WHERE’S THE CHEAP RICE? Baguio City activists stage a rally at Session Road on the eve of President Marcos’ State of the Nation Address, as they call out the President for breaking his election campaign promises like reduced rice prices. The ralliers also expressed their opposition to the public utility vehicle modernization program. —Vincent Cabreza
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Activists in this city took President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to task on Sunday, ahead of his third State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday, for what they described as his “broken promises,” citing his support for the phase out of the public utility jeeps after declaring he was against it during the last presidential campaign and for failing to reduce rice prices.
Around 30 members of Tongtongan ti Umili (People’s Forum) or TTU marched down the city’s Session Road, which is turned every Sunday into an exclusive pedestrian zone.
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They waded through the crowded street filled with trade booths while wielding banners advocating multiple concerns, like “people over profit, Baguio for the people,” which addresses a perceived “corporatization” of the Summer Capital; “China out of our seas” due to Chinese maritime intrusions in the West Philippine Sea; and “sahod itaas, presyo ibaba (Raise wages, lower prices).”
But TTU pushed the jeepney modernization at the forefront of their grievances against Marcos, with banners that mock the president: “Election 2022: BBM tutol sa jeepney phaseout! Ngayon: BBM yes to jeepney phaseout!”
“We are not here to demonize anyone,” said Daisy Bagni, who heads an urban poor organization affiliated with the militant Cordillera Peoples Alliance. “But nothing is resolved if we remain silent,” she said at the rally’s opening salvo.
“For as long as laws crafted do not benefit people, people will continue to be defiant,” she added in Filipino.
Bicol protests
In the Bicol Region, various progressive groups will stage protests in Albay and in Naga City in Camarines Sur on Monday during the Sona.
Jen Nagrampa, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan-Bicol chairperson, on Sunday said that they were expecting 500 participants in each of these protests.
In Albay, the protest will start with a caravan from Daraga town to end with a program at Guinobatan Park.
In Naga City, the protesters will march from Sabang village to Oragon Park, she said.
In a statement Sunday, Nagrampa said they would be protesting Marcos’ “Bagong Pilipinas” that has made the Philippines into a “US-forward military base” against China, putting the country at risk of war; and the rise of human rights abuses in the country.
“In the Bicol Region, from July 22 to November 2023, 155 human rights violation incidents were recorded, totaling to 510 human rights violation cases, 10 of which were extrajudicial killing victims while 24 were political detainees,” she stated.