WARMUP FOR SONA Farmers and agricultural workers led by militant organizations Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan march on Bustillos Street on their way to Mendiola to protest what they called the worsening economic crisis in the country. 鈥擥rig C. Montegrande
SUBIC, ZAMBALES, Philippines 鈥� At least 500 fisherfolk and farmers from Central Luzon joined a protest in Manila on Monday to mark the third year in office of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and ahead of his yearly State of the Nation Address (Sona).
According to Pamalakaya national chair Fernando Hicap, fisherfolk and farmers from Zambales, Pampanga, and Tarlac, were among those who marched to Mendiola along with other peasants and farmers organizations from Southern Luzon provinces, as well as workers, urban poor, youth and students.
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In a joint statement, Pamalakaya and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said that they would hold the current regime accountable for the worsening economic crisis, particularly the soaring prices of rice and other basic commodities.
鈥淭he rural sectors have more than a hundred reasons to protest against the policies and programs of Marcos, who did nothing significant to genuinely alleviate the plight of poor farmers and fisherfolk,鈥� they added.
Poverty incidence rates
The rural-based activist groups cited the latest statistics showing the highest poverty incidence rates among fisherfolk and farmers at 30.6 percent and 30 percent, respectively.
鈥淒uring the two years of Marcos鈥� tenure, fishermen and farmers did not feel any significant progress. We remain the poorest sector despite our country being an archipelago and agricultural,鈥� Hicap said.
On the other hand, the KMP called the 鈥淢asaganang Bagong Pilipinas鈥� program of the Marcos administration 鈥渆mpty rhetoric that does not transform into concrete actions.鈥�
鈥淭here is no 鈥楳asaganang Bagong Pilipinas鈥� (prosperous new Philippines) in an administration that neglects food producers. The agricultural sector collapsed mainly due to the policy of easing imports,鈥� it said.
According to the group, over 1.2 million jobs in the agriculture sector, including in rice production, were lost due to the importation policy.
The Pamalakaya also slammed the planned importation of 25,000 metric tons of galunggong and other pelagic fishes starting in October.
The KMP and allied organizations under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan led the demonstrations near Mendiola and in other parts of the country.