We will not surrender our freedomsToday, Independence Day, we renew our pledge to serve the people, to continue speaking truth to power, and to guard and defend freedom of the press and of expression from all threats.Read More Covering the PandemicRead more Covering the CoViD-19 Pandemic 20 New Laws: Media Credits Duterte and Downplays Role of Congress LAW MAKING is no simple matter. The legislative process includes drafting the bill, which is then debated and amended by the members of the House of Representatives or the Senate. Once lawmakers are satisfied with the measure, they ratify it as law, which the president reviews and can either... Peace Talks: Another Ending in Sight? THIS TIME, it is a “permanent termination” — words used by President Rodrigo Duterte in announcing yet another end to the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) on March 21. This was preceded by his disbanding the negotiating team which have... Metro Water Woes: Key Questions Unanswered THE WATER service interruption in the concession areas of Manila Water in East Metro Manila and Rizal has remained, causing untold inconvenience, even critical conditions, for households, hospitals, businesses and the delivery of basic services. In some areas in the last two weeks, residents had to line up on... Hasty Reporting of the “Narco” List EXPRESSING HIS “trust in the government agencies who (sic) have vetted and validated the narco-list,” President Rodrigo Duterte read the list of politicians who were alleged to be involved in the illegal drug trade. He made this announcement during the National Peace and Order Council Meeting in Davao City... All Aboard the Campaign Train: Nothing New, Hardly Relevant Coverage FEBRUARY 12, the official start of the 2019 campaign, pushed into high gear media’s coverage of the May 19 midterm elections. But there was little that actually helped the electorate to decide who best deserve their votes. Mid-term elections are a challenge. The absence of a presidential candidate seems... Beyond Congress: Explaining the Negative Impact of the Budget Deadlock NO MATTER who wins in the seemingly endless budget row between the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Filipino people will certainly be on the losing end. On February 8, after months of delay, both legislative chambers yielded to compromise to pass the 2019 national budget. But new... Investigative Reports Needed on the Influx of Foreign Workers A FORMER columnist for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, who is now special envoy to China, drew flak for saying during a TV interview on March 7 that Chinese workers are better than their Filipino counterparts. The kerfuffle that ensued attracted media attention without connecting it to the concerns over... Media Warned About Spurious “Survey Results” ON MARCH 8, five Manila broadsheets –The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, The Manila Times and Daily Tribune — reported that the senatorial candidate, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go had “surged” to the top three rank in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. None of the accounts said... Media on the Rice Tariffication Law: All Positive According to Their Sources WITH THE signing of the Rice Tariffication Law, the Philippines in the coming months can expect a steady supply of rice; so claim its proponents, principally Senator Cynthia Villar. The measure, signed by President Duterte on February 14, lifts import limits and imposes tariffs on imported rice. It seeks... Ressa’s Arrest: Limited Appreciation of Press Freedom KNOWN FOR its critical coverage of the Duterte administration’s policies, Rappler, an online news site, was subjected to another form of harassment when its CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa was arrested and detained overnight on a charge of cyberlibel. Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) served... « Previous1…7980818283…202Next »
