National News

There are fashion statements and fashionable political statements. For this year's biggest fashion event, the 2013 SONA, Gabriela Representative Emmi De Jesus will deliver the women’s political statement via the Ruel Rivera gown, an organza skirt overlay painted with the face of a woman, with health icon pinned on her hair tresses and a hand STOP sign on the acronyms CCT and PPP. Ruel Rivera is Marikina's fashion designer par excellence.  read more »

“Walang LABKA sa SONA ni P’Noy, puro nakamamatay na pagmamahal—pagmamahal ng serbisyong kalusugan, edukasyon at mga bilihin.”  read more »

The failure of the Aquino Administration to reduce maternal mortality justifies an immediate review of its health care policies,” according to GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the DOH report that the Philippines failed to reduce maternal mortality despite efforts and interventions.  read more »

“The P56.8 B proposed 2013 DOH budget dismally falls short of the WHO recommended budgetary allocation of 5% of GDP for public health. It represents a mere 1.89% of the GDP registered by NEDA for the 3rd quarter of 2011. The Aquino administration’s intention to spend no more than P1.69 per Filipino per day in 2013 is tantamount to a systematc violation of people’s right to health,” commented a dismayed Gabriela solon Emmi De Jesus as she joined women in a protest against privatization of government healthcare program in Mendiola today.  read more »

“In the light of worsening joblessness, hunger and poverty amid soaring prices of basic commodities, the triple threats of oil, water and power price hikes may well turn out to be the last straw that breaks the camel’s back. The looming increase in the rates of these basic utilities will mean even lesser budget for their family’s food and other basic needs,” said GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus.  read more »

Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan today said the US government’s continued meddling in the territorial disputes of China and the Philippines do not only infringe on Philippine sovereignty, it also poses a threat to Philippine security.

The Gabriela solon issued this statement as United States Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Locklear visited Manila and Zamboanga as a supposed goodwill gesture that will boost regional security.  read more »

“Pushing for Charter Change at a time when US submarines carrying nuclear weapons are docking on our shores and mining multinationals are rejoicing over an executive order that practically perpetuates the destructive Philippine mining act of 1995 indicates a US-instigated agenda of plunder.”

This is according to Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan as leaders of both Houses of Congress begin talks on the possibility of initiating amendments to the Philippine Constitution.  read more »

“A health care system that truly responds to the needs of women and their children, especially from marginalized families, should show a picture of women in the pink of health. Yet we bear witness to the story of ‘Jane” who performed caesarean on herself using a kitchen knife, personifying a dying health ‘non-care’ in the country,” said GWP. Rep. Emmi De Jesus.  read more »

“President Aquino’s issuance of an Executive Order on Mining instead of supporting legislative efforts for the enactment of an Alternative Minerals Management Bill or the People’s Mining Bill, pending in the House of Representatives betrays this government’s intent of upholding and strengthening the destructive and anti-people Philippine Mining Act of 1995.” Thus said Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Luz Ilagan as President Aquino signed an Executive Order on Mining over the weekend. The EO considers all existing mining contracts, agreements and concessions approved. <  read more »