Groups stage protest rally in Mendiola, call for 'living wages, free housing'
Published Jul 24, 2023 02:47 am

Photo from MDRRMO/MANILA BULLETIN
Multi-sectoral groups staged a protest rally in Mendiola, Manila on Monday morning, July 24, calling for free housing and living wages.
The Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid (PKMM) led around 200 rallyists from Recto Avenue to Mendiola Street at 8 a.m.
The group of rallyists, including youths, called for "free quality and accessible education" as they marched towards Mendiola.
The rallyists chanted, "Pabahay, gawing serbisyo, hindi negosyo! (Housing, make it a service, not a business!)."
Some of their placards also bear the messages: "US Troops Out: No to War and Militarization!", "Pabahay ng gobyerno, gawing serbisyo! (Government housing, turn it into a service!)", "Housing rights are Human rights!", "Karagatan, Kalikasan, Kabuhayan ipagtanggol! (Defend our Oceans, Nature, and livelihood)", and "SONA ng Maralita 2023: Kapos sa serbisyo, kulang sa trabaho, walang bahay! (SONA for POOR 2023: Underserved, underemployed, homeless!)."
Other groups who joined the rally were the Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND), Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (KPD), Southern Tagalog for Environmental Development and Protection of Sierra Madre (STEP-SIERRA MADRE), Pangisda Pilipinas, Teatrong Bayan, and Action and Solidarity for the Empowerment of Teachers (ASSERT).
The protesters said they will go to Quezon City in the afternoon and join other rallyists at the Batasang Pambansa on Commonwealth Avenue for President Marcos' second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
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