Lakbayan PushesThrough Despite Rains

Iloilo – Members of the militant BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN (BAYAN) – Panay showed their resolve to push through the Panay-wide Lakbayan despite heavy rains.

Marchers from Guimbal, Iloilo were drenched with rain. According to Sunny Talibo, chairperson of Federation of Iloilo Farmers Association, the protesters even welcomed the rain because the march began without the scorching heat of sun. “We were all thankful that we were blessed with a favorable weather condition. We were not fainting. We were not too dehydrated. The rains can’t stop us from moving on”, said Talibo whose group is the bulk of the protesters coming from Tubungan and Igbaras.

In Capiz, while the protesters assemble at Ivisan Civic Center, the rain also poured in. Kalibo marchers were also drenched with rain while getting ready to march off at Makato Public Plaza.

“Nothing can stop us from going on, even rains. We believe we are blessed. The suffering of the people with Gloria Arroyo’s anti people policies and attempts to change the constitution inspire us to brave the rains”, said Edgar Pelayo, BAYAN-Panay Secretary General.

BAYAN Panay with its provincial chapters will spearhead a big island-wide rally and program tomorrow to welcome President Arroyo’s ninth State of the Nation Address with a protest.#

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Groups Express Dismay Over GMA’s SONA


Iloilo City – Conveners of the Ilonggos’ Movement Against Arroyo’s Charter Change (I-MARCH) here expressed dismay and disgust over President Arroyo’s ninth and presumably the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) yesterday (July 27).

Nothing was mentioned about charter change, and we see that President Arroyo never tried to allay the fears of the Filipino for the change in the constitution, especially before the May 2010 elections, Anything could happen from now on and this requires more vigilance from us”, said Rosemarie Doromal of I-MARCH and lead convener of the Alliance for Truth, Transparency, Justice and Accountability (ATTJA).

I-MARCH earlier challenged President Arroyo to categorically state that there will be no move to amend or revise the constitution via the Constituent Assembly (Con Ass) and she is stepping down from presidency in year 2010. She should not also seek elective position when her term expires.

The group also said that Arroyo can still run for congresswoman in Pampanga next year and become the Speaker of the House of the Congress. “She can even be the powerful prime minister if charter change will take place allowing a shift in the form of government”, said Doromal.

“Although she got more than a hundred applause mostly from her allies, she was on an offensive mode against those who criticize her administration. She must have taken these criticisms as gauge on how the economy performed during her eight years of governance”, said Atty. Joshua Alim of the United Opposition in Iloilo and a convener of I-MARCH.

The group further said that Arroyo’s SONA will always remind them to continue their campaign against Arroyo-backed charter change. “We cannot afford to just sit down and wait for the unfolding of events without registering our protest. We must fight against the corrupt and bankrupt governance of President Arroyo”, ended Doromal. #

On GMA’s 9th SONA
Eight Years of Deeper Philippine Underdevelopment:
The Legacy of Arroyo Governance

On President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s ninth and hopefully the last State of the Nation Address, we enjoin the entire nation to think back to the eight years of her presidency.

Malacanang officials said that the SONA that we will hear on July 27 is the product of the most and the best possible number of inputs from government as well as the best thinking that can be brought to bear on these issues.

But surely, the figures that will be presented showing signs of an economy finally taking off have not been felt by the largest number of the Filipino people.

• The period 2001-2008 is the longest period of sustained high unemployment in the country’s history. True unemployment rate is averaged at some 11.2%;
• The agriculture sector has fallen to its smallest share in gross domestic product (GDP) in the country’s history – 18.1% in 2008;
• Rice imports increased 280% from 639,000 tons in 2001 to a record 2.4 million tons in 2008. The price of rice increased 68% between 2000, the year before Arroyo came to power, and 2008;
• According to NSCB, there is 2.1 million increase in the number of poor Filipinos between 2000 and 2006 – to 27.6 million in 2006;
• The total amount of kickbacks, ill-gotten wealth and payoffs involved in just 16 major corruption cases reaches as much as P20.9 billion (US$430 million). The amount remains substantial even if the interrupted NBN-ZTE and Cyber-Education deals are excluded.

With these glaring realities, President Arroyo is still able to maneuver within the House of Representatives to approve House Resolution No. 1109, seeking to amend or revise the Constitution for term extension, removal of nationalist and protectionist provisions, or change in the system of government. Hence, the entire nation is beset with the move to change the charter before the May 2010 elections.

We say, enough of eight long years of economic misery! Enough of Arroyo’s presidency!

On the occassion of the 9th State of the Nation Address, we challenge President Arroyo to categorically state that she will be stepping down from presidency on 2010 and not to seek any elective position when her term expires.

It is time for her to end up all efforts for charter change, including the change in the form of government. It is time for her to finish off all talks that she is running for office in 2010. These are the things that the people would want to hear at the SONA.

We, from I-MARCH, together with Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN)-Panay, will have a “Lakbayan sang Pumuluyo” on July 26-27. This is an island-wide activity. In Iloilo, we will march from Miag-ao to Oton and Janiuay to Pavia, simultaneously on the 26th. BAYAN Aklan will lead the march from Makato to Kalibo and BAYAN Capiz will spearhead the protest march from the town of Ivisan to Roxas City, all on the 26th. This is the first time in 12 years that an island-wide Lakbayan will be made to deliver a stronger protest to the rottening presidency of President Gloria Arroyo. On the 27th, a cultural-program will be simultaneously held to condemn GMA’s SONA.

We appeal to the people to join us in this historic endeavor. We humbly ask for your support to the Lakbayan by giving food, water, and other logistics. Any form of support you will share to us will always be counted as a very valuable contribution in our collective aspiration for a very meaningful social transformation. #

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