Protesters in Quezon City are expected to be out in force on Commonwealth Avenue as usual on Sona 2023, Monday, airing their grievances with the government. File Photo
MANILA, Philippines — Progressive groups have blasted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first year in office for supposedly not prioritizing the masses’ interests, claiming that the State of Nation Address (Sona) is better spelled out as a “state of no accomplishment.”
During a press conference on Tuesday, labor leader Luke Espiritu said it appears Marcos has let down the working class by not extending the much-needed support.
“Sa mga manggagawa, ang ibig sabihin ng 2023 Sona ni Bongbong Marcos ay ito ay ‘state of no accomplishment’ sa ilalim ng rehimen ni Bongbong Marcos,” he observed.
(For workers, the 2023 Sona of Bongbong Marcos means it is a ‘state of no accomplishment’ under his regime.)
As proof of the supposed lack of accomplishments, Espiritu cited the P40 minimum wage increase for private sector workers in Metro Manila, which he described as meager.
He also added that the President failed to deliver tangible benefits to Filipinos due to his preoccupation with a different agenda.
“Ang sahod natin ay hindi nakabubuhay, (at) ang latest na ginawa ng regional wage boards at dito lang sa NCR ay simpleng P40 increase habang sa ating kongreso, merong nakabinbin na measures ng legislated wage increase, ngunit hindi ginawang prayoridad ni Bongbong Marcos,” Espiritu said.
(Our salaries cannot support families, and what the regional wage boards did is just a simple P40 increase for Metro Manila workers while in Congress, we have a lot of measures on wage increase, but these were not made a priority of Bongbong Marcos.)
He added the President’s failure to deliver tangible benefits to Filipinos stemmed from his preoccupation with a different agenda.
“Sa loob ng isang taon, na-break niya ang record sa inflation — 8.7 (percent) inflation […] At ang pinagkaka-abalahan ni Bongbong Marcos ngayon ay ang pera ng mga Maharlika,” he lamented.
(Within a year, he broke records — a record inflation rate of 8.7 percent, and now he is concerned with the money with the Maharlika.)
On the other hand, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino chairperson Leody De Guzman criticized the Marcos administration for supposedly targeting the Maharlika Investment Fund.
The measure was signed into law by the Chief Executive just hours before the briefing of the progressive organizations.
“Gusto naming ipaalam sa publiko ang aming paniniwala na walang pagbabagong magaganap dahil wala namang binago, o planong baguhin ang kasalukuyang pamahalaan,” De Guzman said.
(We want to inform the public of our belief that there would be no changes in government because nothing has been changed, and there are no plans to change policies.)
“Kaya walang maaasahan ang mga mamamayan sa gobyernong ito sa susunod na limang taon,” he predicted.
(That’s why the people cannot rely on this government for the next five years.)
On Monday, July 24, as Marcos is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address (Sona), labor groups will hold protests.
Separate programs will start in areas near the Quezon City Memorial Circle at around 9:00 a.m.
Protesters will converge at the Commission on Human Rights grounds at about 11 a.m. before marching along Commonwealth Avenue.
A program will be held on Commonwealth Avenue’s portion near Tandang Sora Avenue.
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