Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 24) — Various groups took to the streets on Monday to express their dismay at the administration’s “failure to address the cost of living crisis” hours before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Progressive alliance Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said around 5,000 protesters in Metro Manila gathered on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to stage the “People’s SONA” which presents the “real situation” of the country.
Protesters criticized the signing of the Maharlika Investment Fund law, government response to high inflation, the chief executive’s “anti-people, anti-worker and anti-poor” policies, and his “obsession” with rebranding and reviving the legacy of his father and late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.
“Kasama natin ang iba’t ibang labor groups. Panawagan sa pamahalaan na gawing prayoridad ang legislated wage increase. Sana marinig natin sa pangulo mamaya na i-certify niya as priority itong proposal for wage increase,” said Bayan Secretary-General Mong Palatino.
[Translation: We are here together with various labor groups. We urge the government to make the legislated wage increase a priority. We hope the president hears this and certify the proposal for a wage increase later.]
Protesters burned a “doble kara” effigy featuring a two-faced Marcos in a “Tallano gold” coin to express “the people’s disgust and anger over the anti-poor and bankrupt governance of Marcos Jr.,” the activists said.
For their part, protesters from communities affected by the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro and members of the Protect VIP coalition trooped to the offices of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to question the government’s declaration that the crisis brought about by the oil spill has ended.
RELATED: Group asks gov’t: Where’s the final assessment report of Mindoro oil spill?
Members of Kabataan Party-list, on the other hand, went to the Commission on Higher Education to call attention to issues such as the increase of tuition and other fees, insufficient budget for the education sector, the mental health crisis, and the possible return of the mandatory ROTC program.
Transport strike begins
Transport group Manibela also began its three-day transport strike in Quezon City.
Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena said the group’s members in Manila, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Pasig and San Juan, as well as in Bulacan and Pampanga, will join the transport strike.
He said the group thought of not pushing through with the strike when Malacañang announced suspensions of classes and government work due to the protest action and bad weather brought about by Typhoon Egay.
“Sabi ng mga kasamahan natin, iparamdam pa rin natin kasi masakit talaga ‘yung ginagawa sa atin na stress araw-araw…Maiparamdam sa gobyerno kung ga’no kahirap…’yung araw-araw na iniisip natin para sa ating pamilya,” Valbuena said.
[Translation: Our comrades said let’s make them feel the hardship and stress that we are experiencing. Let’s make the government feel how hard it is to think of our family’s welfare every day.]
He added the group may end the strike in the next two days if Marcos addresses their demands during his SONA.
Meanwhile, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Don Artes said transportation was not “paralyzed” despite the ongoing transport strike. “I think we responded well,” he added.
Some local government units already announced “libreng sakay” (free ride) trips in anticipation of the strike, while transport regulators said they will deploy rescue buses.
Supporters
Meanwhile, Marcos’ supporters gathered in front of the offices of the Commission on Audit along Commonwealth Avenue, some two kilometers away from the Batasang Pambasa Complex where Marcos delivered his SONA before a joint session of Congress.
Groups from Metro Manila, Rizal, and Malabon sang in a “voluntary concert for nation-building” before holding a viewing party for the president’s address.
Outside Metro Manila
The protests were also conducted in various parts of the country, Bayan said.
Bayan-affiliated groups in Central Visayas that included drivers, urban poor, vendors, women and student organizations also held their People’s SONA rally in downtown Cebu City.
During their demonstration, a protester parodied Uncle Sam playing lato-lato or clackers made up of the heads of Marcos and Duterte. A tarpaulin showing “Bigong Pilipinas” —a dig at Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” slogan — was also displayed.
“Ang grado namin sa kanya ay bagsak. Hindi lang ito galing sa Bagong Alyansang Makabayan kundi galing din ito sa mga alyansang kasama namin sa kilos protesta,” said Howell Villacrucis, secretary general of the Cebu-based labor group Alyansang Mamumuo sa Sugbo.
[Translation: We gave him a failing grade. This is not just from the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan but from all the alliances that are with us in this protest action.]
He added the president prioritized his foreign trips instead of solving the issues experienced by ordinary Filipinos.
Police officers held a street concert in front of the gates of the headquarters of Police Regional Office 2 in Camp Sergio Osmeña Sr., about a kilometer away from the rally.
Police officials said they just wanted the band to entertain the public ahead of the SONA and not to oppose the demonstrators should they proceed to the police camp.
CNN Philippines’ Anjo Alimario, Currie Cator, David Santos, Gerg Cahiles, and Cebu-based journalist Dale Israel contributed to this report.
Happening Now: Militant groups in Cebu led by BAYAN-affiliated and allied groups hold "People's SONA" rally at the center of Colon Street in Cebu City @cnnphilippines pic.twitter.com/oPogPusc5T
— Dale G. Israel (@dalegisrael) July 24, 2023
Supporters of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. have put up a stage in front of the Commission on Audit & Sandiganbayan offices along Commonwealth Ave. where they will hold a concert & viewing party for today's #SONA2023. | @davidyusantos pic.twitter.com/E2bQ9RdLiC
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) July 24, 2023
