Aug 19th, 2010
Today is President Benigno Aquino III’s 50th day in office, mid-way through the so-called “honeymoon period” with the public and the media. The questions now are these: Has the Aquino presidency done anything meaningful so far? Are you so far satisifed with how he is managing government? Do you think he should do more? For [...]
The administration of President Benigno Aquino III seems dead-set in violating a key campaign promise not to raise or introduce new taxes come Monday when the Bureau of Internal Revenue starts to impose the 12-percent value-added tax on toll fees on Aug. 16, on top of a whooping 250-percent toll fee hike in the South [...]
Aug 9th, 2010
President Aquino has described the $10-billion bid for the lucrative and profitable Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) as “interesting” and said that, if ever a sale would push through, the government should get the best possible price. Ramon Ang, the San Miguel Corp. vice president who announced the bid, justified the buy-out in these [...]
Jul 27th, 2010
Cause-oriented groups were not the only ones disappointed by President Aquino’s first state of the nation address. A political scientist from the University of the Philippines did not mince words and said the President’s speech lacked direction on how to achieve his aspiration for a “daang matuwid”. Many Twitter users meanwhile lamented that President Aquino [...]
Jul 19th, 2010
Contrary to predictions by the state weather bureau, typhoon Basyang (Conson) ripped through Metro Manila last week, surprising citizens in the National Capital Region, including President Noynoy Aquino. In a display of pique, Aquino scolded the state weather forecasters about their failure to provide an accurate forecast on typhoon Basyang, especially on its route that [...]
Jul 11th, 2010
[CenPEG] President Aquino III’s move to form a Truth Commission that will investigate Gloria M. Arroyo’s alleged wrongdoings committed in nine years of her presidency raises public expectations way above government’s ability to meet. Right now, there are courses of action that can be taken by independent groups serious with the prosecution of the discredited [...]
Gunmen shot dead a journalist on July 3 and an activist on July 5 — producing two “firsts” under President Aquino.
Jul 4th, 2010
The new president’s order to ban the use of “wang-wangs” – sirens – and his decision to practice it has elicited both positive and negative reactions from the public.
Jul 3rd, 2010
In his speech before members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” C. Aquino stressed civilian supremacy over the military and the need for respect for the chain of command. Aquino however was silent on the issue of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations that marked the records [...]