Philippine News Digest 41
October 17, 2002 ·
Contents:
- Davao Death Squad strikes again
- SBMA creates 15,368 jobs in nine months
- Farmers protest new law making it crime to keep, develop seeds
Davao Death Squad strikes again
Suspected members of the Davao Death Squad shot and killed a 40-year old man on All Saint’s Day. The victim, Cerilo Lagumbay, was the sixth person gunned down by suspected vigilantes in the past few days. In Hagonoy, two persons were hurt after a grenade exploded November 1. At the moment, a 13-year old kid belonging to a poor family was gunned down November 3. He was the third in the family to be killed by the DDS, his brothers were killed last year in the same brutal manner. Source: Dennis Jay C. Santos, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 5 November 2002 and correspondent report.
SBMA creates 15,368 jobs in nine months
The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) created 15, 368 jobs from January to September this year, reports from the SBMA labor center showed. With the new jobs, the Freeport’s total workforce has reached 55,420 almost double the number employed during the height of the former United States military base. The SBMA posted $1.02 billion in export value for the last nine months, mainly from the strong production output in the manufacturing sector. Source: Allan Macatuno, Philippine Daily Inquirer Central Luzon Desk, 2 November 2002.
Farmers protest new law making it crime to keep, develop seeds
A multisectoral alliance of farmers associations, non-government organizations and civil society have banded to oppose Republic Act 9168 otherwise known as the Plant Variety Protection Act that criminalizes the farmer’s traditional right to save, exchange and sell seeds. The Bohol Network for Farmer’s Rights accused of RA 9168 of allowing plant breeders to apply for protection and exclusive rights over new varieties they claim to develop or discover. The BNFR composed of 31 groups came out with the Bohol Declaration alleging that the law does not recognize farmers as breeders and does not provide protection for farmer developed varieties. The provisions of the law are such that only corporations and seed companies will have the capacity and resources to acquire plant variety protection. Source: Chito A. Fuentes, Philippine Daily Inquirer Mindanao Bureau, 31 October 2002.
