Central Luzon fishers, farmers hold pre-Sona protest

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. —Grig C. Montegrande

SUBIC, ZAMBALES, Philippines — 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.

READ: Marcos: 2nd Sona could’ve been better, it’s lacking

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.

“The 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,” 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.

“During the two years of Marcos’ tenure, fishermen and farmers did not feel any significant progress. We remain the poorest sector despite our country being an archipelago and agricultural,” Hicap said.

On the other hand, the KMP called the “Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas” program of the Marcos administration “empty rhetoric that does not transform into concrete actions.”

“There is no ‘Masaganang Bagong Pilipinas’ (prosperous new Philippines) in an administration that neglects food producers. The agricultural sector collapsed mainly due to the policy of easing imports,” 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.