OUTCR P
Mapagpalayang kaisipan sa malayang pahayagan JANUARY 2016
Military force desperation for territorial dispute
SC grants EDCA as constitutional QUIMBERLYN RANCHEZ
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ast January 12, 2016, the Supreme Court (SC) approved the constitutionality of the Enhance Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) due to Philippine military force needs amid the territorial war crisis against China. According to Article I, Section 1 of the United States (U.S.) -Philippines EDCA, the agreement aims to expand the defense cooper-
ation between the U.S. and the Philippines through supporting the interoperability of the both military forces, to promote longterm modernization, and to maintain maritime security and disaster relief capabilities. U.S. State Secretary, John Kerry said, in an interview with CNN Philippines that “The two countries’ military cooperation in maritime security and domain awareness benefits our mutual defense.” He also added that the said military agreement contributes to
maintaining regional stability,” Provisions granted The EDCA authorized the U.S. military to perform security cooperation exercises, combined training, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and other activities as agreed upon between the US and the Philippines. In addition, the said military agreement granted the America a free access to certain unfinalized locations. Nevertheless, the U.S. will have to pay for its own operational expenses.
Also, the Philippines will maintain the ownership of the agreed locations. According to EDCA, U.S. will have to return any agreed locations, including its structures, if such are no longer to be used for required activities. China reacted Meanwhile, The Chinese government responded to SC’s decision on legitimizing the US-Philippine military force agreement. “China stands firmly against any country flexing military muscles and undermining China’s sovereignty.” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei said. He also added that their country is against in opposition of security interests under the cloak of exercising navigation and overflight freedom. Lastly, Hong Lei emphasized that China respects and maintain
the navigation and over-flight in the South China Sea to which all countries are entitled under international law. Disapproval claims According to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary Renato Reyes, the agreement will allow the Philippines as a launching pad for American military intervention and transforms the country into a U.S. military outpost. Additionally, Sen. Miriam Santiago called to scrap the EDCA. She said that without the senate concurrence, any agreement, including the EDCA is invalid As agreed upon by the Philippines and the U.S., EDCA will have an initial term of 10 years, and shall continue to be in force unless terminated by either of the two countries, with one year’s written notice.
UPB-USC abstains on resolution to junk STS JOHN REY DAVE AQUINO AND WILLIAM LAURETA
P TALK, DEBATES, AND ANSWERS. Observations and questions were raised regarding PhilHealth, various major steps and campaigns other than healthcare at the forum given by Risa Hontiveros last January 29, 2015. photo by QUIMBERLYN RANCHEZ
PNoy veto-ed SSS Pension Hike KIRK MARTINEZ
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ongtongan ti Umili, Cordillera Peoples Alliance, Blessed Association for Retired Persons, Kilusang Mayo Uno, Anakbayan, senior citizens of Baguio City, and other progressive groups and individuals urge President Benigno “PNoy” Aquino to sign House Bill 5842, allowing Social Security System (SSS) retirees to have a 2000Php increase in their monthly pension. The original bill was filed by former Bayan Muna (BM) representative Teddy Casiño and current BM representative Neri Colmenares in 2011. The bill was then
proposed by a number of senators led by Cynthia Villar. She said that if the bill becomes effective, an estimate of 1.8 million retirees will benefit from the pension increase. According to SSS President Emilio De Quiros, it will shorten the fund life by 13 years and increase contributions by four percent (11%-15%). It was then approved on a committee level last August 2015, where only one senator, Juan Ponce Enrile, voted no. Despite the affirmation of the Senate, PNoy veto-ed the said House Bill. In protest to this, several sectors complained about the negation of the bill. In the Cordillera
region, groups organized a picket pushing the increase of SSS pension. CPA is calling on SSS members and advocates to sign petitions, conduct lobby work in congress, join and organized protest actions to expose anomalies at the SSS. On January 28, they held a program in front of the SSS building, where some representatives spoke of their grudges to PNoy. “Itong administrasyon na ito ang pinaka-madaming kalamidad… man-made calamities.,” a member said.The protest will continue until February 5, the last day of hearing for the said bill.
resented with a decision, the University of the Philippines-University Student Council (UPB-USC) abstained from voting on the resolution to junk the Socialized Tuition System (STS) during the General Assembly of Student Councils (GASC). Of the 37 student councils present in the biannual assembly on January 8-9, 2016 in UP Mindanao, 29 voted yes to the resolution while five voted no. Three councils abstained from voting, including the UPB-USC. In an interview, UPB-USC Chairperson, Yves Peter Carlo Medina, explained that the council instituted an ad hoc committee to investigate the STS in the context of UPB. However, he admitted that the committee was lacking urgency in conducting the study. Medina said that the council abstained because their decision might violate the purpose of the ad hoc committee. He noted that stating their stand on STS, despite lacking in data would influence or affect their study. “Kasi kunwari, nag-no kami ‘dun… no, we don’t want to junk it. Tapos bigla ‘yung study magre-re-
flect na we have to junk it, or the other way around,” he added. However, he said that abstaining from the vote does not mean the end of the campaign. “After the study, we could campaign it and it could be more powerful, because we have a concrete data that will show or reflect the status of UP Baguio,” he expounded. Meanwhile, the UPB-USC council report earned contentions from members of the council. Some of the events of the council committees were not mentioned in the report. In a UPB-USC meeting on January 22, members of the USC expressed their dissent regarding the incomplete report. Medina stated that he had compiled the council report from the information submitted to the Secretary General last November , that was presented by the different committees. He admitted that only highlights and big events of the committees were mentioned. To add, only fourteen members of the UPB-USC were able to attend the biannual assembly due to the late processing of paper works for reimbursement. According to Medina, Chancellor Raymundo Rovillos allowed the USC to access the tuition fee increment (TFI) fund in order for the council to attend the assembly.
Official Student Publication of the University of the Philippines Baguio Editor-in-chief Leah Perez Associate Editor Ellainemor San Pascual Managing Editor Divine Loraine Penaflor News Editor Angela Valerio Kultura Editor Danna Llaine Ruiz Regular Staff Samuel Harrison Cerrudo John Rey Dave Aquino Probationary Staff Paul Soriano William Laureta Quimberlyn Ranchez
Member of College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) and Solidaridad, Alyansa ng mga Pahayagang Pangkampus sa UP
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