Newscast: The World Tonight - Broadcast date: 11/15/96
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Copyright © 1996, ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Subject: MORE APEC PROTESTS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/15/96Militant labor groups are planning a series of protests against APEC beginning Monday. And workers in at least one hotel are threatening to defy a government warning not to go on strike.
Leftist labor and urban poor groups say next week's protest actions will include teach ins rallies alternative forums and transport strikes. KMU Chairman Crispin Beltran is not sure if the protests will be peaceful. Despite government's threat to terminate striking workers employees of a hotel hosting delegates from Mexico say they will go on strike. The KMU is prepared to defy Malacañang's warning. Congressman Edcel Lagman says unless congress gives him emergency powers the president cannot curtail the right of workers to go on strike. Labor Secretary Leonardo Quisumbing is appealing to the labor unions. But Beltran says the unions are not out to embarrass the government. He calls it a coincidence that several CBA negotiations are being conducted just as the APE summit is approaching. In fact, Sanlakas Chairman RC Constantino says leftist labor leader Filemon Lagman helped end the strike at the Philippine Airlines.
Employees at Philcomsat may go on strike. If that pushes through the international media coverage of the APEC Summit may be affected. The employees union filed a strike notice last September when CBA negotiations bogged down. Philcomsat is the only company providing satellite communications service for the APEC conference.
Subject: FREE TRADE WORRIES
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/15/96Farmers groups are also restless but unlike the workers their protests have everything to do with APEC.
About 65 percent of the population still live in the countryside yet there is growing concern among farmers about their place in Philippines 2000. Today, farmers marched to Makati the heart of the country's financial center. They say the idea of free trade would leave them vulnerable to foreign competition. Socio-Economic planning Secretary Cielito Habito says government has no intention of neglecting agriculture. He explains urban development and population growth have forced government to convert farm lands into industrial parks or subdivisions. Farmers could get training and become skilled workers. Farmers feel that may be easier said than done.
A group opposed to the APEC summit is challenging the government to a public debate to determine whether or not APEC will adversely affect the poor. Professor Walden Bello of the Manila People's Forum disputes the government's position that free trade would sustain economic growth. Bello says no one took up the challenge. The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan criticizes Olongapo City residents for turning back anti-APEC demonstrators yesterday. Olongapo residents vow to keep anti-APEC protesters from entering the city. But organizers of the people's caravan say 200-thousand people will push through with their march to Central Luzon during the APEC summit.
Subject: SELLING APEC IS HARD TO DO
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/15/96Organizers of the APEC summit had hoped to showcase the Philippines as an emerging economic tiger. The amount of protests has overshadowed the potential gains of hosting this year's APEC summit.
Anti-APEC sentiments have been hot copy the past few weeks. Just today there was an anti-APEC rally and 6 anti-APEC press conferences. Media coverage has been consistent. According to their organizers the media can expect much more as the summit draws near. For the past 11 months Rod Reyes has been trying to sell APEC and everything that's good about it. His bureau has produced 200 press releases published comics and primers and organized information drives all over the country. But Reyes admits APEC's weakness is positive media coverage. But press briefings have been a regular activity. A few months ago the APEC News Bureau even organized seminars to inform columnists about APEC. Sadly, Reyes says not too many attended and many are still under-informed. Reyes believes all the anti-APEC hoopla will die down as soon as the APEC summit ends. And like the e-vat and the SPCPD The public and the media will learn to appreciate APEC.
There is a silent majority applauding the govt for hosting APEC. By the end of next week, over 3000 journalists will tell the world about the latest on APEC. And gov't has spent over 70 million pesos to ensure they have the right equipment and the right information on APEC. And yet, there's no guarantee the issues will be fully understood.
Subject: FVR BACKS APEC MEMBERSHIP
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/15/96Several countries are applying for membership in APEC. One of them is Peru whose president, Alberto Fujimori, is in town for a state visit. Fujimori told Dong Puno in an interview that like President Ramos he is trying to turn Peru into a tiger economy.
Since becoming president in 1992 Alberto Fujimori has been trying to turn Peru into a tiger economy. His state visit to the Philippines is part of his effort to bring Peru closer to East Asia. President Ramos today said he is supporting Peru's application for membership in APEC. The APEC leaders will decide during their summit in Manila whether to lift the moratorium on new members. Born of Japanese immigrant parents Fujimori has been called a phenomenom for restoring stability in a country that only a few years ago was suffering from inflation of up to 7,000 percent. Fujimori prefers to calls himself the General Manager of Peru who believes too much politics is bad for the economy. He suspended congress in 1993 and drafted a new constitution that allows him to stay in power up to the year 2000.
Fujimori faces the same question that has been hounding Ramos will he want to stay in power just to make sure there is continuity in the economic reforms he has set in motion.
Subject: FOOD FOR THE GODS
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/15/96When the APEC leaders arrive in town they won't just be getting a feel of the Philippines. They'd also like to get a taste of it.
President Clinton wants Pancit Guisado he tried it the first time he came to Manila and liked it. Surprisingly Indonesia's President Soeharto doesn't like spicy food. And the Sultan of Brunei will eat just about anything. Chef Eugene San Juan says these are just some of the things he'll keep in mind when three heads of state stay at the Manila Hotel this November. But serving world leaders isn't new to this hotel. Visiting heads of state usually stay here. Only this time Chef Eugene wants to show off Filipino ingredients. Herbs and spices will come in fresh from Tagaytay veggies and berries from Baguio, and desserts from Bulacan.
And despite the labor problems cooking inside the kitchen, Chef Eugene doesn't think a culinary sabotage is likely. After all, it's not just the government who wants to show off for this summit.
Subject: HOUSE TO PROBE ARREST
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/15/96The House of Representatives is expected to summon National Security Adviser Jose Almonte to an investigation into the arrest of Filemon Lagman. Almonte was said to have told the president in a briefing last week that Lagman was behind the anti-APEC protests. Congressman Gregorio Andolana says his colleagues will ask the House Committees on Justice and Human Rights to look into the alleged "shortcuts" intelligence agents took to get Lagman.
Subject: SETTLE MARCOS WEALTH
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/15/96Eight congressmen filed a resolution directing the Presidential Commission on Good Government to enter into a compromise agreement with the Marcos family. The resolution was filed by a multipartisan group led by Deputy Speaker Raul Daza a former commissioner of the PCGG. House sources now claim Mrs. Marcos is willing to enter into a settlement but provided that PCGG Chief Magtanggol Gunigundo is replaced.
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Subject: TRAFFIC SCHEME STIRS PROTEST
Newscast: TWTONITE - Air Date: 11/15/96The militant jeepney group, Piston, picketed the MMDA's office in protest of the project c-day traffic scheme. The plan aims to keep colorum vehicles off the streets and ease Metro Manila's traffic problem. Piston questioned the legality of the scheme saying its fines for violations would hurt jeepney drivers too much. But traffic Czar Romeo Maganto says the scheme will push through on Monday as scheduled.