONLY is unfair. Though generic drugs and branded drugs do have the same active ingredients, these drugs do differ in the salt carriers used in manufacturing it. This difference in salt carriers used in manufacturing can be cause of side effects or allergic reactions that can vary from one patient to another.

Read the rest of this entry »

In a stupid but not exactly surprising move, Malacañang has opted to forgo with commemorating People Power 2. While bloggers and many other sectors are remembering the spirit and continuing the fight of the momentous People Power 2, the administrations wants nothing to do with it. Why? Allegedly, to heal the wounds the People Power 2 created. Say it with me people… “HUWHAT?!”

Read the rest of this entry »

The Supreme Court has declared 117 trial courts as “environmental courts” that will be dedicated to cases that involve violations of laws protecting natural resources. The designation of these courts are aimed at speeding up the resolution of environmental cases. Moreover, the personnel of these courts and the appellate courts will undergo training to handle these cases.

Some of the laws that will be concerns of these courts are the Fisheries Code, the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the Coconut Preservation Act, and the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act.

Read the rest of this entry »

If it weren’t for the difference in the spelling of their family names, I’d think that Raul Gonzalez and Norberto Gonzalez were relatives. After Security Adviser Norberto “I don’t heed warnings” Gonzales so eloquently called those opposed to the national ID system as a loud minority, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales has now told mediamen and journalists to “go jump in a river.”

Read the rest of this entry »

The very eloquent and articulate, not to mention hard-working Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales has described the people opposed to the National ID System as a “loud minority.” It is this loud minority, he says that are misrepresenting the “popular will” of the real majority.

According to the very hard-working Norberto Gonzales a national ID is similar to a school ID. Let’s see… a school ID is used to allow a student to enter the school campus. A school ID allows the school administration, faculty, and staff to know a student’s name, his year and section, and other such information. How is a national ID similar to a school ID? I don’t know.

Read the rest of this entry »

Despite the strong peso and the growing economy, the records of the National Statistics Office (NSO) show that the gap between the rich and the poor is wider than ever. 1.74 million families (consisting 10% of the population) considered to be the richest earned 36% of the total 2006 family income. This translates to 10% of the population earning more than 1/3 of the country’s money.

Read the rest of this entry »

According to Presidential adviser Jesus Dureza, possible charter change and shift to federalism are top priorities of the Arroyo administration. According to Dureza, these will boost the peace talks between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). According to Dureza, the initiatives will help alleviate the problems of Mindanao as it will pave the way for Muslims to have their own government, albeit, still within the Philippine jurisdiction.

Read the rest of this entry »

After so much scuttlebutt on the PhP 72 million price tag of the Davao City People’s Park, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is taking an indefinite leave of absence. Duterte is leaving the city to make way for the Commission on Audit’s investigation of the project. Duterte has vowed to resign once the COA proves that there has been corruption and misappropriation of funds in the making of the People’s Park.

Meanwhile, his daughter Vice-Mayor Sara Duterte will take over as acting mayor.

Concerned Davao City residents, led by Davao City First District Councilor Peter Laviña, have started the blog Bangkerohan Bridge that will serve as the online presence of the citizen’s catch on the reconstruction of the Bangkerohan Bridge.

Bangkerohan Bridge, also known as Governor Generoso Bridge I, is currently non-existent. It has been damaged and weakened over time, and it broke last 2007. It has been months and reconstruction of the bridge is yet to start. The bridge is one of two that connects the two parts of Davao City that are traversed by Davao River. Since it has been out of order, traffic in the city has worsened. Last elections, the reconstruction of the bridge was an issue tackled by local and national politicians.

Read the rest of this entry »