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Across the Philippines, many communities are losing their livelihoods and homes in the name of so-called development projects causing environmental destruction. With Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s presidency already at the halfway mark, the state of the Philippine environment is caught between lofty climate pledges and worsening ecological destruction.
"If the ‘iron-clad’ alliance comes with selling out the [Philippine] economy in exchange for ‘military aid’, then that’s not really an ‘alliance’ and that’s not really ‘aid’. That’s neocolonialism.”
For years, residents of Barangay Paguludan-Salindeg in Currimao town have endured the impacts of solar energy projects in their community, including extreme heat and worsening flooding. These issues began with the construction of solar power plants by Mirae Asia Energy Corp. in 2016 and intensified when Nuevo Solar Energy Corp. started operating in 2023. Both power plants have a combined capacity of 85 megawatt.
The Safe Spaces Act outlined the obligations that all schools must adhere to. Schools must designate an officer-in-charge to handle these types of grievances. They are required to adopt a grievance procedure that investigates complaints and makes decisions within 10 days of receiving them, taking appropriate steps, such as administrative penalties, to resolve the situation.
A memorandum issued by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Regional Field Unit based in La Union province reveals the existence of “Project ‘Exit the Greylist.’” It directly links the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) process to at least one terrorist financing case against an activist.
In 2024, the Marcos Jr administration implemented economic policies that favor big businesses and foreign investors while keeping wages at miserable levels.
"If this program is pushed through, the militarization of the schools could have dangerous consequences for the democratic aspects of our country. Given the current political climate, the state might use the militarization of young people for selfish purposes, which would inevitably lead to human rights violations."
Rolan Cagas, who also sits as president of the Claveria Federation of Rice Farmers Associations, shared that their top concern was the rising prices of farm inputs, especially fertilizers, as it would now cost over P1,800 per sack, higher than the less-than-P1,000 price in the past years.
“Time and again, we’ve proven that the union is the strongest weapon and shield that we have against exploitation.”
“Development projects should be planned and implemented in the context of the country's urgent needs and solutions to current dilemmas, and with thorough consideration of its long-term effects on the environment."
Young people living with HIV underscored the need to have a strong support among peers, community, and institutions to fight the epidemic.
Reports from civil society organizations and the government revealed policy gaps in the Philippine HIV law: the consenting age for HIV treatment, enforcement of sex education, and implementation challenges.
Months of investigation by Bulatlat revealed that the booming commercial tuna industry in General Santos City, dubbed the Philippines’ “tuna capital,” favors industrial scale commercial fishing fleets at the expense of the livelihood of thousands of ordinary fisherfolk.
“These people are innocent civilians being tagged by the NTF-ELCAC as NPAs. Out of their desperation, they are using the civilians for their report on the counter-insurgency program."
The warning declared by various groups in 2020 – that the ATA would be used by the government to intimidate and harass human rights defenders, activists and dissenters – has become a reality.
For workers in Southern Tagalog, repression is as normal as resistance.
The struggle for their right to housing taught them that they have bigger fights to win.
Second of two parts What secure land tenure means and looks like for organized agrarian reform beneficiaries under the climate crisis. CONCEPCION, Tarlac — Alberto Cawigan is now 65, nearly double his age when he was supposed to receive his land share. He...
A decade after Yolanda, survivors have to grapple with the absence of reliable and potable water supply, inadequate housing space and absence of certificate of ownership, high transportation costs, limited income opportunity and food insecurity, and absence of clear mechanism to hear grievances.
Students from state universities are calling for higher budgets for science laboratories, classrooms, and equipment amid expectations of excellence.
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