Marya Salamat | Vox Bikol

Marya Salamat

Articles by this author:

Is the Worst Really Over at PAL? Not Quite, as Workers Brace for More Turbulence (Features)

MANILA - In the face of mounting calls for the government to investigate Lucio Tan's alleged losses and abuses of his employees in Philippine Airlines, the Aquino government has retreated from further intervention in the ongoing labor disputes in the airline, suggesting that the trouble at the country's flag carrier may be over.

But is it?

By: Marya Salamat

Candidates Urged: Support P125 Wage Hike (Features)

In his twenties, Ronilo, who requested that his name be withheld for fear of reprisal, is one of the approximately 17,600 long-time contractual employees of Dole Philippines in Cotabato, southern Philippines. Dolefil is a subsidiary of the profitable global giant Dole Food company, but Ronilo only gets the minimum wage amounting to P245 ($5.526 at the current exchange rate of $1=P44.33) a day if he makes the company quota.
He should be able to plant more than 33,200 pineapples per working day. He gets lower than the minimum wage if he failed to meet his quota. To meet it, Ronilo and others like him had to work for more than eight hours a day without overtime pay. At the Dolefil's integrated cannery and packaging plant in Polomolok, Cotabato, other long-time contractual employees like Ronilo work to cut, clean and package so much fresh fruits during their eight-hour working day, for the same minimum wage.

By: Marya Salamat

Groups Suggest Ways to Make Automated Elections Work Credibly (Features)

MANILA -Will your vote count? Can a new president and a new set of officials be credibly elected on May 10? With less than two months before the election, doubts persist as to whether the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is adequately prepared to make the first ever automated elections system (AES) in the Philippines reliable, accurate and trustworthy.

By: Marya Salamat

Progressives on Warpath Vs Partylist Groups Allied with Arroyos (Features)

MANILA - Makabayan senatorial candidates Satur Ocampo and Liza Maza have filed a petition before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking to disqualify Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel 'Mikey' Arroyo as a nominee of party list group Ang Galing Pinoy (AGP).

By:

Ronalyn V. Olea &

Marya Salamat

Bulacan Farmers Up Against LRV in Land Struggle (Bikol News)

BULACAN - Farmers representing more than 230 families have denounced an attempt by a congressman to reverse land reform in their area.

By: Marya Salamat

In Historic Gathering, Filipino Priests Vow to Be More Active in ‘Political Realm’ (Features)

MANILA - It what appears to be a challenge to the assertions of conservative groups and the government that the Church should not be involved in politics and the "affairs of the state," priests from all over the country - in a historic first - gathered to discern and discuss their role amid these turbulent times.

By: Marya Salamat

Despite Arroyo Order Cutting Some Prices, Medicines Will Remain Expensive (Features)

Even if seriously implemented, the Cheaper Medicines Law would still fail to bring down the prices of medicines because it did not break "the monopoly control of transnational corporations on all aspects" of the drug industry. This monopoly is the main reason why drug prices in the Philippines are among the highest in Asia.

By:

Marya Salamat &

Bulatlat.com