Various groups and organizations, on Saturday, Oct. 8, trooped to Mendiola in Manila to decry the national government’s “negligence and failed crisis response” in time for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s 100th day in office.
Among these organizations include fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng PIlipinas (KMP), and labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU).
Pamalakaya criticized the “lack of remarkable agri-fisheries policies” in Marcos' first 100 days.
“Sa kabila ng pagiging kalihim nito ng Department of Agriculture (DA), wala ring makabuluhang naging pagbabago sa mga polisiyang pang-agrikultura si Marcos. Ipinagpatuloy lamang niya ang mga polisiya ng importasyon at liberalisasyon ng agrikultura na nagpapahirap sa mga mangingisda at magsasaka (Despite being the secretary of DA, Marcos did not make any significant changes in agricultural policies. He only continued the policies of importation and liberization of agriculture which further made the living of fishermen and farmers difficult),” said Pamalakaya National Chairperson Fernando Hicap.
Apart from supporting the local agricultural and fisheries production, together with other organizations, Pamalakaya is also calling on the administration to provide a P15,000 production subsidy, which according to the group will cover a fisherman’s two-month fuel cost.
Meanwhile, KMU denounced the President’s “lack of sense of urgency” in resolving the ongoing economic crisis. The labor group likewise strengthened its call for wage increase, scrapping of excise tax on oil products, price control for basic commodities, as well as the provision of subsidy for Filipinos who were affected by the crisis.
These major steps, according to KMU, will help ease the lives of Filipinos.
“Ang lider na kailangan namin ay nariyan sa panahon ng kalamidad at kahirapan. Hindi namin kailangan ng lider na hindi kayang pangatawanan ang responsibilidad niya (We need a leader who is present in times of calamity and adversity. We do not need a leader who cannot man up and face his responsibilities),” said KMU Secretary General Jerome Adonis.
Oct. 8, 2022 marked Marcos Jr.'s 100th day in power as the 17th President of the Philippines.