Labor Day protest in Olongapo decries high cost of living, US military
OLONGAPO CITY — Workers and community groups staged a Labor Day protest outside the Subic Bay Freeport gate on Friday, May 1, drawing attention to rising prices, alleged corruption, and opposition to the expanding presence of foreign military forces in the area.
Around 60 protesters joined a one-hour program, where speakers linked local economic hardships to national policies, including fuel taxation and defense cooperation with the United States.
The protest focused on reported plans to establish an ammunition hub in Subic and the ongoing Balikatan exercises, which organizers said reflect priorities that sideline urgent social needs.
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Efren Vinluan, spokesperson of Workers for People’s Liberation, said continued government support for the use of Subic facilities by US forces endangers the public and undermines national sovereignty.
“Instead of prioritizing the country’s interests, we risk being caught in a conflict between China and the United States,” Vinluan said in a phone interview.
Once a major US naval base, Subic Bay Freeport was turned over to the Philippine government in 1992 and has since been developed into a commercial and industrial hub. However, it continues to host joint military activities due to its strategic location facing the West Philippine Sea.
In recent years, the site has figured prominently in expanded defense cooperation initiatives, including the Balikatan exercises, which involve maritime security and logistics training. While officials frame these as part of defense preparedness and alliance-building, critics have raised concerns over the scale of foreign military presence and its implications for sovereignty.
Protesters also denounced what they described as a lack of government accountability amid corruption issues, as workers grapple with low wages, inadequate benefits, and limited access to essential services such as housing.
“We call on the government to act swiftly to help workers amid the crisis caused by rising prices of basic goods, driven by the continuing increase in fuel costs due to the conflict in the Middle East,” Vinluan added.
The protest was led by WPL and Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya, with support from groups such as LUPA, KAISA KA, Youth for Nationalism and Democracy, and other people’s organizations.
It formed part of a broader Labor Day mobilization across Central Luzon, with parallel protests held in Angeles City and parts of Bulacan, including Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte.
Similar demonstrations were also staged nationwide, including in Metro Manila and Cebu, amplifying calls for economic relief and policy reforms amid what groups described as a deepening cost-of-living crisis. INQ /mr
