Freedom from Debt Coalition holds protest vs. TRAIN law

Some women from the Freedom from Debt Coalition trooped to the Mabuhay Welcome Rotonda at the boundary of Quezon City and Manila on Thursday morning to express their protest against the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

Freedom from Debt Coalition members stage a protest action at the Mabuhay Welcome Rotonda against the TRAIN law. Bernadette Reyes

The women made noise by clanking empty pots and pans which symbolized harder times after the imposition of the TRAIN law.

Malou Nuera, chairperson of the FDC-Women’s Committee, said simultaneous protest actions were being held nationwide.

“Nandito kami para ipanawagan ang pangunahing sinisigaw ng kababaihan—pagkain, pampublikong sebrisyo at kabuhayan pagkatapos isabatas ang TRAIN," she said.

Nuera said the FDC observed the negative effects of TRAIN law even if it has not yet been fully implemented.

“Alam natin nagtaasan na ang mga bilihin. Sa pagtaas ng bilihin ang pangunahing tinatamaan, mga nanay—mga namamahala sa ating kabuhayan, ang mga kababaihan na nagbibigay ng pagsusustento sa pamilya," she said.

The group said amendments to the law should be studied.

“Gusto namin ay reporma para sa layunin na higit na magbibigay ng relief sa mga mamamayang Pilipino kaysa sa mga korporasyon at mayayaman,” she said.

The FDC members will march to the University of Santo Tomas and Mendiola to meet with other women’s rights groups on Thursday. —KG, GMA News