News Roundup 14 October 2023
Oct 14, 2023 • 4 min Read
Marcos admin slammed for excluding Edsa anniv in 2024 holidays | INQUIRER.NET – SAN LUIS, Pampanga — Sen. Risa Hontiveros and former Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III have criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for excluding the Edsa People Power Revolution in the regular holidays and special days in 2024 in Proclamation No. 368.
Hontiveros called the removal of the Feb. 25 event — the ouster and exile of the elder Marcos in 1986 to Hawaii— part of what she called “historical distortion” being done alongside the “rehabilitation of the memory of the dictator.”
In Filipino, she said President Marcos would “forever bury into oblivion the courageous battle of Filipinos to restore democracy, their struggle against human rights violations and corruption, which are among the most serious crimes under the martial law dictatorship.”
“Hindi po natin dapat isuko ang ating alaala, ang ating kasaysayan (We should not surrender our memories, our history),” she added when interviewed shortly before the unveiling here on Saturday of a monument in memory of Luis Taruc and other freedom fighters in the anti-Japanese peasant army HUKBALAHAP.
“The anniversary of Edsa People Power Revolution should not be removed from among the significant days of Filipinos. Whatever the day is, regardless of it being a Sunday, it is a very important date in our history. We should continue retelling it,” Hontiveros said.
Full Story at: Marcos admin slammed for excluding Edsa anniv in 2024 holidays | Inquirer News
Marcos dropping Edsa anniv from holidays a distortion of martial law’s evils — Lagman | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Liberal Party president and First District of Albay Representative Edcel Lagman on Saturday condemned President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration for failing to include February 25 in the regular holidays in 2024.
On Friday, the Office of the President released the list of regular and non-working holidays for the coming year. However, it did not include February 25 – the Edsa People Power Revolution anniversary.
“The inordinate arrogance of the second Marcos administration in failing to celebrate February 25 as a regular public holiday is a continuing distortion of the verities about the evils and repression of the Marcos martial era,” Lagman said in a press release.
According to the lawmaker, the date commemorates the success of Filipinos in ousting the dictator Marcos Sr., Bongbong’s father, from the presidency.
“Ever since the Philippines has marked February 25 as a day of national celebration, irrespective of whether or not it falls on a Sunday,” he stressed, in response to the Palace’s reason that the anniversary was not included in the holidays as it falls on a Sunday.
“The more Marcos Jr. would sweep under the rug of historical perfidy the profligacy and oppression of his father’s dictatorship, the more unreachable reconciliation and justice will be,” Lagman concluded.
Transport group to push through with ‘tigil pasada’ on October 16 | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) will push through with its earlier planned transport strike on Monday against the deadline set for the consolidation of traditional jeepneys.
The group’s president Mar Valbuena confirmed this Saturday, as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) continues to insist on the December 31 deadline in connection with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
“If they don’t listen to us, we will continue. If we only resorted to a transport strike last time, this time we’ll go straight to Malacañang with our units and we’ll voice our grievances there,” said Valbuena in Filipino in a dzBB interview.
“What I can say is this: I hope we reach an agreement first before Monday comes. In our first strike, we’ve talked but nothing happened.”
Full Story at: Transport group to push through with ‘tigil pasada’ on October 16 | Philstar.com
Gasoline prices see minor increase as diesel, kerosene costs go down | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Gas prices will go up slightly, while diesel and kerosene will decrease for the fourth week in a row starting Tuesday, October 17.
Gasoline prices will rise by around P0.40 to P0.70 per liter after nearly a month of stability.
Diesel and kerosene prices are expected to drop by roughly P0.90 to P1.20 and P0.80 to P1 per liter, respectively.
This falls in line with the Department of Energy’s earlier forecast of a small increase, less than 50 centavos, for gasoline prices.
Story at: Gasoline prices see minor increase as diesel, kerosene costs go down | Philstar.com
