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SONAgkaisa protesters set up stage at UP Diliman


Several groups from different sectors will troop to the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman on Monday to stage a protest action on the day of President Rodrigo Duterte’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA).

According to a report of Darlene Cay on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Monday, the groups from the sectors of labor, transport, education, among others will participate in SONAgkaisa to highlight issues on health, livelihood, rights, and freedom.

They will arrive on University Avenue at around 9 a.m. for the protest action.

The stage, sound system, and screens were already set up at the venue by 7 a.m.

The University Avenue will be closed at 8:30 a.m. Motorists will have to use Commonwealth Avenue or C.P. Garcia Avenue.

Authorities have prohibited mass gatherings due to the threat of COVID-19 transmission.

However, they have allowed the conduct of SONAgkaisa inside UP Diliman in light of the freedom to peaceful assembly and academic freedom.

Protesters however have to follow health measures such as wearing face masks and social distancing.

It is the responsibility of the organizers of the protest action in UP Diliman to ensure that health and safety protocols are being observed, Philippine National Police spokesman Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said Monday.

Organizers have already placed markings on University Avenue to guide rallyists on where to stand to ensure social distancing.

 

Usually, rallyists stage protest actions during SONA along Commonwealth Avenue near Batasang Pambansa, but authorities this year have disallowed them.

Banac said the police will not go inside the UP Diliman campus and that they would let rallyists hold their activity.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes said in an interview on Unang Balita he is hoping that the number of protesters on Monday will be more than that in the previous June 12 rally held also in UP Diliman.

"Sana umabot tayo nang mas malaki kumpara doon sa June 12 Grand Mañanita. Inaasahang mapupuno siguro 'yung malaking bahagi ng University Avenue ng UP Diliman," Reyes said.

 

Reyes said the government should address the more pressing problems in society.

"Sa amin po ay hindi po maaaring manahimik sa panahon ng pandemya lalo na’t kaliwa’t kanan ang problemang hinaharap. Dapat harapin ng gobyerno ang problema sa COVID, ang problema sa ekonomiya. Hindi ang terror law, hindi ang pagsasara ng ABS-CBN, hindi ang Cha-cha, hindi ang makasariling hangarin nila," he said. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News

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